Decline of African-American owned businesses in Adams Point

Since the end of Oakland's foreclosure crisis, my family has noticed a visible decline in businesses owned by African-Americans in the Adams Point Neighborhood.  In 2006, my husband and I moved into a neighborhood which had a sizable number of businesses owned and operated by African-Americans.  The businesses were diverse: clothing stores, hair stylists, barbers, cafes, a bar, a photographer, and a funeral service.  Now, many of these businesses have gone out of business or moved because of fewer customers and rising rents.

The African-American community in Oakland was one of the hardest hit ethnic groups during the foreclosure crisis and the Great Recession.  In Oakland, many African-Americans lost their municipal jobs due to large budgetary cut-backs.  Additionally, a large number of African-Americans were displaced due to their homes being foreclosed.  The result was that African-American owned businesses lost their customer base due to decrease spending and displacement.

It is unclear if the remaining businesses will survive; those left will need to be able to attract non-African-American clientele and adjust to rising rents, if they wish to keep their doors open in the Adams Point Neighborhood.

This African-American barber shop is one of the few African-American businesses still operating in the Adams Point Neighborhood.

Bay Grape Wine Shop (shop with a grape leaf hanging in front) now inhabits a space that used to be occupied by an African-American run hair salon.

Photo of vacant storefront behind green and yellow cars.  Vacant storefront used to be home of Positive Images which was run by an African-American photographer.  The store is now inhabited by Oaktown Spice Shop.  When we moved to Adams Point Positive Images and an African-American clothing store were operating on this stretch of Grand Ave.  Both are now gone.

New signs drawing attention to the Adams Point Neighborhood