???????????????? This week in Bay Area business: AI demand increasing, S.F. appealing, Oakland defaulting and South City resetting
San Francisco Business Times
The San Francisco region's source for local business news & events. Part of the American City Business Journals network.
It’s National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game weekend.?
The great and the good are in town for fun, games, dunk contests and parties hosted by a cadre of luminaries.
San Francisco has the marquee game at the Warriors' Chase Center. While Oakland is hosting the Celebrity Game and HBCU Classic at the Warriors' former home at the Oakland Arena.?
Is this an All-Star-shaped metaphor for where the two cities are at in their respective bounce-back from pandemic-related ails? Maybe.
A more accurate reading of their economic health probably comes via several news stories that broke this week.?
Major landlords are feeling better about San Francisco while a big CRE player sees AI demand for office space increasing still further.
Meanwhile Oakland’s biggest hotel, home to the Warriors former training facility and newly fitted out HQ for the Golden State Valkyries, has gone into default.?
South San Francisco is getting attention from industries outside of its longtime partner, the beleaguered biotech sector.?
And elsewhere we have AI power and posturing, a billion dollar drug hit, Levi’s trimming their c-suite and the power of saying no.?
We also published our Newsmaker 100 list of the biggest names shaking up the local economy and wider world.?
All this and more in another week in Bay Area business.
'Turning a corner': Big landlords sound a note of optimism about S.F. by Doug Sams
Landlords are cautiously buying in to the turnaround new Mayor Daniel Lurie is promising for San Francisco, at least when they present their financial results to Wall Street analysts.
Oakland's largest hotel defaults on major loan?by Alex Barreira
Oakland's largest hotel? has defaulted on a $100 million loan according to public records.
These sites could be Oakland's next waterfront hot spots by Hannah Kanik
After soliciting plans to redevelop Howard Terminal last September, the Port of Oakland plans to offer even more sites up for development.
Next phase of Kilroy's big Oyster Point project sees interest beyond biotech by Doug Sams
Expanding the scope of tenants beyond life sciences isn't a new concept, but it could be a way forward in saturated spaces. Is a makeover on the cards for South San Francisco?
Newsmaker 100
These people made the biggest waves in Bay Area business and beyond last year.
Who made our list? And do you agree with our selection?
Elon Musk stepped up his battle with Sam Altman, bid to buy OpenAI by Sara B.
Why Gilead expects a billion-dollar hit to drug sales this year by Ron Leuty
Gilead’s sales exceeded Wall Street expectations last year — thanks in part to strong HIV drug sales and a key buyout of a Bay Area company — but the big drug maker expects to take a billion-dollar hit this year via drug-pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Executive profile: Grandma's remedies and Shark Tank inspire booming beverage brand by Simon Campbell
The first time Shark Tank ABC asked Rosa Li to appear on the show she said no. It was one of the best business decisions the wildwonder founder and CEO ever made.?
Why Wells Fargo is optimistic about 2025 by Mark Calvey
“There’s certainly this optimism that the (Trump) administration is going to be much more pro-growth, pro-business (and) remove a lot of the obstacles that may get in the way of growing the economy,” Wells Fargo Chief Financial Officer Mike Santomassimo said.?
What does the coming year have in store for the economy??
Back in the fold? What Gap told its employees about a five-day-per-week return to office
Our hospitality reporter Alex Barreira broke the news about Gap's return-to-office drive. We saw the full text of what the clothing giant told its employees.
ICYMI here’s what else you need to know
Someone just scored at Chase Center. We're not talking basketball by Ron Leuty
While Steph Curry, LeBron James and other high-priced NBA stars show off their skills during this weekend's All-Star Game at Chase Center, it's the two-building office complex flanking the arena that landed the big contract.
Read the full story.
The week in real estate
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Moonshots and Doom Loops ?????????
This weekly Bay Area business? round-up is written by Simon Campbell, special projects editor at the San Francisco Business Times.
Reach out with news tips, questions or comments: [email protected].
Stay safe and have a good week.