The clothing brand‘s opening celebration with P-Lo, Karri and others comes amid a rebranding of the area.
Aug 21, 2026
Updated 10:01 am PT
Marshawn Lynch, pictured in a promotional photo for BAPE’s new San Francisco store. ‘The Bay got a way with pulling things in,’ says the NFL star. (BAPE)
At the turn of the millennium, BAPE had the hip-hop world in a veritable headlock. Now, Japanese streetwear brand has a San Francisco storefront. Their Union Square location soft-launched over the summer, and this Saturday, Aug. 22, its celebrates its official grand opening with a block party.
The brick-and-mortar shop will open at 10 a.m. – earlier than usual – while the block party, just around the corner, will run from 1 p.m.–5 p.m. The free, all-ages event features live performances from Oakland R&B singer Karri and Pinole rapper-producer P-Lo, as well as DJ sets from Lil CC, Shabazz and DJ D Sharp.
“We’ll also be restocking all of our sold-out SF BAPE merch,” adds the store’s assistant manager, Ant Bankx, referring to the special San Francisco-branded apparel that flew off shelves as soon as the store opened. “We’ve had a line every day, out the store,” Bankx attests. “Even for BAPE, that’s not normal.”
Designer Ant Bankx says San Francisco fashion is thriving, but too often overlooked.
The company, founded in 1993 by fashion designer Nigo, has long been a standard of urban wear. By opening a store in Union Square, Bankx says, San Francisco’s fashion scene is getting the recognition it deserves.
“We’ve always been here,” says Bankx, “and we’ve always had a voice.”
Raised in Richmond, Bankx has styled some of the Bay’s top entertainers, including Rexx Life Raj and Ovrkast. Co-producer of the Cafe Gumbo streetwear pop-up series, Bankx has also worked with local and nationally recognized brands and retailers, including Oaklandish, STASHED SF and the high-end consignment shop ReLove.
Steeped in Bay Area culture and the world of fashion, Bankx knows all about what’s impeding the region from being credited as a hub for stylish apparel and fly garments.
“People want fashion to look like how fashion looks everywhere,” he says — but the Bay Area has always developed a style of its own. “It’s not on anyone else’s terms. We’re not imitating New York or Los Angeles, we’re out here doing our own thing. Setting our own vibe.”
Union Square in downtown San Francisco, pictured on January 22, 2026.
Along with the notion that people aren’t getting fits off in the Bay, there’s also a reputation that Union Square is trying to shed.
The 2024 attempted robbery and shooting of 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the area, plus a series of smash-and-grab robberies at luxury retail stores in 2021, plagued the “brand” of Union Square. While reports of these incidents were accurate, Bankx says the tone online quickly became sensationalized. “Everybody focuses on the negative,” he says.
Last year, San Francisco reported a 40% drop in crime in the area. That came on the heels of a $267 million dollar California Highway Patrol program announced in 2023, which aimed to crack down on robberies at shopping areas across the state. And in 2025, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie implemented a SFPD Hospitality Task Force, created specifically to “improve public safety, boost tourism and drive economic recovery in key commercial area(s),” including Union Square.
Much like the rest of downtown San Francisco, Union Square is in a state of transition. Since 2020, more than 15 stores, ranging from DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) to Saks Fifth Avenue, have left the area. At one point, even Macy’s threatened to vacate its flagship store on the square. This year’s closure of San Francisco’s largest mall, three blocks away, didn’t help.
But in the wake of the mass exodus, new stores have appeared, including Pop Mart, Moscot, Zara and a Nintendo store.
Shoppers wait in the rain outside of the Pop Mart store in San Francisco’s Union Square on Dec. 23, 2025.
“San Francisco is making a conscious effort to put these things here,” says Bankx, describing it as not just post-pandemic rebuilding, but building better. “And I think BAPE was one of those early pieces to fall into place.”
With a SUPREME store just minutes away, Bankx sees “synergy within the culture.” Other major brands like Kith also have plans to open stores downtown. With the influx, San Francisco itself is rebranding. The question is: Will it have a lasting impact or will it fold during the next economic downturn?
“You don’t really know if it’s going to work until you see,” says Bankx.
Given the lines out of the BAPE store and the demand for regionally specific merch — and what’s sure to be a large crowd at Saturday’s event — there’s clearly a healthy market for fashion in Frisco.
The BAPE in the Bay block party takes place on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 1–5 p.m. at Union Square Plaza (216 Stockton St., San Francisco). Check here for more information.