Potrero Center

It’s so sad, especially when you consider that it used to be the location of Seals Stadium, where the minor-​league San Francisco Seals and Mission Reds used to play. The Giants also played here for two seasons before Candlestick Park was built.
I want to say there’s plenty of parking, but it’s often difficult to find a spot, especially downstairs. Now that the former Office Depot location is vacant, parking might be a bit easier, but I doubt it. There’s something weird about the Safeway even though I like it/​need it/​despise it.
Why did so many of my Seneca-​morning bagels come from its Noah’s? Oh, and when its Blockbuster closed, it really was the end of an era. The Safeway sign on the southeast corner of the building isn’t as spotty as it used to be, but I’ll never understand Matt’s obsession with its Boston Market either. How can a guy despise the Potrero Center’s Safeway yet actually go out of his way to patronize its Boston Market? And don’t say that Brian made him do it, because while I’m sure Brian tagged along and enjoyed his meal while making fun of it copiously, no one makes Matt do anything. Basically ever. OK, that may not have been true 100 percent of the time in the mid-​2000s, but it’s true 100 percent of the time now.
Shannon and Ross. That’s all that’s left to say.

I hate to say it, but I have never been to the Potrero Center. For someone who is born in San Francisco. I live in the Outer Sunset and the only time I have been to that area was in the summer of 1998, when I went for the U.S. Postal test near by. Which I didn’t make it what is consider the low end of passing it. The ones are not going to be the first bunch to be picked.
But what I have seen of the place is it ok not the worst of worst, but it can still do better. From what I found out the newest and latest owner is Equity One Inc.(headquarter in Miami FL.). They also own Serramonte Center, the Plaza Escuela in Walnut Creek, other California malls and malls and other centers in other states. Hopefully Equity One Inc. can fix up, remodel the place and make it better and nice like Lakeshore Plaza (on Sloat Blvd), San Bruno Towne Center, Bridgepointe Shopping Center in San Mateo and other Shopping centers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I kind of wonder why the only Comcast store in San Francisco is way over at the Potrero Center, there should be one either at the Stonestown mall or Lakeshore Plaza at Sloat Blvd also. For the people in the whole Outer Sunset, Parkside, Sloat Blvd. Lakeside and West Portal area. Not just that one for all of San Francisco. Well let see will Equity One Inc. do anything to the shopping center to make it a little better.
I wonder do people from other parts of San Francisco goes to the Potrero Center, like From the Richmond neighborhood, Outer sunset, Chinatown, Ocean Ave, Lakeside and the Inner Sunset. Maybe they rather go to City Center on Geary And Masonic (some what not that great either and the neighborhood don’t help it), Colma Metro Center, San Bruno Towne Center, LakeShore Plaza and Skyline Plaza Shopping Center.

It is incredibly ironic that on a big red sign next to the door it says something along the lines of «our customers are everything. Without them we are nothing». Based on that statement they should be disappearing in the near future. It’s convenient, but I will avoid this place going forward. There was a line of 3 people waiting at the «business center» for 20 minutes. No joke. People in red shirts employed by Office Depot buzzed around us, pushing stuff and saying excuse me, scanning stacks of paper nearby etc. I went up to the cashier to suggest that perhaps someone should help the pleasant and patient associate at the business center. Nada. The manager is Shawn or Sean and he could stand to read that sign at the front of the store. Or maybe someone over him is pushing him on some standards or deadlines or something. Crazy.
If you are in business and want to stay that way I’d recommend staying away from the business center here. I had other items to purchase but I’ll take that business elsewhere thank you.

This place should be 5 stars for the stores and location, but, in the end it just sucks. Lots of good stuff here, from the Radio Shack to Togos to Smash Burger to the sandwich makers at the Safeway Deli. The problem is the infrastructure — super skinny paking spaces that guarantee door dings from anything other than a Prius. Dark, poorly lit underground (my locked bike got stolen at 3 in the afternoon). The exit onto 16^th street is a wreck waiting to happen, as the parking lot is so stuffed that the delivery trucks park right where they obstruct your view of oncoming traffic. That coupled with the 24 hour per day, non-​stop panhandlers at the exit diverting your attention. Enough options here that it should be a go to place for lunch, but no one in my office wants to deal with the parking and hassle, so we look elsewhere.

I am only giving this shopping center 5 stars to negate all the 1 stars from people who are stupid enough to 1) leave valuables in their car when they leave their vehicle, 2) leave their car parked here and go somewhere that isn’t the shopping center then think it’s blasphemy to get a ticket.
It is common sense in a CITY to know the following things: You cannot just leave your car parked here for the 3 hours if you are not shopping at the businesses located in the center… common sense. Safeway parking lots are typically where the «riff-​raff» hang out… common sense. The people around here are «sketchy» because this is Potrero Hill… DUH, common sense.
If you think you’re being ‘smart’ by parking here and walking out or «can’t believe you got a ticket,» then you obviously need to re-​think your choice about living in a city vs the suburbs… fucking whiny complaining transplants.
I am actually only reviewing this shopping center because all the reviews annoy me. This is the closest Safeway to my house and it’s 24-​hours. That is pretty fucking amazing when you live in Bayview. I do all my grocery shopping here at 10pm with no traffic in the parking lot and I ain’t even scared.

I come here all the time to do business: Safeway, Chase, Jamba, Noah’s, Triple A
I can’t believe I was fined $ 40 for walking away across the street to have lunch, then returned to the area to go to the Vitamin Shop! They must have bored people just scouting for these types of things. VERY UNFAIR!!! It’s not like I parked my car there, then took a bus to downtown and kept it there the entire day! No obvious signs posted.
Beware! Ticket is $ 40 within 21 days, then $ 63 therefore! Don’t be obvious to walk away from the lot. Duck into one of the stores first, then walk away!
1 Star for being a RIP OFF!

Beware of the $ 63 ticket if you dare leave the parking lot for any reason, like walking across the street to mail a letter. Despite very unclear signs, you get a ticket if you leave the premises, even after you bought something at the center, and even if you leave for five minutes or less. Total scam and a sign they don’t really want your business.

Free Parking in the city? What? Serious? Yesss Sireeees!
I’ve heard horror stories about this place. Most from «crazidents» who migrated to the city somewhere from «timbuktoo,» and from a few buddies of mine who have no clue what they got «goin» till they loose it. Dude, it’s free parking! «fml»
It’s almost unheard of finding a FREE «freakin» parking for 3 WHOLE HOURS in city. I even found a spot right next to the entrance level right across USPS. Parking is not diagonal so take caution when you pull in, and pull out (no dirty thoughts). The bottom floor could also use more lighting. It was «freakin» dark, maybe that’s why it was free.
Cheers! :p

I like going here because of the variety of things that I can get done all at once but this shopping center needs to be remodeled immediately. I never park in the underground parking lot because it just seems seedy and unsafe.

My car was broken into twice

I do not like this center, period. If Petco weren’t located here, I would avoid this shopping center entirely.
The parking lot is a nightmare and the Safeway was designed by someone trying to pull a trick on Helen Keller: Whatever department you’re looking for, head 180 degrees in the opposite direction of how any other Safeway is laid out.
Convenient– but miserable.

Not too clean.

Got a parking citation after returning to my car from being in Safeway for ~20 minutes. I WAS WRONGLY FINED. Obviously this is a center desperate for money. After having big-​time tenants like The Gap, Old Navy, and the Post office leave the plaza… Potrero Center has to find a means of collecting more money.
BE CAREFUL OF GETTING A $ 63 PARKING CITATION!!!

I like this place. I really do. Yeah. I do. I like the selection of stores– Sally’s beauty supply, Ross, Safeway, Boston Market, Blockbuster, Lane Bryant…
A few sketchy people, but aren’t there sketchy folks all over the globe? Yes, I think there are.

The Potrero Center is a pretty decent strip mall. Upper and lower level parking is available and conveniently free, which is a breath of fresh air here in San Francisco.
There’s a Ross, Chase Bank, Office Depot, Petco, 24-​Hour Fitness, Safeway, and a slew of other chain stores for all your shopping desires.
Nothing special, but hey, it works.

Plenty of parking! Such a rarity in San Francisco.
My favorite stores are:
Safeway– minus the stinky bums that linger throughout the store
Jamba Juice– I love the white gummy
Nubi– I can never say no to froyo
Office Depot– I’m commanded by my master to buy supplies for the office
The Dry Cleaning Shop Downstairs– idk the name, but the lady is super nice. She was able to repair my Joe’s and Hudson jeans… BIG SHOUT OUT TO YOU! I’d write a review, but I can’t find you on here!!!
Chase– I need money, so I go here.

Office Depot, Safeway, Ross, Peet’s, Togo’s, Noah’s, Boston Market and Comcast — all in one spot. Definitely a nice place for the all in one needs. Whether you are here to purchase, school/​office supplies, groceries and clothing, the stores here got you covered. With several restaurants, two coffee shops and one juice shop here, this is definitely another great go to lunch spot. There are plenty of parking spots available upstairs and downstairs.
Boston Market is still here and it is downstairs. The gym here is 24 Hour Fitness, it’s also downstairs facing the exit to Bryant St. USPS and Sports Basement are both on Bryant St — across the street from here.
Nearby Public Transportation:
MUNI
— 9 San Bruno
— 9L San Bruno Limited
— 22 Fillmore
— 27 Bryant
— 33 Stanyan
SamTrans
— Route 292*
*SamTrans route 292 Northbound — DROP OFF ONLY
*SamTrans route 292 Southbound — PICK UP ONLY

I don’t understand the lousy reviews. The locals should be happy of the central hub of a mall in such a district. I only wish there was a Jamba Juice, Office Depot, Safeway, etc. conveniently located in the Richmond in one place. Why complain about the parking too? Would you rather constantly feed the meters at mediocre prices rather than using that money toward something of value for yourself? Anyway, there are several public transportation routes that will get you to and from here– 22 Fillmore, 27 Bryant, 33 Stanyan, and maybe more that I am missing. If you want access to BART, walk down 16^th Street to Mission Street.
Aside from the negativity, this is a great place to just relax during lunch and/​or break. There are tables outside Peet’s Coffee & Jamba Juice. If Peet’s isn’t your fling, there is a Starbucks inside of Safeway and it even accepts Starbucks gift cards! There’s no Unilocal entry for that Starbucks… odd. If you are hungry, there’s a Togo’s Sandwich store and I think Boston Market still exists here. The Safeway here has a hot deli and the checkout lanes are busy throughout the day. Also, located next to The Sports Basement for all outdoor gear and equipment needs. There’s a USPS and a gym, I forget which one since there are so many in the City already.

In the almost-​decade that I’ve lived in the Mission (1 mile South of this «mall»), I’ve seen this place fall OFF! There used to be a GAP and an OLD NAVY — both are long gone (not that GAP is the fanciest store in the world — it’s just, I don’t know, cool to have one around…) The Potrero Safeway used to be the nice Safeway — now it’s taken the mantel of UnSafeway. It’s a minefield walking in with panhandlers on the right, clipboard granola dudes on the left, smokers, moms yelling at their kids, smelly funky folks. One time in Safeway a Funky Dude (Caucasian, btw), slammed into my cart, and demanded: «you want to fuck with me, Faggot?» Almost as offensive were the Jehovah’s Witnesses illegally parked in the fire zone next to Ross, handing out leaflets from their PT Cruiser. Areas of the mall smell like urine.
Still, I’m here at least 1 – 2 times per week. For better or worse, it’s my neighborhood mall. My P.O. Box is nearby, as well as Sports Basement (park at Potrero, and walk across Bryant St). Ross, Jamba Juice, the Wells Fargo ATM in the Safeway, the Yogurt place, Office Depot. It’s not fancy, but it’s not so bad. (I guess)

A miserable asphalt lot. From the street, it just looks like a blank wall; and on the inside, it’s a sea of parked cars. It’s unpleasant to traverse, with no shade and hardly any sidewalk or crosswalks.
At the very far end, there are a few shops. None are particularly remarkable — a mediocre sandwich shop, an office supply store that is perpetually going out of business, a dress shop for the overweight. There is also the most dimly-​lit grocery store I have ever seen. There are plenty of better alternatives in the neighborhood.