Strategic Economics’ draft report on San Francisco’s regulations of chain stores (or “formula retail”) was featured in today’s San Francisco Chronicle. The City and County of San Francisco is considering a number of changes to existing regulations on where chain stores can locate within the city. In order to inform the policy decision, the City hired Strategic Economics to assess the role existing chain stores play in serving the daily shopping needs of residents, and the extent to which formula retail adds or detracts from the aesthetic character and economic vibrancy of the City’s neighborhood commercial districts. The study also includes the first comprehensive effort to identify and map all of San Francisco’s existing chain stores, as well as research into topics such as the employment and real estate impacts of chain retailers. We hope you’ll take a look at the draft report or the Chronicle’s summary!
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