Grand Lake Merchant News

Let's begin with an update on the two stories that led off my August newsletter. The Good Vibrations application for the double storefront on Lakeshore was approved by the Planning Commission and unless, an appeal is filed, the GV management is now free to finalize their lease and will be undertaking major improvements. The input that Grand Lake neighbors received in the form of comments and a later online survey was roughly two to one in favor of the Good Vibrations application. The comments submitted via email to the Grand Lake Neighbors are available on this link. The comments by way of an online Survey Monkey questionnaire are available here.

The situation with regard to Wingstop is far more convoluted. As you may recall, their application for a "limited service" restaurant was approved over the counter by the Planning Department staff and that's not about to be rescinded. What the franchisee didn't realize, however, is that a "limited service" restaurant is not allowed to serve alcohol without a Conditional Use Permit. In addition, since they would be next door to a business that serves alcohol, but not food, they would also need a variance. Apparently, they are prepared to seek both but, if so, it's going to be a rocky road with plenty of opportunity for public input. The majority of the comments submitted to Grand Lake Neighbors were in opposition to Wingstop and the first 100 participants in the online survey split 26% in favor vs. 48% opposed.

With regard to both of the above issues, I'd like to commend everyone who participated in this discussion. Although many individuals were obviously quite emphatic in their opposition or their support (particularly in the case of Good Vibrations), the dialogue was almost always intelligent and always respectful. Based on recent history, I would have expected nothing less from our Grand Lake neighborhood.

Surprisingly, the extent to which we take such an active interest in the make-up of our commercial district generates a lot of heat from a variety of outside sources. This was the case, most recently, with respect to those of you who opposed Good Vibrations. But, in the past, we've been skewered for majority opposition to Out of the Closet, Fatburger and even a mental health clinic for adult parolees that was proposed for the building that's about to open (within a month or two) as Monkey Forest Road.

For the record, Out of the Closet was problematic for a lot of reasons and instead, we got Silver Moon and Namaste Yoga in a beautifully retrofitted building. I'd take that trade-off any day. As for Fatburger, what killed that deal was their insistence on having a drive-thru window as was also the case with McDonald's. And yes, I'm equally happy to take the locally-owned Kwik Way (with its extensive menu) in their place.

The Grand Lake District remains one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Oakland thanks in large part to the involvement of people like Caroline Kim who originally invited the Farmers Market here as part of her efforts to prevent commercial development in Splash Pad Park plus all the many Splash Pad Neighborhood Forum members who took such an active role in shaping the character of the revitalized park that would become its home.

I'd also note that while our critics focus on those proposals we've fought successfully, we hear nary a peep about our positive accomplishments. Arizmendi is on Lakeshore only because the Greater Mandana Action Committee (which no longer exists) lobbied them to locate here--not Piedmont Avenue. We have a Trader Joe's because neighbors raised their voices as one and Pat Kernighan twisted some arms to make it happen. Camino is on Grand Avenue because Mary Ellen Navas made a phone call at the opportune moment. Finally, some time soon, we're going to see $1.2 million in pedestrian and transit improvements to the corner of Lakeshore and Lake Park largely as the result of a process that was initiated by Jerry Cauthen and his Grand Lake Traffic Calming Committee.

Top Dog finally did open on Monday, September 12. I was more than a little annoyed that they scheduled this when I was out of town celebrating my Grand-daughter's 5th birthday--as well as my brother's 65th. This spoiled a string of 3 or 4 first day, restaurant openings that I had documented with photos and a full belly. Better late than ever, here's a link to the photo I took a couple of days later. You'll notice that I took pains to include the "OPEN" sign above the door. There are also signs on both entry doors thanking Larry Rosen who happens to be one of my neighbors. Larry was a regular at their Pleasant Valley Rd. location and was the first to advise the owner, Irene Riemanne, of the vacancy on Lakeshore.

On my second visit, while I waited for my Top Dog (that I lathered liberally with sauerkraut), I introduced myself to Irene. She said that she was a student at CAL in the 1960's and used to go Top Dog where she struck up a friendship with one of the two partners and he would later become her husband. When the two businesses partners eventually decided to go their separate ways, they flipped a coin to determine who would keep the business. Irene's husband won and the rest is history.

Altogether You, the hair salon next to Colonial Donuts, closed after less than a year and a half. The new tenant, PCS Metro is currently doing some interior remodeling and will open shortly. If you're counting Lakeshore cell phone outlets on your fingers, that's one entire hand--including your thumb which is most likely in the down position.

Boniere Bakery at 3249 Grand seems to be doing great in their new location. When I stop in, they almost always have customers purchasing croissants or desserts or looking at their wedding/birthday/other special-occasion, cake album. They're also benefiting from a loyal following. Last week, I spoke to a woman carrying a cake box waiting at the crosswalk opposite the theatre. When I noted that the bakery was a great addition to the neighborhood, she replied that she was (excuse the expression) "really pissed". It turns out that she lives in Alameda and had to come here to get one of their Kahlua cakes which I haven't yet tried. I am, however, currently polishing off my second Jamaican Rum Cake which just oozes decadent liquids from its core. For more background information on Boniere's long history, read the recent article in the Montclarion and other Bay Area News Group publications.

The space that was vacated by Next Level at 3234 Grand has just been leased and will reopen as a Yoga studio after the tenants make some interior improvements. I met the new tenants at the parklet on Grand Avenue on the 17th but don't have any other details at this time.

Local restaurants in the news this past month included Cafe Romanat and Lin Jia Asian Kitchen.

The former was featured in an August 30 online article published by the Bay Area News Group about the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony which Cafe Romanat observes Saturdays and Sundays from 2-4 P.M. The article includes a slide show with thirteen photos. Also, please note that Cafe Romanat's home page has a downloadable 15% discount coupon good through December 31.

In his Weekly Favorites column in the Chronicle, Michael Bauer said this about Lin Jia's dumpling soup:

"What set it apart was the intensely flavored broth, the tender, floppy pork-filled dumplings, shrimp, chunks of shiitake mushrooms and paper-thin slices of bok choy that made eating the soup so much easier and more delicious."

Lin Jia was also the subject of a very favorable review by Chrissa Ventrelle in an Inside Bay Area column. Speaking of favorable reviews, several weeks ago owner Marcia Lam slipped me a complementary Chang beer (on top of the one I'd already consumed) and then coaxed my always (for good reason) camera-shy self to sit down in front of a video camera. The less than stellar result is posted here on her Facebook page as the first in a series of "Customer Voices". Just for the record, she skillfully edited out the "senior moment" where I stopped mid-sentence grasping for the right word.

Gary Rizzo at Kwik Way has just introduced a monthly Classic Car Show in the KW parking lot on the fourth Saturday of every month. Here's one photo and a second that I took this past Saturday. All we need now are carhops on roller skates!

Over on Lakeshore, Namaste has initiated its own, free monthly event--a Sacred Film Festival on the 3rd Friday of every month. On October 21, they will be showing a documentary called "The Human Experience".

Farmers Market

Brian Boone, an Oakland resident, has taken over Yank Frances' job and he's now responsible for all the "heavy lifting" at the farmers market.

The food tasting program hosted by the market management continues to be quite successful. Cafe Romanat's participation was on September 3 and Boniere Bakery's this past Saturday. Temoor Noor from Grand Tavern was there giving out samples and gift bags on the 17th but unfortunately, I was otherwise occupied and didn't get to take photos or sample any of their goodies. There's a slight possibility of rain this Saturday--so no tastings are scheduled but on October 8, watch for Spettro to be sampling some new menu items. Additional restaurants should be scheduled as the month progresses.

Last month, I predicted that the levying of parking fees would open up the usually, jammed parking lot under the freeway to anyone willing to pay $2 per hour for the privilege. When I did a quick walk-through this past Saturday afternoon, I did, in fact, find about 20 vacant spaces. Some of that fall-off may have been due to problems the first weekend with the kiosks and with confusion about signage. In an email to the Grand Lake Neighbors Yahoo Group, Pat Kernighan noted that those problems had been addressed and pointed out that the monthly permit spaces are reserved for Monday through Friday only.

It's a bit too early to say for sure what the long-term effects of paid parking will be but, I suspect, some patrons are going to shop elsewhere while others are less likely to hang out; listen to music; and enjoy the social scene--all of which help to make the Grand Lake Market unique.

Speaking of things that make the Grand Lake Market special, on the 29th the management will be repeating an event that they did last year for Halloween. Beginning at roughly 9:00 A.M., they will be giving kids mini pumpkins (as long as they last) and also providing cut fruits and veggies that make for some pretty exotic jack-o-lanterns. Here's a photo of one such creation from last year. If you get to the market early, you can still catch the Lakeshore Avenue costume parade that starts at 11:00 A.M. See the events calendar below for more details.

Here's the market's entertainment calendar for October.