Noted as one of the few remaining independently-owned businesses in Union Square—an area overrun with chain stores—Britex Fabrics will close its door at 146 Geary. The property owner, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, has decided to cash in on the real estate boom by converting three floors of the building from retail to office space.
The Chronicle has more:
In February, the owners — a partnership of Central City Realty Partners and Acadia Realty Trust, which purchased it last year for $38 million — informed the city that Britex would “be vacating the building in the near future.” The owners stated they “would like to be able to offer new tenants of the building the opportunity to change the lettering on the Britex sign so that it would meet the needs of the new tenant.”
The current landlord’s plans, first reported by SocketSite, were news to Britex owner Sharman Spector. But the good news is that, following in the footsteps of other notable San Francisco stores, the famed fabric purveyor will move locations in lieu of closing shop for good.
Which is a good thing. As SFist points out, the store is beloved by local designers. And how. Most notably, Project Runway alumna Emily Payne, who described to SFist the store as being “four floors of inspiration” with “crazy creative types everywhere inside."
As for now, just how much time left the store has in Union Square remains a mystery. Presumably it will stay put during it’s busiest season, Halloween.
We will update you as to the whereabouts of the Britex Fabrics when it finds a new home. Until then, be sure to check out this San Francisco institution.