????????????? This week in Bay Area business: downtown blues, powerbrokers and life-saving tech
San Francisco Business Times
The San Francisco region's source for local business news & events. Part of the American City Business Journals network.
Daniel Lurie’s vision for San Francisco is coming into focus as the new mayor makes key city appointments (and announces a hiring freeze).?
The future of S.F. downtown meanwhile, remains blurry. The amount of vacant office space is one of the most pressing and complex issues confronting the new administration. Recent data only clouds the picture.?
The outlook for Oakland remains somewhat murky. One thing that did emerge this week was the identity of the purchasers of a heavily discounted piece of prime Oakland real estate. The story also contained links to the recall of former mayor Sheng Thao.?
Elsewhere, there was news of several high-profile store closures, restaurants changing hands, biotech funding, tech bro fights and the story of how a smartwatch may have saved one of our reporter’s lives.?
All this and more in another week in Bay Area business.
As S.F. office market recovers, downtown offices got emptier? by Sarah Klearman
San Francisco’s office market posted a decline in vacancy for the first time in five years in the fourth quarter of 2024, but its recovery was an uneven one, data shows. And the picture in downtown is complicated.
Buyer tied to powerful family picks up Oakland apartment building at big discount by Hannah Kanik
An Oakland apartment tower sold for $99 million to Three Steps Properties — 53% below its assessed value. The buyer's principal, Marina Dreyfuss, is married to hedge fund manager Philip Dreyfuss, who co-led recall campaigns against Oakland's district attorney Pamela Price and mayor Sheng Thao.
The week in real estate
My smartwatch may have saved my life. Here's my story by Ron Leuty
A heart-stopping, heart-wrenching, but thankfully, ultimately heart-warming story from our ace biotech reporter about how wearable tech may have saved his life.
Executive profile: What's the secret to this CEO's precocious rise? AI, data and skipping college by Simon Campbell
A software engineer at 16, Tejas Manohar didn't waste any time starting his Silicon Valley journey. Now, just a few years later, he's the co-CEO of data platform Hightouch . Manohar is using AI to help the $600 million startup's customers reach new insights and drive revenue.
Does he regret skipping college? Read his full profile to find out.
Mayor Lurie’s city takes shape
Macy's will shutter stores in Corte Madera and Newark by Alex Barreira
Department store Macy's Inc. plans to shutter two more Bay Area stores in Corte Madera and Newark, joining others locations slated for closure around the region. Read the story.
Kohl's closing five 'underperforming' Bay Area stores by Alex Barreira
Department store chain Kohl's is closing 27 "underperforming" stores around the country including five in the Bay Area. Read the full story.
Here's where OpenAI's for-profit transition now stands by Sara B.
领英推荐
Delaware State Attorney General Kathleen Jennings?has confirmed that her office is still reviewing OpenAI's pivot to a for-profit entity but is not weighing in on Elon Musk's request for a court injunction.
Name of S.F. bank's new president will ring a bell by Mark Calvey
Bank of San Francisco turned heads when it said James Herbert III, son of First Republic Bank founder Jim Herbert, will join the community bank as president, effective immediately.?
Leaked memo reveals Meta's plans to do away with DEI by Ted Andersen
Quickly charting a new course at the company he founded, Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly fired off another major corporate reversal affecting the company's politics. Read the full story.
ICYMI Here's what else you need to know
Nominations
Deadlines for four of our most popular awards programs are fast approaching.
Help us celebrate the people, companies and deals that matter. Make a nomination today.
40 Under 40
The name says it all. Forty of the brightest and best in the Bay Area business community. Know of someone doing amazing work under the age of 40?
Real Estate Deals of the Year
What was the most important real estate deal of 2024? Who are the most important people and companies in the real estate sector right now?
Best Places to Work
Do you know the Bay Area's best workplace culture? Love where you work? Celebrate the Bay Area's best places to work.
Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business
Who are the most powerful and empowering women in Bay Area business? If you know any outstanding female leaders in the Bay Area business or nonprofit community now’s your chance to shine a light.
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 great week.