District 10 candidates weigh in on AutoZone replacing Walgreens on Third Street

The San Francisco Planning Commission approved AutoZone to replace a shuttered Walgreens on Third Street in the Bayview neighborhood, sparking debate among residents and District 10 supervisor candidates, Mission Local reported.

The vacant Walgreens building has been empty since 2025, and its landlords say it has been difficult to find tenants. Neighbors have expressed concerns about blight and the need to fill vacant storefronts quickly along the commercial corridor.

Third Street has struggled to recover from pandemic closures, with sales and retail growth declining significantly. This has heightened worries about the area's economic health and revitalization efforts.

At the planning commission meeting, many Bayview residents, including candidate Theo Ellington, opposed the AutoZone approval, while a smaller group supported it. Sitting Supervisor Shamann Walton also voiced concerns about the corridor's recovery.

The candidates for District 10 are responding weekly to questions about local issues, including this one, as part of Mission Local's “Meet the Candidates” series.

The controversy highlights ongoing challenges in balancing neighborhood economic development with community preferences in San Francisco's southeast sector.