Vibrant neighborhoods create energetic business climate
It’s very apparent that Oakland is not the same city it was a generation ago. Diverse and energetic, the business climate is changing as rapidly as its famous weather.
One look at downtown Oakland tells the story of a thriving community. Surrounding such icons as the Rotunda, the Cathedral Building and the old Oakland Tribune Tower are newer enterprises and organizations, including GreatSchools, Self-Aware Games, the Oakland School for the Arts, Spot Labs Inc. and many more. This area, known as Downtown and Lake Merritt/Uptown, is teeming with activity, thanks in part to its thriving restaurant scene.
But there is much more to Oakland besides its visible downtown. Its eclectic and vibrant neighborhoods are providing building blocks to making the city one of the most soughtafter business locations in the Bay Area.
Here is just a sampling of some of those thriving neighborhoods.
DIMOND DISTRICT
Located just north of the MacArthur Freeway off Fruitvale Avenue, Oakland’s Dimond District is going through a renaissance of its own, Dimond Improvement Association spokesperson Stan Dodson said.
For more than a decade, the district has seen a steady increase in locally owned businesses plus several chain establishments. Anchoring the district is the popular La Farine Bakery, Farmer Joe’s Marketplace and an Oaklandish store. Stores like Peet’s Coffee & Tea attract a loyal following, and make “it part of the district that comes alive,” Dodson said.
Of course, the location of the district is convenient too, right off the MacArthur Freeway and near several transit hubs.
The district is ripe for mixed use developments, Dodson said, as it has “good bones” and totes a very diverse and loyal neighborhood community.
“It’s a snapshot of Oakland,” Dodson said.
TEMESCAL DISTRICT
Like downtown Oakland, the Temescal District, on Telegraph Avenue, came alive because of its eclectic restaurant scene, such as the immensely popular Bakesale Betty’s and a collection of diverse eateries such as Asmara Restaurant, Burma East, Cafe Eritrea D’Afrique and Homeroom Mac & Cheese.
With that came businesses that reflect Oakland’s diverse and artistic culture, according to Business Improvement District Executive Director Shifra de Benedictis-Kessner.
“Besides our incredible restaurant scene, we have an array of small independent shops,” she said. “The area at 40th and Telegraph is like a small artists’ enclave.”
She says that enhances the other businesses in the area, such as at the Albo African Gift Shop, the Alcatraz Shade Shop and Dandelion Post, to name a few.
North Oakland’s Temescal District is also home to charming alleys offering a plethora of diverse, locallyowned specialty shops — some of which used to be horse stalls for the historic horse-drawn trolleys.
The 18 shops at Temescal Alley and Alley 49, some with artisan workspaces, are now preserved and repurposed to complement original architectural details, housing a lively community of small businesses that offer a blend of quality goods and services, like Homestead Apothecary, Standard & Strange and Mind’s Eye Vintage.
“People find things here they can’t find online,” de Benedictis-Kessner said.
That was apparent to the thousands of people who attended the recent Temescal Street Fair on June 11.
“We are experiencing a revitalization,” she said. “We’re sort of a melting pot of businesses … you’ll find an African gift shop next to a Taekwondo studio. It’s dynamic.”
What helps that dynamic is the neighborhood community in Temescal with a lot of younger families moving in, as well as many people who work from home, she said.
“It’s also near the MacArthur Transit Village, so it brings in commuters as well,” she said. “The area is super walkable, and that makes a huge difference to shoppers.”
LAUREL DISTRICT
Another thriving district is Laurel, located east of the MacArthur Freeway along MacArthur Boulevard from 35th Avenue to High Street. Like Temescal and Dimond, this enclave is seeing a great momentum of businesses flock to the area, both local independently owned and chain stores, Laurel Business Improvement District Manager Daniel Swafford said.
“We’re thrilled to see the level of investment coming into the Laurel District,” he said.
Retailers such as Therapy are moving from San Francisco or opening up second locations in the district, near such stores as Mischief, a family-owned business. Homestead Apothecary is
opening up a second location in Laurel, near pop-up florists and other local establishments.
“We have a good mix of stores,” Swafford said, including Planet Fitness and Save Maxx, as well as the popular Farmer Joe’s Marketplace at 35th and MacArthur.
Those chains coexist with a thriving health scene, with yoga, karate and other studios, he says.
“Most of our stores are tied to the community, even stores like O’Reilly Auto Parts and Autozone, catering to Oakland’s car culture,” Swafford said.
The rents are still affordable that smaller businesses can “follow their passions,” Swafford said. “We’re attracting a new generation of entrepreneurs, while still being attractive to bigger investors.”
Restaurants include Communite Table and the new Degrees Plato Bar & Tap Room.
Of course, it still has a small-town feel when the district features outdoor movie nights, shown on the side of the Ace Hardware building, or during its Night Market every third Thursday with live music and attractions for kids.
For those wanting a closer look at the Laurel community, be sure to check out the 18th annual Laurel Street Fair Aug. 12, one of the longest running fairs of its type in the city.
ROCKRIDGE DISTRICT
Perhaps one of the most popular shopping districts in the city, the venerable Rockridge District, located on College Avenue near the Berkeley border, is seeing changes itself. Again anchored by a strong restaurant scene, the district is looking forward to the opening of Brew Baron Brewery, located at College and Chabot, as well as Bakery Novelle at College and Lawton.
Business Improvement District spokesperson Chris Jackson said the district has always thrived because of its proximity to the UC Berkeley campus, just a long walk or short bus ride away. The other anchor is the BART station, which sees almost 6,000 passengers a day.
The student population is attracted to the unique boutiques, the Safeway at Claremont and College and Philz Coffee. At the other end of college on Broadway is the California College of the the Arts, again with a population seeking unique items.
“Rockridge still brings in highest revenues in sales tax dollars of any other neighborhood in Oakland,” Jackson said.
Shoppers will find a fun mix of retailers along College Avenue such as Atomic Gardens, Pegasus Books, GoldenBug Children’s Shoes, Lesley Evers, Maison d’Etre and many others.
That will continue with the opening of The Ridge, located at the end of the Rockridge District on Broadway. Phase One of the Ridge is now open and includes a new 72,000square-foot Safeway, Petfood Express, and several other retail stores, service providers and restaurants. Phase Two is currently under construction and will bring a multi-level shopping center with additional shops.
A 270-unit senior living community across the street will add to the diverse dynamic of that area.
But Rockridge wouldn’t be Rockridge without Market Hall, the European-style shopping center across from the BART station that was at one point slated to be a gas station and car wash.
“If we didn’t have Market Hall, Rockridge wouldn’t be what it is today,” Jackson says. “It’s made a huge difference.”
But even as boutiques find it harder to stay in business in the thriving community, Rockridge is still attracting businesses such as Carol’s Shoes, with a location on Solano in Berkeley. That will make it easier to walk the streets of this popular destination area.