Bang & Olufsen returning to SF’s Union Square

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Bang & Olufsen will be returning to San Francisco’s Union Square after closing up shop in the area nearly a decade ago. According to the Danish luxury electronics brand’s website, a new store will be opening in October of this year.

The upcoming store’s location at 146 Geary Street will be directly across the street from Neiman Marcus in the heart of Union Square’s once-thriving retail center.

Bang & Olufsen’s new location is just a few blocks from the retailer’s former Union Square location at 535 Sutter Street. That location closed in 2016, according to the San Francisco Business Times, which first reported news of the new store opening.

Bang & Olufsen will also open a new Palo Alto location in November of this year at the Stanford Shopping Center. That, along with the existing location in Walnut Creek, will bring the number of Bang & Olufsen stores in the Bay Area up to three.

The return of the retailer to Union Square is the latest sign of a potential turnaround for the beleaguered retail district. Since 2023, there has been a rash of high-profile store closures in the area, beginning with San Francisco City Centre anchor tenant Nordstrom closing up shop in 2023.

Other major retailers to have exited, or announced plans to exit the neighborhood, include Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s. Bang & Olufsen is the second high-profile retailer to recently announce a return to Union Square.

Earlier this year, fashion retailer Zara announced that it would be opening a new flagship store in the massive corner space at 400 Post Street that once housed a flagship store for Borders. In another potential sign of the neighborhood’s turnaround, the Nintendo Store opened on Powell Street earlier this year.