Hi San,
Shopping in <font color="119911">SAN FRANCISCO</font>
Most of the shops along <font color="ff0000">Fisherman’s Wharf</font> close late. You’ll prob be able to buy touristy stuff until about 9-10pm daily.
Shops within the Union Square area such as <font color="ff0000">Macy’s, Gap, Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret, Williams Sonoma</font> etc will prob close about 8-9pm. Not sure abt weekends but could be as early as 6pm. <font color="ff0000">Border’s</font> along Powell Street closes later, maybe 11pm so I usually stop by for books after the rest of Union Square closes up. I think <font color="ff0000">HMV</font> also closes late.
Don’t bother going to <font color="ff0000">Embarcadero Center</font> at night. Even if the shops are still open, that area is in the financial district so the streets are QUIET.
I also assume you’re not gonna venture into Chinatown at night either.
I’m not sure abt the rest of SF but the above are where most folks do their shopping.
Shopping in <font color="119911">LOS ANGELES</font>
I didn’t really shop in LA. The feeling to shop in LA is not as conducive as SF or Minnesota. And most of the shops are branded.. Think Rodeo Drive.
The one place I did shop at was <font color="ff0000">Beverly Center</font> cos it was near my hotel. This place is also mentioned in today’s LIFE section of the Straits Times page 6 under Dr Hols column!! Currently the shopping centre closes at 9pm on weekdays, 8pm on Sat and on Sundays, at 6pm. Nearby, within walking distance, there’re also eateries (diners and restaurants) so it’s pretty convenient.
Along Hollywood Boulevard, there’s <font color="ff0000">Hollywood and Highland</font> which closes 10pm and earlier at 7pm on Sundays.
http://www.hollywoodandhighland.com/# .
Beside Universal Studios, there’s <font color="ff0000">Universal Citywalk</font> and the eclectic shops open till 10-11pm.
If there’s something specific eg, homeware etc that you’re targeting, lemme know and I’ll see if I remember more.