Oakland isn't a city of big-box stores or mega-malls. It's a network of communities
rich with old-fashioned neighborhood shopping districts, including antique shops,
chic boutiques, and ethnic treasure houses. Ethnic shops abound in Chinatown
and the Latin-flavored Fruitvale district, while College Avenue, Piedmont and
Grand Avenue are lined with chic boutiques. For more information on Oakland's
35 commercial districts, visit www.shopoakland.com.
Chinatown
More than its name suggests, this area is packed with pan-Asian culture. Visitors
to the downtown neighborhood will find dozens of fascinating, eclectic stores
that carry fresh, high-quality produce, live seafood, healing herbs, and a plethora
of retail goods-everything from chopsticks and stress relievers to fine china
and porcelain. You'll find some of these goods at Pacific Renaissance Plaza,
which houses two stories of shops. The plaza also boasts a quiet courtyard-the
perfect spot to relax and enjoy a cool drink.
College Avenue/Rockridge
Extending more than two miles from Oakland to Berkeley, College Avenue is a
smorgasbord of specialty shops, restaurants, bars, and markets that carry nearly
everything a shopper could desire. Gourmet foods, chic clothing, rare books,
antiques, and professional services are all here in abundance. Favorite purveyors
include Pendragon Fine Books; Maison d'Être; Loot; Soirée, an elegant
women's clothing boutique; Christensen Heller jewelers; Full Swing, featuring
full-figure fashions; Ildi & Co. gift store; Poppy Fabric; and the Thelma
Harris Art Gallery. Let the kids run loose at Rockridge Kids, a popular toy
store a few doors down from the BART station. Market Hall, a two-story building
that houses a bakery as well as produce, fish, flower, and wine markets, draws
visitors and locals alike. www.rockridgedistrict.com
Downtown
Oakland's vibrant business district is home to scores of shops, restaurants,
and cafés, many of which are housed in historic buildings, landscaped
plazas, and quiet courtyards. Men's Wearhouse, Gap, Sears, and Spaccio Italian
Menswear make their homes among the grand buildings around City Hall Plaza.
Nearby, City Center square-a popular lunchtime and after-work respite-is home
to offices, retail stores, outdoor restaurants and cafés, and the Oakland
Museum Sculpture Garden. Pick up your favorite international paper at De Lauer's
newsstand on Broadway, then sit back to enjoy an outdoor summer concert.
Fruitvale
The flavor of this expanding neighborhood is defined by its many Latino residents-as
well as by several large, colorful murals. Fruitvale plays host to a number
of festivals throughout the year, including the popular Dia de los Muertos and
Cinco de Mayo celebrations, during which you'll find dozens of street vendors
hawking their wares. Browse ethnic specialty stores, food shops, and clothing
boutiques. When you get hungry, stop in at one of the area's many restaurants
and taquerias, where you're likely to find the perfect enchilada. www.fruitvalemerchants.com
Grand Avenue/Lakeshore Avenue
The classic Grand Lake Theater is the centerpiece of this established neighborhood
near downtown and Lake Merritt. Popular with professionals and young families,
the area has seen a blossoming of many new stores. Shoppers along the neighborhood's
two busy main streets will find a host of consignment and antique stores, bookstores,
and boutiques selling everything from fashion apparel and accessories to jewelry
and trinkets. Joggers, strollers, visitors, and families all mix and meld at
the area's many restaurants and cafés. Stop in at the popular Art Deco
Collection.com, or, if you feel inspired to belt out a few verses, head to The
Alley, a local institution since 1934.
Jack London Square
The historic waterfront boasts dozens of stores, ranging from biggies Barnes
and Noble, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Cost Plus World Market to the one-of-a-kind
boutiques that make the area a top attraction for shoppers. Stop in at Timeout
for Fun and Games, browse for knickknacks at Whales and Friends or peruse works
of African American art at Samuel's Gallery. Cruise a few streets east and you'll
run into the warehouse district, a nine-block area that's home to an old-fashioned
wholesale produce market, a weekly farmers market, coffeehouses, restaurants,
boutiques, and live-work lofts. www.jacklondonsquare.com
Montclair Village
Stroll through this residential neighborhood's narrow, picturesque streets and
you'll get an idea how this area earned its moniker. The locals are prone to
sip coffee, whiling away their days on benches scattered along the main thoroughfare.
You'll want to take full advantage of the great specialty shops, fine boutiques,
and children's clothing and toy stores. Stop in at Montclair Toyhouse and Ps
Home gallery, and shop for worldwide treasures at What the Traveler Saw. www.montclairvillage.com
Old Oakland
Take a trip to the District which is revival of the historic 1870's downtown
of Oakland. Carefully restored, it stands as a fine mainstreet of Victorian
brick and glass, alive again with shops, restaurants, spas, and offices in
a setting that evokes the era of the Railroad. Visit their new website for
more information. www.oldoakland.org
Piedmont Avenue
Like its longer counterpart, College Avenue, this busy neighborhood street in
the northern part of Oakland draws scores of shoppers, both local and out-of-area.
Particularly known for its vintage and antique shops, this small stretch of
commercial buildings is also home to specialty boutiques, gourmet food stores,
restaurants, cafés, and bars. For a bite to eat after window shopping,
stop in at the ever-popular Piedmont Grocery, or treat the kids to a giant sundae
at the old-fashioned Fenton's Creamery and Restaurant!
Temescal
In the heart of Oakland's northern residential district, this growing shopping
area boasts a number of classic, historic buildings. Genova's Delicatessen,
a popular Italian deli, is one of the area's top draws. www.temescalmerchants.com
