Historic Landmarks of San Francisco

In 1851 the first non-aquatic location of the City of Paris was established at 152 Kearney Street.

Clinton Day, architect of the final City Of Paris store (commemorated in this landmark), designed other notable buildings in The City, including the former Gump’s at 250 Post Street and the former Union Trust Bank at 744 Market Street at Grant Avenue.

Bakewell and Brown, who redesigned the interior of the City of Paris after the 1906 earthquake and fire, were also noted local architects. Arthur Brown Jr. is credited with the design of San Francisco’s magnificent City Hall and War Memorial Complex.

The post-World War II growth of suburban shopping malls and the decay of inner cities led to the demise of many downtown department stores. The City Of Paris succumbed in 1972. The property was sold to Texas-based Nieman Marcus two years later. The Texans, determined to open their own luxury store on the site, and deeming the 1896 structure unsuitable to their purposes, elected to have the old building demolished. Despite being both State and National Historic Landmarks and in spite of the desperate efforts of preservationists, the beloved structure was demolished in 1981. On its site was erected a new store, designed by prominent contemporary architect Philip Johnson. As a sop to preservationists the rotunda of the 1896 building, with its magnificent stained glass skylight, was awkwardly grafted onto the entrance corner of the otherwise bland, boxy edifice.

No doubt the present (2022) structure will some day be demolished, but it’s unlikely to be missed the way the old City Of Paris is!