SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie posted to Instagram Wednesday to announce the opening of the new Pop Mart store.

The Chinese retailer already has a hugely popular location in Stonestown Mall, but the Union Square location will be their first venture into the heart of the city.

Pop Mart’s popularity has exploded in recent times thanks to their viral Labubus – some of which sell online for hundreds of dollars.

The Labubus aren’t the only viral trends that San Francisco is cashing in on though.

Back in May, a Nintendo store also opened in Union Square – only the second store of its kind in the country.

VIDEO: Nintendo San Francisco opens its doors, bringing the gaming world to Union Square

“What do people want? Well it turns out they want stores like Nintendo. They’ve been open for maybe a little over a month-and-a-half and the line has been down the block every single day,” said Marisa Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is the CEO of the Union Square Alliance. She says over the past few months, Union Square has seen several new, trendy stores open or announce plans to open.

A strategy that San Francisco Chamber of Commerce president Rodney Fong says is all a part of a years-long push by city officials to welcome new business.

“San Francisco’s unique ability is that it’s ever changing. Next time you come, we’ve got our staples, we’ve got our legacy businesses, but things are always changing,” he said.

And it seems to be working.

MORE: How San Francisco’s Union Square is beginning to see life again

Outside the Nintendo store, several customers told us they came into town just to shop there.

“Even if it’s a short-term solution to get people down here, I think it’s a great solution,” said Karen Hamilton.

Rodriguez says she expects more exciting openings to happen around Union Square in the coming weeks.

Helping to give the city its mojo back after a rough few years after the pandemic.

“The last few months have been really exciting for San Francisco, and people just feeling like we’ve turned a corner. The phones are ringing. The opportunity may have been yesterday, so let’s go,” said Rodriguez.

Pop Mart’s new store will open on Powell Street.

It could have been the third year for the Sunset Night Market in San Francisco, but organizers said this year is a no-go after funding and planning issues.

“Well-received on many levels, but at the same time, it really was bigger and it just brought so many more people than really is expected for the type of community event this was meant to be. So, restructuring to find that balance for the community, and fill all the needs we were trying to meet with this event,” Angie Petitt, the founder and owner of Sunset Mercantile, told CBS News Bay Area.

The Sunset Mercantile collaborated with the Sunset Chinese Cultural District, along with other partners, beginning in 2023 to host two Friday night markets. What started off as a three-block market along Irving Avenue soon expanded to seven blocks with about 150 vendors.

Petitt said while she is grateful for the 20,000 people who popped by the market last year, the unexpected turnout overwhelmed organizers.

“Was perhaps so well-marketed that it just brought too many people out. We would really like to create a market for the Sunset, yes, of course, everybody is welcome. It’s not a desire to make it bigger and create even more structure around this large behemoth of an event. It’s more about how to tamper it down to a community event again,” she said. 

“If there’s too many people, and expectations that don’t feel organic, then it’s just going off in a little bit of a direction organically where it should be,” she added.

The city granted the night market $120,000 to host the event, but organizers said they didn’t get the funding until about eight months after the last market was over. Officials said there was a delay in the accounting system that prevented from a quicker reimbursement process.  

The Sunset Chinese Cultural District sent CBS News Bay Area a statement, in part below:

“Unfortunately, due to a series of circumstances beyond our control, we weren’t reimbursed by the City for the August and September 2024 Sunset Night Markets until May 2025 – 8 months after the last market. With this delay in payment, we did not feel confident planning another night market until we were fully reimbursed for the previous markets. The Sunset Night Market Collaborative is committed to planning and producing night markets to ensure the continuity of its success.  We are working with OEWD to create a night market more in scale with our community, and something the Sunset can be proud to have.”

District Four Supervisor Joel Engardio said he is proud of his district for kickstarting a successful night market that inspired several other markets in the city.

“The Sunset Night Market proved what was possible, we had 10s of thousands of people come out and activate a street that has never been done before. And what you see now? Night markets all over San Francisco,” Engardio told CBS News Bay Area.

He added, however, that there does need to be more fine-tuning before the next market.

“How big should the night market be? It was a colossal success, maybe too successful. We started with 10,000. And then 20,000 the next year. How much bigger can it get? It’s hard to sustain, it’s expensive,” Engardio said. 

He wanted to clarify that they aren’t cancelled for good, they just need more time to figure out what is sustainable for everyone. 

“Everyone loves the night market, so there’s no way that’s going away,” the supervisor said. “We’re hoping to bring it back early next year, maybe in conjunction with Lunar Year, that would be amazing. But unfortunately, it’s just not happening this summer or fall.”

 The Outer Sunset Merchants and Professional Association also sent CBS News Bay Area a statement, in part below:

“As the event grew, it did become more challenging to manage. However, make no mistake: the vast majority of merchants along the Irving corridor found the Sunset Night Market to be a fantastic event and are eager to see its return. We’re currently working closely with fellow merchants, the community, and organizers to explore how we can bring back another amazing night market experience.”

However, some local businesses disagree about its return.

“I think night market’s really fun. I’m from Taiwan and it’s part of our background and history and it’s always good,” Teresa Tseng, a partner at Noori Pakistani & Indian Cuisine, told CBS News Bay Area. “But, it doesn’t really benefit us, and then actually causes us trouble. Trouble means my regular customers, it’s harder to getting here and there’s no way to park. And for delivery, the driver has hard time to get food and they end up giving up.”

Noori Pakistani & Indian Cuisine has been open in the Sunset District for more than 15 years.

Tseng said visitors who come by the night market do not visit many of the local restaurants. She said she hopes the city can focus on other ways to boost local businesses.

“I would say the homeless issue, and then the streets need to be cleaner because it’s hard for us to maintain it,” Tseng said.

Meanwhile, organizers said they do plan to find more collaborative ways to make sure businesses like the longtime Halal restaurant also benefit from future night markets.

“Also have some fun ideas of ways to incentivize folks to shop and dine and patron those businesses. But it also needs to come from those businesses of being creative,” Petitt said.

CBS News Bay Area also asked Engardio whether he believes pushes for his recall may have led to the postponement of this year’s night market.

“Politics have nothing to do with night markets. It should have nothing to do with night markets. Because night markets are about bringing people together, experiencing joy. That’s what night markets do, that was my vision for the night market. And I completed that vision with the help of all of these community partners, and we want to keep that going,” Engardio said.

CBS News Bay Area also reached out to Mayor Daniel Lurie’s Office, and a spokesperson with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development sent this statement below:

“Conversations about a future activation are ongoing, and we’re excited to support an event that champions local businesses and celebrates API culture,” Kate Patterson, the director of external affairs, said.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie on Tuesday is marking 6 months in office. He ran on a platform of making the city safer and solving the homeless crisis.

So, how is the city doing?

He spoke with ABC7’s Julian Glover and Karina Nova in studio to break down how his term is going so far, and what he still wants to accomplish.

Watch the full interview in the video player above.

HOMELESSNESS

Mayor Lurie said one of his promises is to tackle homelessness head on, and build 1,500 shelter beds by the 6-month mark.

As of Tuesday, he said 400 shelter beds have been made for the unhoused, so far, and hopes to have 1,000 beds by the end of the year.

“I was just driving here, saw someone you know, struggling with addiction on the street. We can’t just stand up a shelter bed for that person. We need to get them real help. The right kind of bed is what we are after.”

He said, to date, most people have been taken to SF General (Hospital), “where they’re put on a 51/50 hold lease and law enforcement stays with that person.”

It terms of how to get an unhoused person help, he said, “it depends.” They’re currently building a transitional facility at 822 Geary St.

“We have this transitional facility where people can come in for 24 hours, get assessed, get the right kind of care, and then pass off to a facility that is appropriate.”

MORE: Daniel Lurie inaugurated as San Francisco’s 46th mayor, outlines vision for city

HOUSING IN SAN FRANCISCO

Housing continues to be an issue in San Francisco. He said last week’s CEQA reform where California overhauled the landmark environmental law to speed up housing construction was a big moment for the state.

He introduced The Family Zoning Plan. “We have to make it easier to build housing…we want to make sure that there is more housing here in San Francisco that is affordable for families.”

He said one of the reasons the new Family Zoning Plan is in place is “so the state doesn’t come in and take it over, CEQA, and the changes in Sacramento will help us do just that.”

“I don’t think you’re going to see immediate impacts today, but it’s going to change the trajectory of housing in San Francisco.”

IMMIGRATION

Immigration and the immigration raids and crackdowns have been happening throughout the country. Los Angeles has been Ground Zero. On Monday, hundreds of National Guard troops were deployed. According to a post on X by the Defense Department, U.S. military personnel were on the ground to ensure the safety of federal agents.

How is San Francisco potentially preparing for this as the Trump administration has been targeting cities and other jurisdictions that have sanctuary city policies?

Mayor Lurie said, “Our city attorney, David Chu, is doing an excellent job on that front, making sure that we protect our policies here in San Francisco, which we know make our city safe. It allows people to call local law enforcement without fear of federal immigration issues popping up. So, we are going to continue to lean into those policies that keep us safe.”

Lurie said he wants to work with the Rapid Response Network so immigrants know what their rights are.

SAFETY

Mayor Lurie recently announced new efforts to increase staffing within the San Francisco Police Department. He says there have been more sheriff’s deputies hired than any time in the last 10 years, and they’re seeing a surge in applications for San Francisco’s police academy. But he says, there’s still a shortage of police officers.

“We’re still short 500 police officers, and I want more officers out there walking to be getting to know community more community policing.”

He said crime is down 27% in San Francisco. In Union Square and the Financial District, crime is down 45% since he took office.

TOURISM

“We’re almost back to pre-pandemic levels in terms of travelers coming to SFO,” Lurie said. He said Fisherman’s Wharf is doing quite well. Last year, 13-and-a-half million people came through before he took office versus 15 million pre-pandemic.

“We have to get out and tell people how great San Francisco is,” he said, emphasizing the decline in crime.

He said investing in small businesses and focusing on the city’s economic recovery is essential. He also added, San Francisco International Airport was recently named “one of the great airports in the world.” “It’s our job to do that equal work here at City Hall.”

REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN

Lurie said there are currently 21 entertainment zones across the city with a previously mentioned 45% decline in crime in Union Square.

“We have a hospitality zone task force to make sure that businesses and visitors are feeling safe. We’re winning conventions back left and right.”

He said Moscone Center has booked 50% higher this year than last year, and said hotel bookings are up 60%.

“I’m calling CEOs, I’m calling entrepreneurs, I’m calling retail CEOs and saying, ‘Hey, we want you back in San Francisco. How can we win your business back?’”