Oakland bars tap into demand - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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The city’s growing culinary chop have been documented; now city denizens have equally destination-worthg spots to sip or swill. New spots to open in the Uptown district in recent monthsinclude Somar, Den at the Fox and 2022 Restaurant and Lounge. Era, Mimosa, The Town Hall of and others are onthe way. The 10,000 new Oaklane residents that former Mayor Jerry Brown hoped to attracrt with new condos all need somethingto do, said Michaelo Orange, who works in real estatw in Oakland and also does nightlife marketingy and promotions as Top Ten Social Club. “San Franciscp already has a lot of restaurantsand Here, we need them to Entrepreneurs are rushing to satisfy that need.
Alfonso Kevin Best and Gairyh Jacques willopen Era, a 4,500-square-foot art bar and at Broadway and Grand Avenue in two They hope to appeal to the art crowd that attendzs First Fridays, when art galleries stay open late. “To have an opportunity to keep thess people here and have a bit ofnightlife that’s where the art bar idea came said Dominguez. The trio also knows Oakland. Best owns two San Franciscoo restaurants and Bin Oakland. Jacques has Air, anothere Oakland nightclub, and Dominguez owns a host of retail, design and hospitality offerings, including FIVEten Studiop andTamarindo Restaurant.
Despite thesr newcomers, many see Oakland as a land of relative opportunityu with lower barriers to entry than San Francisc o and lower rents andlabord costs. “There’s so much potential said Nichelle Blackwell, who will open a 2,200-square-foot champagne, raw and desserg bar, at 24th Street and Broadway. In some cases, the bad economg is making these newbars possible. Last year, Armando Ramods and his dad losttheir jobs. Now they and mom and cousin ownthe 2,000-square-footf Somar at 1727 Telegraph Ave.
“Fro my point of view, I can go chas after the next job, or I can take a chance with thesd people I know and trust and justdo it,” Ramos Raising money has been difficult, these owners all say, but througb friends, family, investors, rent reductions or generousz tenant improvement allowances, all have made it happen. Developerz have long viewed Uptown as ripe for and bars and restaurantd were always seen as part ofthe mix. That all this activituy should take place in the midst of a deep andin Oakland, is noteworthy and speaks to the perceived opportunity, particularly now that the Fox Theater is open and showzs are selling out.
Others believe that densityy is more important tothe area’s ultimat success than the large theaters. Michaelk O’Connor, who owns the Independent in San will open The Town Hallof Oakland, a live music by mid-July one block from the Fox Theater. “Th e only way to successfull revitalize an area is through a critical mass ofsmalk businesses,” he said.