When news broke that long-struggling clothing manufacturer American Apparel had been sold, it was a safe assumption that their business would face big changes — changes that will shutter the LA-based company's 110 retail stores, including the three that remain in San Francisco. The big question, as of Tuesday, is when that closure will occur.

As previously reported by our parent site, Gothamist, the 27-year-old company had been marching toward its demise for quite some time, following a high-profile split with its notoriously vile founder and multiple bankruptcies. Sold last week to Canadian retailer Gildan for a reported $88 million, the new owner says that they plan to close the company's factories and headquarters in Los Angeles, and are expected to move their manufacturing operation outside the US, removing the last reason people who make purchasing decisions based on where things are made will have to buy their goods.

Gildan also announced that they will be closing all of AA's retail locations, three of which are in SF: One is in Union Square at 363 Grant Avenue, another's in the Upper Haight at 1615 Haight Street, and the third is in Cow Hollow at 2174 Union Street. According to Hoodline, "No dates for the closures have been disclosed, and managers at both the Grant Avenue and Union Street locations said they were instructed not to speak to the press about the company's future plans," but "clothes were flying off the shelves of the two-story Union Square store, which was offering deep discounts of 40 to 70 percent on its tees, jeans, and hoodies."

The restructuring, or whatever you want to call it, by the company's new owners, is expected to cost 3,500 people their jobs, Gothamist reports, as Hoodline notes that a local AA staffer "bemoaned the fact that people don't appreciate non-sweatshop clothing." While I don't want to start an argument with someone who's about to lose their job, I don't know that that's the case — I speak with people every day who are making an effort to keep their dollars local when they can.

And would AA have staggered on as long at they had if people didn't appreciate their commitment to making clothing in the US? I really don't think so, as Gothamist notes that if you shopped at American Apparel, you did so knowing you'd drop "a little more on cotton T-shirts than you might elsewhere, but you knew your clothes weren't made by exploited children halfway around the world."

If you're a person concerned about US-based clothing manufacturing, you still have options — and by purchasing from those companies, you still have the opportunity to demonstrate that you, too "appreciate non-sweatshop clothing." New York-based Royal Apparel has a full line of US-made clothing (I should disclose here that I make and sell t-shirts and exclusively use Royal Apparel, but they didn't give me a damn thing to mention them), and Bella+Canvas has a small line of US-made goods that I suspect they'd expand if enough interest was demonstrated. So, while the AA era is coming to a close (and maybe it should), people who want American-made apparel still do have places to find it, places that (as of publication date) lack CEOs who jack off in front of reporters.

Related: National Department Store Bloodbath Leads To Closure Of Another San Francisco Macy's

After a holiday season that left major retail chains reeling with disappointment, department store giants Macy's, Sears, and Kmart have announced a massive wave of real estate sales, closures and shutdowns, including one high-visibility closure in San Francisco.

It's no new news that department stores have struggled for a while, with a reported failure to adapt to current shopping trends causing losses quarter after quarter. This week, we're seeing the result of those losses, as 108 Kmart locations and 42 Sears locations announced closures Wednesday.

Though the few remaining Bay Area Kmart and Sears locations are untouched by this round of cuts, another floundering company's issues will have an impact on local shoppers, as Macy's also announced the closure of 68 stores and the loss of 10,000 jobs Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. As part of that reorganization, the SF Business Times reports, Macy's will be selling its Stonestown Galleria store to the San Francisco mall's operator, General Growth Properties.

That doesn't mean that the store will close right away, the AP reports, as they will "will lease back the Stonestown location for an undisclosed amount of time" until making way for a new tenant. So, a shuttering looms, but no one knows or is saying when, a cloud of certain doom sure to make the already fraught and spooky experience of shopping the deserted, messy, and oft-strange-smelling store all the more pleasant.

CNBC reports that "Macy's comparable sales fell 2.1 percent in November and December." The layoffs and closures are expected to "save the company an estimated $550 million a year starting in 2017. The company will use these proceeds to invest an additional $250 million in its digital business, as well as the growth of its Bluemercury beauty shops, Macy's Backstage off-price stores, and China," CNBC reports.

According to a press release sent by Macy's, closures and sales like this one are expected to "focus resources on strategic priorities, improve organizational agility and reduce expense" and the sale of the Stonestown property (and others) is "consistent with the previously announced real estate strategy."

It's still unknown what's next for the 280,000-square-foot Stonestown space Macy's will at some point vacate. When contacted by the Business Times, a General Growth spokesperson refused to comment specifically on their plans, but said "We have redeveloped, and are currently redeveloping, over 100 former anchor and big box sites throughout our portfolio over the past 5 years. The Macy's at Stonestown represents a further opportunity for us to add value to the property."

As previously reported, Macy's also sold its Union Square Men's Store, in a November deal with Morgan Stanley worth an estimated $250 million. The company says they will continue to lease the 120 Stockton Street property back from its new landlord for the next two years, as their main store is reconfigured to accomodate the men's department. That is, assuming that by the end of 2018 any department stores remain at all.

Previously: Macy's To Shutter Its Union Square Men's Store

Dottie's True Blue Cafe is known as much for its long lines as its epic brunches. But for at least the next week, they won't be offering either, as the Sixth Street joint has temporarily shut its doors.

As Inside Scoop reports, a sign on their door says that they will be closed “until at least February 26th for personal reasons.”

Dottie's, as you might recall, moved from its longstanding Tenderloin location to Sixth and Market Streets in 2012. An effort to rename that notoriously-tough area of the city "Comfort Corner," never really caught on, but Dottie's has been doing just fine without a cutsey 'hood name, with lengthy waits for breakfast, lunch, and brunch.

In Dottie's outgoing voicemail message, chef-owner Kurt Abney says that they will provide updates on a reopening date as warranted. We here at SFist hope that everything's OK for Abney and everyone else in the Dottie's family, and they they reopen soon.

From 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge will shutdown completely for maintenance work. Crews will install a new seismic joint and replace a 60-foot span of the bridge deck, Caltrans reports.

Commuters should instead take the Dumbarton Bridge, the Bay Bridge, "or the south section of Highway 237," notes NBC Bay Area. The bridge will also be closed next weekend on Oct. 26 through Oct. 29. And there you have it.

The revolution will be Instagramed, as pictured here by Jen Ackrill, and nowhere else does that sentiment ring truer than in the heart of the city's Mission District. A May Day demonstration at 16th and Mission currently underway has effectively shut down the intersection today. Traffic is being diverted. If you plan on driving in the area... don't.

We will update as soon as we know more.

UPDATE: Looks like the intersection has reopened, with the peaceful yet bombastic gathering moving downtown.

[via Mission Mission]

Previously: Protesters Trash Valencia Street Businesses In Early May Day Demonstration
This Is What Downtown Oakland Looks Like Right Now [Updated]
Four Barrel Responds To Mission May Day Riot

If you're heading to Lake Tahoe today beware that, as of this morning, the Yolo Causeway has been shutdown, casing a massive backup. Police have closed the stretch of I-80 as they search for a gunman who opened fire on officers, stole a car, crashed said car, and generally caused all sorts of mayhem. Sacramento Bee reports. "The I-80 causeway is shut down westbound at Enterprise Avenue and eastbound in Davis, Wetzel said. The suspect crashed his car approaching the causeway in West Sacramento."

If you're heading eastbound 80, take state route 113 and westbound traffic should take the I-5.

Spork, the Valencia Street establishment that has been elevating comfort food for five years now, has reached the end of their lease Ms. Tablehopper reports. Friday, December 23rd will be the restaurant's last day to grab their infamous in-side-out burger (two patties, bun in the middle, all skewered with a large steak knife) or the opulent Champagne of Burgers. After the new year, the co-owners plan to focus on their more grown-up concept at Thermidor in Mint Plaza.

As for Spork, the restaurant's departure is an amicable one, co-owner Neil Jorgensen told Tablehopper that in addition to Thermidor they'll be working on a few new projects, one of which hopefully brings more hamburgers.

The delightful fast food throwback building (it used to be a KFC, appropriately enough) is slated to be demolished to make way for new condos and a bigger restaurant.

[Tablehopper]

In food and mammary news, the Hooters in Fishermen's Wharf will close its doors for good this month. They're slated to put away the boobage on December 21, the store manager explained to SFist. For a taste as to what Hooters has/had to offer, local writer Beth Spotswood visited the chain restaurant earlier this year. In part, she writes: "What I don’t understand is why you’d ever want to go to Hooters in the first place. Are boobs really that much of a novelty for the patrons of Hooters? Is proximity to hot chicks and gross food that much of a rarity? The sweet girls working there, lovely as they are, walk around in an incredibly unappealing uniform, like a sexed up version of the Hot Dog on a Stick ensemble. Of all the places on Fisherman’s Wharf to dine, why would anyone go to Hooters?"

She'll tell you why.

For those of you crestfallen over Hooters' San Francisco demise, fear not! A Penthouse Club set to open in 2012 will provide us with all the breasts and steak money can buy.

If you must, you have a little less than two weeks to experience Hooters SF. Hooters: 353 Jefferson Street at the Wharf.

Carlos Bar, one of the few watering holes in the Mission geared towards Latinos, closed its doors on June 30. Its alcohol license was suspended by the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control. Why? Mission Local reports: "According to Danielle Shafer, supervisor investigator with the Department of Alcohol Beverage ControlA six-month department investigation, which began 2009 and completed early 2010, found bar owner Carlos Gutierrez and his employees guilty of profit sharing - that is, hiring cocktail waitresses to pressure patrons into buying drinks at a higher rate than normal."

That is to say, waitresses tried bilking customers "between $5 and $10 more than the bar's standard prices," which they would then divvy between owner and waitress.

In fact, here's one Yelper who was apparently screwed over by a Carlos Bar waitress. Steven H. bemoans: "Is $8 worth it for a well vodka and tonic at 6pm on a weekday? Not at a dumpy bar I'd say. Carlos Club offers hostesses who are ready to take a drink order the minute you walk in the door, faster than your eyes can adjust to the dark interiors. I recommend getting the bottled beers because at least those prices are posted. But in general, I would not recommend the overpriced, underquality drinks here."

Although the bars owners, Carlos and Rosa Gutierrez, filed for due process when these allegations were revealed, the courts ruled against them.

Located at 3278 24th Street, the bar will remain closed "until a new application is filed and approved by city officials and the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control." Until then, a new owner could step in and, God forbid, turn the local institution into, say, a steampunk-themed eclair shop. Or whatever obnoxious retail atrocity Valencia Street denizens find tragically adorable these days.

[Mission Local]