Iconic San Francisco store that inspired Toy Story closes due to high crime

According to The Times UK, Jeffrey’s Toys, the oldest toy store in San Francisco which opened in 1938, announced that it would close in February.

The Luhns family which has operated the store all those years said in a statement that “the perils and violence of the downtown environment, inflation, the decrease in consumer spending and the demise of retail across the world” led to the decision to close.

According to the family attorney, the shop has been targeted by burglars and employees have been threatened.

“The family is saddened it has come to this and we’ve explored all other options to try and keep the business going. The leadership of the city of San Francisco and the Downtown Association have their work cut out for them on how to revitalize what was once a vibrant and fun downtown experience.”

Matthew Luhn told SF Gate last year, “We’re putting our money in, we’re putting our hard work in, and we’re putting our love into it. But, in the relationship we have with the city, that’s not being returned.”

Luhn was one of the Pixar animators that worked on the original Toy Story movie. He told the outlet that while making the animated classic “…we would have my dad come to give us ideas,” Luhn told SF Gate. “And when we did reference for almost all the Toy Story films, we always went to Jeffrey’s Toys. My dad just closed up the store and said, ‘Just play, have fun, and let me know if you need anything.’”

An out-of-control homeless and drug crisis has led to a 14 percent rise in robberies compared with 2022, according to the Mission Local.

The city has lost many high-profile retailers including Nordstrom, AT&T, Cinemark, Old Navy, Whole Foods, and T-Mobile.

Westfield surrendered the city’s biggest mall, San Francisco Centre, to its lender due to the rampant crime as did Park Hotels & Resorts for the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55 due to safety issues in the area, expressing skepticism that the city could recover.