San Francisco’s real estate market just got a whole lot spookier with the auction sale of the legendary Hotel Union Square. This historic property, nestled in the heart of downtown, has more drama than a Netflix miniseries – complete with prohibition-era secrets and potentially paranormal roommates.

A Hotel with More Stories Than Square Footage

Once a bustling hub of hospitality, the hotel has seen more transformations than a Silicon Valley startup. After serving as temporary housing during the pandemic, the property sat empty, with its last commercial tenant – a Swatch store – boarding up windows and calling it quits.

Haunted Hallways and Literary Legends

Before becoming a pandemic shelter, this building was a playground for literary icons. Dashiell Hammett, famous noir novelist, and his tumultuous lover Lillian Hellman allegedly made Room 207 their personal love nest. Local legend whispers that Hellman’s spirit still paces these halls, presumably critiquing modern real estate trends.

A Hopeful Future for Powell Street

The Union Square Alliance seems cautiously optimistic about the property’s potential rebirth. With Powell Street struggling with vacancies, this historic hotel might just be the supernatural intervention the neighborhood needs. From speakeasy to shelter to potentially trendy boutique hotel, this property is the ultimate San Francisco comeback story.

Stay tuned, because in San Francisco, even abandoned hotels have more plot twists than a tech startup’s pitch deck.