What If Kultivate Labs Focused on Revitalizing Westfield Mall?
UNDISCOVERED SF 2019 underneath the Westfield’s Dome
For the past 7 years, Kultivate Labs has been focused on our key goal of building a thriving commercial corridor for SOMA Pilipinas businesses, creatives, and artists. The road has been challenging, but we've made significant strides, claiming multiple spaces along Mission Street and more. Now, imagine if Kultivate Labs directed its focus towards revitalizing Westfield Mall in 2025. Picture transforming this space into a dynamic Creative Sector as part of a broader vision to develop a vibrant commercial corridor within the SOMA Pilipinas district.
Filipino Food is on the rising star of the culinary scene
Potential Revitalization of Westfield Mall: Consider the transformation that could occur if Westfield Mall, a site with great potential yet currently underutilized, became a central hub for innovative Filipino food concepts and cultural activities. This move could invigorate the mall's 4th floor, turning it into a bustling center for Filipino cuisine, and more, which is gaining global acclaim.
Empowering SOMA Pilipinas: This hypothetical focus could significantly impact our broader goals. By creating a commercial corridor on Mission Street, we could establish a dynamic marketplace that serves as a cultural anchor for the Filipino community and beyond, driving business and fostering cultural exchange.
Reimagining the Bespoke Event Space: What if we repurposed the now-defunct Bespoke event space within the mall? Managing this venue with our longtime events partner Make it Mariko could allow us to host not only UNDISCOVERED SF but also other community events and activities from the nearby Moscone Center, potentially turning the 4th floor into a year-round festival hub.
Quartier Des Spectacles, a downtown district that drives tourism in Montreal
Creating a Cultural District Inspired by Quartier des Spectacles: Drawing inspiration from Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles, imagine transforming this section of SOMA/Downtown into a cultural district vibrant with artistic and cultural expressions. Quartier des Spectacles hosts over 80 venues and more than 40 festivals annually, revitalizing its area with life and creativity—could we replicate this model in San Francisco?
Malls across the Bay Area may be dying, but Stonestown Galleria is thriving, thanks in part to popular Japanese stores and restaurants. | Source: Juliana Yamada for The Standard
Learning from Stonestown Galleria's Success: Taking cues from the success of Stonestown Galleria's transformation by embracing Japanese businesses and cultural attractions, we could similarly infuse Westfield Mall with diverse, high-frequency-visit attractions. Stonestown’s incorporation of popular Japanese retailers and entertainment options like Marugame Udon and Round1 Bowling & Arcade has revitalized the mall, driving foot traffic and fostering a community-centric atmosphere. This approach has proven that integrating cultural experiences can significantly enhance the appeal and economic vitality of a shopping mall.
Benefits of an Indoor Venue: Imagine the benefits of moving indoors. Hosting events within Westfield Mall could leverage existing infrastructure like power, lighting, and restrooms, reducing logistical challenges and costs, thus enabling us to hold events regardless of weather, year-round.
Returning UNDISCOVERED SF to a Night Market Format: With reduced costs and better safety measures, we could return UNDISCOVERED SF to its original Night Market format within the mall. Collaborating with the mall to transform the 4th floor’s lighting could create a unique nighttime destination, enhancing the overall experience and appeal of the event.
Supporting Cultural Anchors in the Area: Such a focus would not only activate Westfield Mall but also support other cultural anchors in the area, all within 1.5 blocks of the mall. Kapwa Gardens, a healing space for the community built by Kultivate Labs, provides a lush environment for wellness activities, markets, and cultural events. Sentro Filipino, offering services and support for the Filipino community, and Executive Order SF, known for its vibrant social and event experiences, would also benefit from increased foot traffic and cultural synergy. Additionally, Balay Kreative Studios could take over empty storefronts in the mall to create immersive art exhibits and host various community events and workshops. Kultivate Labs' SEED Network (SEED Network) would help attract and support the businesses placed in the mall, ensuring their success and integration into the local economy.
A Ripe Opportunity for SOMA Pilipinas: While Japantown boasts a bustling mall filled with Japanese businesses, making it a center of commerce and tourism, SOMA Pilipinas has a nearly half-empty mall just waiting within our district. This presents a ripe opportunity to elevate the Filipino cultural district to be on par with Japantown and Chinatown, turning Westfield Mall into a vibrant, culturally rich destination.
Community Support: With nearly half a million Filipinos living in the Bay Area, this revitalization effort would likely see strong community support. The vibrant Filipino community would come out in droves to support the revitalized mall, ensuring its success and integration into the local economy. With a huge parking lot next door and access to public transportation, it makes it an easy space for visitors to access.
Conclusion: As we contemplate this potential focus in 2025, let's discuss and dream about how such a shift could not only elevate UNDISCOVERED SF but also significantly impact San Francisco's urban landscape. By potentially directing our efforts towards Westfield Mall, we aim to deepen our celebration of Filipino culture, ensuring it remains a vibrant part of the city’s diverse community.
