More Press on Thriving Oakland Biz

After publishing yesterday's blog about how thriving Oakland businesses are receiving national and local kudos, it came to our attention that there are even more than we realized.

For example, Blue Bottle Coffee -- an Oakland company with many Bay Area locations -- just opened a new java spot in Brooklyn. So, last week the New York Times wrote an article about the popular coffee company, mentioning that the Oakland-based biz has "had a fanatical following" since it opened in 2003.

Closer to home, the Oakland Tribune covered the opening of Era, a new nightclub in Oakland's thriving Uptown entertainment district. The Trib also wrote about Beer Revolution, a new microbrewery that opened recently near Jack London Square.

Lastly, the San Francisco Chronicle raved about a new Oakland restaurant on Grand Avenue, a few blocks from the Grand Lake Theater. It's called Boot and Shoe Service, and it was started by Charlie Hallowell, owner of Oakland's much praised Pizzaiolo.

These new businesses are from several different parts of the city: the Jack London waterfront, Uptown and the Grand Lake district. If these entrepreneurs are doing well during this downturn, then it's fair to speculate that Oakland is well-positioned for when the economy turns the corner.