Our sister city across the Bay – Oakland – has been making quite a name for itself. Voted #5 in The New York Times’ “45 Places to Go in 2012,” it seems as if the cat has been let out of the bag. The city is in its best financial condition in a decade, and many San Franciscans (such as myself) are taking the plunge for cheaper rent and larger spaces.
Popuphood in particular has been making exciting strides for downtown Oakland’s retail environment. Spearheaded by Sarah Filley (artist and urban designer) and Alfonso Dominguez (serial entrepreneur and co-owner of Tamarindo, La Calle, Era Art Bar and Lounge, and now the hip El TacoBike), the two have been working closely with the city to bring some life to the quaint 9th and Broadway block. And, The Bold Italic pop-up shop is currently inside of one of its stores, Marion and Rose.
The idea behind Popuphood is pretty simple. Give retailers incentive to open in the area (the first six months of free rent is certainly a good incentive) with hopes that they decide to stay. The city of Oakland has been so pleased with Sarah and Alfonso’s dedication to the cause that they are now revitalizing fifteen or so spaces on Telegraph between Koreatown (KONO) and Temescal. As this stretch of Telegraph sits in the heart of Oakland’s Art Murmur festivities, there’s no doubt the potential of thriving business. Bring it on, Oakland!
Name:
Nicole Buffett + Jake Bagshaw
Describe your shop in five words.
Eclectic, bohemian, fun, rustic, magic.
What was the inspiration for starting your shop?
We wanted to create a community-based creative marketplace and provide a platform for young progressive artisans such as ourselves to collaborate and thrive. And Popuphood is such a beautiful and innovative approach to fulfilling small business and community needs.
Why downtown Oakland?
We feel Old Oakland and Popuphood are beautiful examples of community and like-minded entrepreneurs coming together to make great things happen in the face of adversity and the unknown.
What's your favorite product in the shop?
Made-to-order miniature books called “Novelitas”! We love offering the experience of our full Novelita library and installation in the store.
Name:
Kerri Lee Johnson
Describe your shop in five words.
High-quality, well-crafted items.
What was the inspiration for starting your shop?
My past experience working with artists and my love of things handmade, high quality, and unique. I love being able to support the creative community.
Why downtown Oakland?
The downtown/Old Oakland area is on the rise. Whereas only a few years ago you couldn't find a coffee shop open on the weekend, you now find cafes, restaurants, bars, and boutique shops popping up all over! I’ve particularly always loved the look and feel of the Old Oakland neighborhood, with brick buildings, wide sidewalks, and amazing architecture – it has a decidedly East Coast feel. It’s really fun to be a part of a growing neighborhood.
What's your favorite product in the shop?
If I had to pick one, I’d say the cake stands by Whitney Smith Pottery.
Name:
Sherri McMullen
Describe your shop in five words.
Modern, chic, edited, understated, sophisticated.
What was the inspiration for starting your shop?
I have always been inspired by fashion and started my fashion career as a buyer for Neiman Marcus. After several years working in corporate, I decided to open a boutique in Oakland that offered fashionable clothing and accessories, and offered exceptional service standards. Here we are five years later.
Why downtown Oakland?
I love its charm.
What's your favorite product in the shop?
I love selling dresses. Women feel good in dresses. There is something about the cool sexiness of a dress. Even dresses that one may not consider sexy are still sexy to a woman.
Name:
Kate Ellen
Describe your shop in five words.
Independently designed jewels and treasures.
What was the inspiration for starting your shop?
I wanted a place to connect people who enjoy beautiful jewelry, whether as a collector, a maker, or an admirer. I also wanted to showcase the best jewelry I could find by the most talented designers I knew, have a place to create custom work for couples looking for something a bit more alternative, and a place to teach jewelry making so I could pass on the knowledge I have to those who are eager to learn. I also wanted the store to be a place where artists were valued and taken care of, that the store acts as a support for young designers.
Why Downtown Oakland?
Old Oakland has always tugged at my heartstrings – it is so picturesque and beautiful, but sleepy. I really want Oakland to thrive down here so I figure throwing a little love in might help.
What's your favorite product in the shop?
This is a super-hard question – I'm surrounded by hundreds of objects I love! But the most meaningful is when I make a custom engagement or wedding ring for a couple. I was actually really surprised by how profound and moving it is; it's a total honor to be a part of that.
Name:
Kayoko + Yoko
Describe your shop in five words.
Kitchen plus barware from Japan.
What was the inspiration for starting your shop?
We started out as an international food blog and began importing barware from Japan in 2010. As our online business started growing, we wanted to try out a brick-and-mortar space.
Why downtown Oakland?
Oakland is where it's at! The community is so welcoming and has a real DIY vibe. We're all here to support each other and invest in Oakland.
What's your favorite product in the shop?
Yoko and I both love the Umami Mart travel mug by Anders Arhoj of Copenhagen. We commissioned him to create it when we first started the online shop. It's really unique, quirky, and just a great mug. Anders is a good friend of ours who designed our shop and all our graphics in our Oakland shop. He is really important to Umami Mart's spirit.
On Fridays, 9th Street comes alive with a Farmers’ Market, a perfect reason to make your way to Old Oakland. You can get your veggies and fit in a little retail therapy too. McMullen, Marion & Rose’s, Piper and John General Goods, Crown Nine, and Umami Mart all sit around that 9th and Broadway corner. And don't forget, The Bold Italic's pop-up shop is inside of Marion & Rose through the holidays. If you’re looking for some good grub while there, be sure to head over to 8th Street for some tacos at Tamarindo.
