Last Denny's store in San Francisco closes due to crime and “enormous” business costs, report says

SAN FRANCISCO (TND) — The last remaining Denny's restaurant in San Francisco closed earlier this month due to high crime-related operating costs, according to a report by the San Francisco Gate.

The restaurant's former owner, Chris Haque, told the outlet he closed his eatery on August 1 after nearly 25 years. The location is listed on Google as permanently closed.

We are the only business left and we are open until the last day,” Haque said. “The cost of doing business is enormous. There is vandalism and people come, eat and leave and there is no one to stop them.”

The large number of customers visiting the restaurant allegedly cut into the restaurant's profit margins. Haque also relied on conventions for some business, according to the newspaper. The San Francisco Business Times found in February that Samsung, Workday and Twilio were among the companies that canceled their events at the Moscone Convention Center this year.

Several companies have recently cited crime in the Bay Area as a reason for closing their stores. Last September, a Target store in San Francisco announced it would close because thefts were hurting business.

“We cannot continue to operate these stores as theft and organised retail crime threaten the safety of our team and guests and contribute to unsustainable business development,” the retailer said in a statement. The company can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe.

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In May 2023, a Whole Foods store at the foot of a high-rise near downtown was closed due to safety concerns, according to the San Francisco Standard.

“We are only temporarily closing our Trinity location,” a company spokesperson told the outlet at the time. “When we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate reopening our Trinity location.”

The location remains closed.

When Macy's announced it would close a district of stores earlier this year, Mayor London Breed told ABC 7 Bay Area that the company's decision had nothing to do with crime. She issued a statement claiming tax law issues were to blame.

“San Francisco is undergoing change, and that change can be positive if we use it to benefit San Francisco residents. That's why it's so important that we continue to make legislative changes at the local and state levels and reform our tax laws to attract and retain businesses,” Breed said.

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