After a much-needed (?) $30 million makeover, the Metreon, struggling early aughts mall fortress at Fourth and Mission, will open a new set of "reimagined" restaurants and shops on Saturday. Among the reworked ideas: a simpler, cleaner tone to the place; easier entry; and stores that—get this—one can enter without having first to walk through a human maze. Which is to say, many retail stores will now be accessible from Fourth Street. more ›

Disappointing news for anyone hoping to get aall their chintzy holiday shopping done in one place this weekend (guilty!). The Examiner brings us a progress report from the Metreon Target store this morning. The pearly white Minnesotan chain has not yet to started construction on the 85,000 square-foot store — that will begin sometime in January after the Westfield folks wrap up their part of the construction. Assuming everything goes according to plan the new store will be open by next October, just in time for the 2012 holiday rush. more ›

Lively Tumblr Bi Curios Dad came across a sight at the Metreon complex at Fourth and Mission, one that they've seen several times. Specifically, a man who comes in regularly and eats store brand vanilla ice cream with a plastic spoon while crouched in the same corner. BCD writes: more ›

Temporary Mayor Ed Lee is looking out for the concerns of San Francisco's budget-minded and politically-conscious shoppers. You'll remember that the city's excitement for house-brand hand soaps, Paul Frank bedding and one-off designer clothing lines quickly fizzled with the revelation that the Minnesota-based chain donated funds to an anti-Gay politician. As the Metreon remodel moves forward, making way for the big red bullseye, Ed Lee tells the Bay Area Report that he has requested a meeting with Target's top execs to discuss their political contributions. more ›

A 19-year-old man was convicted of second-degree murder yesterday in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Prince Jr. in 2007 at the Metreon. The two were arguing over whether Prince was "clogging" the escalator, and the shooter, Christopher Canon of San Francisco, pulled out a gun and shot Prince four times. more ›

Gavin Newsom will have a long legacy no doubt, but fans of Method soap products and Paul Frank bedding might remember him most for putting aside the anti-gay controversy and pushing through all the paperwork to approving San Francisco's first Target store. In an announcement yesterday, Gavin described the Minnesota-based chain with all the wide-eyed wonder you might expect from a parent who's expecting, calling the Metreon "the perfect place for a new, urban-centered Target that will bring jobs, smart development and an exciting and unique retail destination." We're not sure how unique it is, but the diaper prices seem reasonable. more ›

After a six-week trial, one that revealed police misconduct and witness tampering, Kenoye Stroman, 26, accused of gunning down a patron outside Jillian's in 2007, was acquitted today. more ›

"Inside the Metreon" by Demetrios Lyras. more ›

Ah, what could have been but never was. That, in a steel-and-glass nutshell, is the Metreon, the monstrous beast at Fourth and Mission streets. Awkwardly shaped, dark interiors, stupefying walkways, confounding escalators -- the four-story 350,000 square foot megaplex, which opened in 1999, is an aesthetic and community failure. more ›

Check out this shot of the Metreon, crammed right into the heart of bustling San Francisco at Fourth and Mission, this past Friday night. Where is everybody? Even the movie theater appears empty. It's like they turned the complex into a museum. more ›

In what could be the story of the century, a Target store might be coming to one of the floors at the Metreon. more ›

After the Metreon proved to be an inarguable disaster (e.g., shops, feel, maneuverability, clientele, warm fuzzies), the awkward steelish complex at Fourth and Mission is attempting a comeback. According to the Examiner, "popular New York restaurant Tavern on the Green will occupy the top floor; a food terrace will face Yerba Buena Gardens; and lights will colorfully illuminate the Fourth Street facade." Darling! Hopefully, the new restaurants will be more affordable than the ones in the Ferry Building. And while the cinema will be one of few things remaining from the old Metreon, the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center will lease space in the complex, "where it will set up its events and administrative headquarters." more ›

Coming as a surprise to no one, Sony plans on shutting down the PlayStation Store and SonyStyle Store at the Metreon complex. As near to the heart to PlayStation fans as the Apple store is to Mac sect members, the Metreon saw lines circling the block when they released the PlayStation 3 in 2006. But now, due to the recession (not to mention the Metreon's jarring feng shui), both Sony stores will close later this year. According to The New York Times, "the PlayStation store’s decline is an emblem of bigger problems with Sony, which has seen its fortunes turn from first place in the console business to third place." All of this boils down to one question: Should one get a Sony PSP or Nintendo DS? more ›

Although almost every single one of you have fantasized about doing it at some point -- especially on 24th Street, where for some inexplicable reason people ooze down the street like lava -- you rarely act upon it. A group of vile teens, however, did. It seems that the reason for last Sunday's brazen shooting death inside the Metreon was over an argument about walking too slow down an escalator. Really. The 15-year-old mental... more ›

"I'll pop a cap in your ass," four cowardly teens whined just minutes before 18-year-old Michael Price, Jr. of Oakland was shot inside the Metreon last night after some sort of argument. He later died at San Francisco General Hospital at around 7:30 p.m. A 15-year-old tyke was arrested a few minutes later in connection with Price's murder. Investigators do not believe the incident was gang related, adding that "it was just one of... more ›