East Bay Food Scene Hits by Wave of Closures: Nabolom, Oeste, and Others Shut Down
A significant cluster of restaurant and bar closures has hit the East Bay this week, including the 50-year-old Nabolom Bakery in Berkeley and the Old Oakland bar Oeste. Other notable closures include Flipside Burgers in Oakland, Los Cocos in Fruitvale, and several locations in Hayward, El Cerrito, and Castro Valley. Reasons cited include rising ingredient and rent costs, building sales, and market shifts.
Key points
- Nabolom Bakery & Pizzeria in Berkeley will close on Oct. 18, ending 50 years of operation; it had previously closed for 11 years before reopening in 2016.
- Oeste Bar & Kitchen in Old Oakland has set its final service date for Oct. 24, inviting patrons to celebrate before it closes.
- Flipside Burgers in Oakland will close on Oct. 31 after nearly 15 years, with co-owner Nimer Musleh citing high ingredient and rent costs as the primary driver.
- Los Cocos Salvadoran Restaurant in Fruitvale has been closed since mid-July due to the building being sold; owner Rosa Gonzalez plans to sell pupusas from her home.
- Other closures include Bodi’s Java in Castro Valley, M2 Burger in El Cerrito, Rockit Char Grill in Hayward, Sliver Pizzeria on Telegraph Ave., and Sushi Villa in downtown Oakland.
Background
These closures follow a period of economic strain for local businesses, including the tragic deaths of Bryn Walker co-founders in early October, which highlighted financial pressures in the local business community. The current wave of closures reflects broader challenges in the East Bay food scene, including rising costs and shifting consumer habits.
How outlets are covering it
The Oaklandside and Berkeleyside, both operated by the same freelance journalist Momo Chang, present identical details on the closures, with no discrepancies in facts or emphasis. Both outlets highlight the same set of closures, with The Chronicle noted as the source for the Smish Smash replacement of Oh G Burger in Berkeley. No conflicting perspectives or additional details were found in the secondary source.
Why it matters
The closure of long-standing establishments like Nabolom and Los Cocos signals a shift in the East Bay’s local food landscape, potentially impacting community ties and cultural offerings. The cited reasons, such as rising costs and building sales, reflect broader economic pressures affecting small businesses in the region.
What to watch
Patrons are encouraged to visit Oeste before Oct. 24 and Nabolom before Oct. 18. Rosa Gonzalez of Los Cocos will continue selling pupusas from her home. Main Squeeze Juice Bar, owned by Flipside’s owners, remains open in Oakland and Alameda. The Smish Smash pop-up will take over the former Oh G Burger location in Berkeley.
- Oeste sets final day, Oakland loses burger and sushi options, and Berkeley's Nabolom closing after 50 years The Oaklandside
- After a half-century of baking, Nabolom is closing; plus one burger spot is swapping in for another, and a Sliver Pizza shutters Berkeleyside
- After 50 years, treasured Berkeley bakery to close San Francisco Chronicle
- Breakfast truck, Indian, sushi and crepe restaurants among September closures The Oaklandside
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