UPDATE: The compiled list can be found here.
As we all know by now, many small businesses were attacked on Wednesday night in the midst of the protest that turned violent on the streets of downtown Oakland. Walking through downtown yesterday morning made be both sad and angry. There was glass everywhere, burnt debris in the street, garbage cans still tipped over, and store owners surveying the damage.
But now it’s time to come together as a community to try to make things right again. We need to support these locally owned businesses that have already been struggling through this difficult economy and now have to deal with this additional economic and emotional hurdle.
So here’s my plan. I want to create a list of all the businesses that were vandalized and then publicize this list widely to encourage Oaklanders to shop at these stores and eat at these restaurants. But I can’t do this myself – I need your help.
In the comments section below please list any businesses that you know were hit on Wednesday night. If you can, provide an address or street location. On Monday, I’ll post the full list in a separate post and will ask you to help out once again by patronizing these businesses.
We cannot reverse the killing of Oscar Grant. We cannot reverse the real damage and the emotional scars wrought by Wednesday night’s attacks. What we can do is come together to support our community. Thank you for any help you can provide with this project.
Living in the O 
Almost the whole block of 17th St. between Franklin and Webster had windows smashed out.
Henry’s Cafe is the on on the corner.
Satisfied Nails on the corner of 15th and Franklin
Flora’s on Telegraph had their window broken
Henry’s Gallery Cafe (Franklin at 17th Street) and Yoon’s Pharmacy (14th Street between Webster and Harrison) are two I’m aware of.
I’ll take some notes of other business that got hit when I go out later.
Thanks for this. We all need to be pulling together.
Creative African Braids (339 14th St)
Flora (1900 Telegraph Ave, at 19th St)
Pho 84 (354 17th Street between Franklin & Webster)
Temple Tattoo (384 17th St between Franklin & Webster)
The Uptown Nightclub (1928 Telegraph Avenue)
The Fox Theatre (19th and Telegraph)
That’s what I know of and/or have seen first hand, but I know that entire block of 17th where Pho 84 and Temple are located got totally smashed in.
Thanks for organizing this, Becks — this is a great service to all of us who want to build Oakland back up!
Thanks for doing this. Not sure of the name of the Korean-owned pharmacy on 14th Street near Harrison.
The severely vandalized block of 17th between Franklin and Webster is one of the DTO’s most charming and successful retail strips. I am a big fan of A Diva’s Closet, which sells the freshest threads for the woman who measures fashion trends by the week. I also like the Japanese restaurant across the street, Ichiro, and Pho 84 is well-regarded. More information about 17th St is at soboshops.com.
Thanks everyone for your help with this.
One correct, dto – the Japanese restaurant on 17th is Ichi Japon. I went down 17th this morning and Ichi Japon had all of its windows boarded up, as did about 70% of the stores on the block. Ichiro’s on 15th and I don’t believe they were vandalized.
Some of those nice AC Transit bus covers w/electronic signs were destroyed as well. I’m wondering if they’ll get replaced, or they’ll just put in regular ones.
i got a crazy idea — how about you support your community by opposing police brutality?
nah – let’s just cover it all up and pretend it didn’t happen. that’ll save the day.
pathetic.
What happened on at Fruitvale BART was criminal. Period. It needs attention. It must be addressed.
Vandalism and destruction downtown was criminal. Period.
A healthy, vibrant community protests atrocities. Yes.
A healthy, vibrant community supports the victims of misguided rage. That is what we are doing. That is what we are continuing to do.
We all should pick up a hammer and ensure that our small businesses recover. As opposed to throwing a hammer through windows.
We all have our communities. The one I belong to applies justice equally to all Oaklanders – even when angry.
Mimi’s Beauty Supply & Take it Easy Thai also got hit.
They’re on 17th & Webster right across the street from each other.
I stopped into Mimi’s & the owner is a very sweet woman. That’s my spot to get all my hair products. 🙂 She said that she has insurance but of course has to pay out of pocket for the deducitible. Just sad to see a nice neighbors have to pay, especially in this state of our economy. So, thanks to everyone for helping with this list! I live on 17th so it’s hitting home for me. Thank you. 🙂
Mimi’s Beauty Supply is at 350 17th Street &
Take it Easy Thai is at 351 17th Street.
Chipi Johnson claims that 300 businesses in downtown Oakland were vandalized during this disturbance. I didn’t realize that downtown Oakland HAD 300 businesses. Is this a little embellishment by the San francisco media regarding the “Oakland Riots?”
I was a bit surprised by that claim too. Several other news reports I’ve seen mentioned numbers closer to 100 businesses, which sounds more realistic.
Some more from the walk home:
Unique Braids – 386 17th
Psychic Reader – 376 17th
Showcase Wigs – 372 17th
Mimi’s Custom Design – 366 17th
Hair by Margret – 373 17th
Fashion & Art Revival – 371 17th
Psychic Reality – 1630 Webster
le Magic Cleaners – 1630 Webster
Also 367 17th, which was previously The Fine Place but has been closed (remodeling?) for a couple of weeks, and the three empty storefronts between Henry’s and Temple Tattoo.
Oakbook seems to report there were about 50 affected businesses.
I’m 100% behind this idea Becks.
I’ll emphasize that we should focus on the smaller of the victims first. Sears can probably handle fixing a few windows. Henry’s can’t.
Navigator:
You didn’t realize there were 300 businesses in downtown Oakland? When was the last time you were there, 1871? You should really get downtown more often, it’s wonderful. And you also should know Oakland better if you are going to complain about its representation in the SF media.
Becks et alii:
Thanks so much for doing this. I went to Flora for cocktails last night, and I might go to Pho 84 tonight. I’m sad for all the businesses that were hit, but that block of 17th is really special, though I’ve always found the name SOBO weird. Broadway is a north-south street! Maybe I’ll even get braids from Creative African Braids, if they’ll have me.
Peter seems to think supporting vandalized businesses and opposing police brutality are mutually exclusive? What an odd mind he inhabits.
Looking forward to the fully compiled list, and patronizing as many as possible. Max is right, let us support the small shops first!
Ichiro got hit?
Take it from someone who lived in Japan for 8 years:
Best sushi in the east bay.
Most charming chef.
Most generous portions for the price.
Go. Riot or no, that place is awesome.
I’m not in Town but will tell all my people to do so! Thanks Becks, this is a simple and effective way to show our local businesses that they are appreciated. Further, it shows them and others that Oakland will support independent businesses.
Also, I know you like Mistah FAB so I posted his response to the riots, n Oscar Grant tribute track he released and his speech at Demonstration at Fruitvale. Enjoi! http://www.38thnotes.com/2009/01/mistah-fab-speaks-on-oscar-grants.html
I frequent the following shops and restaurants that were victims of vandalism since I live nearby. I will now support the others as well. Here are a few of my comments.
Mimi’s Custom Design – 366 17th
She does a great job on mending and alterations.
Mimi’s Beauty Supply is at 350 17th Street – very good selection of products
Take it Easy Thai is at 351 17th Street. – yummy chicken and rice noodle soup
Pho 84 – always good
Ichi Japon – great sushi
This list is a great idea. Thank you for doing this, and I will make a point of visiting some of the affected businesses in coming days and weeks.
Oh damn, Temple got hit! That’s where I got my work done. I wish I had some money to throw their way. Maybe I’ll stop by to see if they can do something small . . . .
What if we banded together to fight police brutality, instead of joining this little capitalist alliance? Fuck consuming. No justice, no peace.
Way to miss the point, M.
Also, News City – 417 14th St.
Small businesses aren’t capitalism, they’re just the next step up from poverty. We shouldn’t be smashing these guys up…
So far I’ve visited Flora twice in February and bought some tools at Sear’s once.