The closure of Oakland's Waterfront Hotel in Jack London Square is raising concerns about the impact on the surrounding small businesses heavily reliant on foot traffic. The hotel's closure could lead to a decline in economic activity and threaten the viability of local establishments.
Oakland 's Jack London Square is facing a blow with the imminent closure of the upscale Waterfront Hotel . Set to shut its doors on Friday, January 31st, 2025, the hotel's departure is expected to have a ripple effect on the surrounding small businesses that rely on the foot traffic and economic activity it generates. Derreck Johnson, owner of the popular Home of Chicken and Waffles restaurant, expressed his disappointment while acknowledging the challenges posed by the slow traffic in the area.
Johnson emphasized the crucial role large establishments play in supporting smaller businesses, citing his own experience where sales tripled when national chains like Friday's and El Torito were located nearby. In a statement to ABC7 News, the Waterfront Hotel, managed by Hyatt, remained tight-lipped about the reasons for its closure, merely stating that operations will cease at 11:59 PM local time on the aforementioned date, and the property will no longer function as a hotel. This development has sparked concern among local officials, including Loren Taylor, former Oakland City Councilmember and current mayoral candidate, who lamented the closure and called for immediate action to fill the void. Taylor stressed the need to attract a new hotel operator and encourage long-term commitments from businesses to ensure Oakland remains a thriving economic hub. While acknowledging the impending arrival of Dave and Buster's in a few months, Johnson expressed the need for more substantial anchors to revitalize the area. He argued that restaurants alone cannot sustain a city and called for the influx of retail stores and major national chains. The City of Oakland confirmed that the hotel is currently under lease with the Port of Oakland, but the Port itself has yet to provide a comment on the matter.
Waterfront Hotel Closure Jack London Square Oakland Small Businesses Economic Impact
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