The Emporium was at one time San Franciso's largest department store. It was notable for its selection and size, as well as for being the first high-end department store to choose a location South of Market Street. It's distinctive building (with glass dome intact) is now home to the Westfield San Francisco Centre.

The Emporium merged with the Oakland based H.C. Capwell department store and became Emporium-Capwell. Eventually the Capwell name was dropped. Near the end of its existence, the company dropped the "The" and began referring to itself as simply Emporium. Federated Department Stores merged all remaining Emporium stores into Macy's West.