Nordstrom, the American luxury department store chain, has announced that it will be closing both of its downtown San Francisco locations, citing the challenges of operating in the current environment.

The closure of the San Francisco Centre Nordstrom store and the Market Street Rack store comes amid a rash of retail thefts by brazen thieves, which has impacted retailers and businesses in the downtown area.

The company is not renewing its lease for either location due to the "dynamics" of the downtown San Francisco market, which has seen a significant decline in foot traffic and safety concerns for customers, retailers, and employees. The last day of business for the Market Street Rack store will be July 1, and the San Francisco Centre location will close at the end of August.

The closures have underscored the deteriorating situation in Downtown San Francisco, according to the Westfield mall, where the downtown Nordstrom store is located. A mall spokesperson stated that a growing number of retailers and businesses are leaving the area due to the unsafe conditions, which are preventing economic recovery of the area.

The statement further added that the mall has urged city leaders to find solutions to the key issues and lack of enforcement.