Union Square is a 2.6-acre (1.1-hectare) public plaza bordered by Geary, Powell, Post, and Stockton Streets in downtown San Francisco, California.

The area got its name because it was once used for Thomas Starr King rallies and support for the Union Army during the American Civil War,[2] earning its designation as a California Historical Landmark.

[1] This one-block plaza and surrounding area was historically home to one of the largest collections of department stores, upscale boutiques, gift shops, art galleries, and beauty salons in the United States, making Union Square a major tourist destination and a well-known gathering place in downtown San Francisco.

The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States led to an exodus of companies from Downtown San Francisco, particularly affecting the Union Square retail district.

[4][5] Many retailers have cited high levels of crime, open-air drug use, homelessness, doubts about San Francisco's viability as a relevant commercial center, and closed storefronts in the areas in and around Union Square.

[9] Union Square was built and dedicated by San Francisco's first American mayor John Geary in 1850 and is so named for the pro-Union rallies by Thomas Starr King that happened there before and during the United States Civil War.

[2] Since then the plaza has undergone many notable changes, one of the most significant happening in 1903 with the dedication of a 97 ft (30 m) tall monument to Admiral George Dewey's victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War.

[8] During the middle part of the 20th century, "going downtown" for a full day of lavish shopping and eating was a special treat for Bay Area residents—to the point that families often dressed up for the occasion.

In early 1998, city planners began plans to renovate the plaza to create more paved surfaces for easier maintenance, with outdoor cafes and more levels to the underground garage.

[15] In 2004 Unwire Now, a company founded by entrepreneur Jaz Banga, launched a free Wi-Fi network in Union Square which was championed by Mayor Gavin Newsom.

[8] In response to the news, Avison Young reported that if the closure occurs as planned, Union Square's vacancy rate would jump from 22% to 34.5%.

[5] To the east of Union Square, a cluster of "ultra-luxe international boutiques" around Grant Avenue had stayed afloat by catering to the super-rich, but that was not enough to "attract San Franciscans or Bay Area residents who want to feel like they’re part of a real scene, be it cutting-edge or timelessly urbane.

"[8] In August 2024, Placer.ai released aggregate cell phone data showing that Union Square was the only area of San Francisco where foot traffic was still declining after the COVID-19 pandemic.

[23] On the afternoon of August 31, 2024, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery at Geary and Grant Streets just east of Union Square.

Union Square is also home to San Francisco's TIX Bay Area, a half-priced ticket booth, and Ticketmaster outlet.

Every year, the area is the site of the boisterous Bastille Day celebration, the nation's largest of its kind, and Bush Street is temporarily renamed "Buisson."

Directly east of the square off of Stockton Street is Maiden Lane, a short and narrow alley of exclusive boutiques and cafes that leads to the Financial District and boasts the Xanadu Gallery, San Francisco's only building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright—with its interior most notable for being the predecessor for New York City's Guggenheim Museum.

The square is part of the Barbary Coast Trail, linking many San Francisco landmarks.During the holiday season, an ice skating rink and Christmas tree are set up.

[46] Several department stores sit within the three-block radius of Union Square, including Neiman Marcus, Macy's, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Other notable brands in the surrounding area include Chanel, Prada, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Shapur Mozaffarian, Goyard, Dior and Cartier.