This guy has a YouTube channel showing the commercial and real estate decline in cities and neighborhoods, focusing primarily on SF, Oakland, and Berkeley.
The Embarcadero Center, once a pretty ritzy shopping complex, has zero tenants. None. It’s a circle of crime, downtown decay and Amazon and Walmart offering same day, or next day delivery of practically everything one needs.
Amazon and Walmart is not to blame for the closing of restaurants and cafes however. People would patronize these business if the areas weren’t such $hitholes.
Correct on both points. And it has been getting worse for a very long time. I remember visiting SF in 1998, and even back then I couldn't believe what a craphole it was compared to NYC. It was worse when I was there in 2003, and it was MUCH worse the last time I was there, in 2018, as were Seattle and Portland. I can hardly imagine what they're like now, though I've seen enough photos and videos to have a pretty good idea.
Really sad.