San Marina — French shoe chain liquidated, 163 stores closed, 650 jobs lost

San Marina was a French shoe retail chain founded in 1968 in Marseille, specialising in women's footwear at affordable prices. The brand grew steadily over five decades to become one of the most recognisable shoe retailers on French high streets, with a strong presence in shopping centres and town centres across the country. At its peak, San Marina operated over 200 stores and was a staple of French footwear retail, known for accessible fashion shoes targeting women aged 25–55.

By the 2010s, San Marina faced mounting pressure from changing consumer habits, the rise of online shoe retailers like Zalando and Sarenza, and the structural decline of footfall in French shopping centres. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these trends, causing significant revenue losses. The company entered receivership (redressement judiciaire) in September 2022, hoping to find a buyer. A six-month observation period was granted, but no viable takeover offer emerged.

On 20 February 2023, the Marseille Commercial Court placed San Marina in judicial liquidation. All 163 stores in France closed permanently, and approximately 650 employees lost their jobs. No buyer was found for the chain, despite efforts to attract interest. The liquidation marked the end of a 55-year-old French retail institution and was one of the largest shoe retail failures in France in recent years.