Ghirardelli Closes Flagship Store Amid Union Labor Dispute
The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company closed its flagship store in San Francisco on July 30 as part of a three-day strike by union workers over healthcare insurance disputes. The Unite Here Local 2 union accused the company of bad-faith bargaining, particularly regarding how much of a customer surcharge is used to cover employee health costs. Union representatives claim Ghirardelli's proposed alternative plan would offer less coverage and increase out-of-pocket expenses for employees. This marks the first strike by all shop workers since 1984. The dispute has led picketing at multiple locations in Ghirardelli Square, with concerns over rising healthcare costs affecting daily life for some employees. Despite this labor issue, Ghirardelli reported $1 billion in net trade sales revenue in 2025 and operates 19 stores nationwide.