San Francisco's oldest toy store announced this week that it would close its doors, citing rampant crime and violence on the city's streets and inflation.
Jeffries Toys, the downtown San Francisco toy store that inspired Pixar's classic “Toy Story,” announced Friday that it will permanently close at the end of February.
“This store has struggled for years due to the dangers and violence of the downtown environment, inflation, declining consumer spending, and the demise of the retail industry,” Ken Sterling, the store's attorney, told the San Francisco Chronicle. world. “
D.C.'s crime spiral takes a new turn as shoplifters appear to be calling on retailers to 'unite': report
Jeffrey's Toys, San Francisco's oldest toy store, has announced it will close, citing inflation and rising crime in the city. (San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images/Contributor)
Founded in 1938 as Birdie's Variety Store, the business has now been in the Luhn family for four generations. In the 1950s, he moved into toy sales and at one point expanded his business to seven stores around the Bay Area.
The current location in the city's financial district was the last one for a while.
“We're heartbroken,” Rosie Luhn recently told the San Francisco Business Times, adding, “We held on until we couldn't do it anymore. Everybody left the city. San Francisco will come back.” But it will probably take another three years,” he added.
The store also announced the closure in a Facebook post announcing the closing sale earlier this week.
The post advertised “30% off” on “all full-priced items.” The ad's caption includes a short, heartfelt message to customers and fans of the store, saying, “The time has come…all things must go. (in a few weeks) As we move toward our goal, I would like to thank you all for being a part of the Jeffries family. ”
San Francisco's aggressive crime enforcement has drastically reduced car break-ins
San Francisco's current crime wave is threatening many local residents and business owners. (FOX2 San Francisco)
“It was fun,” he added in the post.
Stern added: “The family is saddened by this turn of events and has considered all other options to continue operating the business.” He also said that San Francisco city officials “have been tasked with determining how to revitalize what was once a vibrant and fun downtown experience.”
Last month, Jeffries Toys co-owner Greg Luhn almost predicted the end of the business, telling a local ABC affiliate in December that the store's future would be determined by sales just before the end of the year. was.
Luhn had previously expressed concern about businesses like hers in the city closing. “We're one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the city, but they're slowly disappearing,” he told the local NBC affiliate in December. “I know I can't continue,” he said. Without assistance from the city, we would incur monthly losses. ”
San Francisco city officials did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Click to get the FOX News app
