While it may be a high crime area, I’m guessing the stores closed because the Internets and Amazon is killing the malls.
Ours is practically empty now, and will probably be torn down soon to be replaced by condos. Part of it already has been.............
Not just that, local politicians are killing the stores. Just down Market Streets from Westfield Mall, Amazon opened a retail store where customers would have to enter after tapping an Amazon card. Any items the customer took off the shelf would be charged to the customer, and the customer could freely walk out with the automatically purchased items. San Francisco "leaders" put a stop to it, saying it was unfair to homeless vagrants to require them to have Amazon credit cards and ID in order to enter. The store was quickly closed. In other words, allow just anyone to enter and steal goods.