Non-Profit of the Month Happy Hour

Every month, we feature a local non-profit that is working to better the lives of Oakland residents in some way. As part of the program, we host a happy hour providing free appetizers and a portion of all sales are donated to the non-profit. This month, we have an exciting and unique organization. We are partnering with Oaklandish. Oaklandish funds the Innovators Awards which recognizes multiple local non-profits:

"Oakland has historically been a hotbed of renegade activity, where boundaries are redefined and trends are created rather than followed. To help encourage the continuation of this "trailblazers' legacy," Oaklandish has created the Oaklandish Innovators Award, a fund that offers annual grants to those organizations and individuals who are doing pioneering work in our community."

We are proud to raise funds for the 2010 Oaklandish Innovators Award. We hope you join us on Thursday, December 3 from 5-8pm to support this worthy cause.

Farley's Coffee Cards

We now have the Farley's Coffee Card providing multipurpose fun! Buy 10 drinks, get one free. Prepay so you don't have to carry around that annoying change or your credit card. Give a gift card to your friend. Just pick up a card at the register.

These cards should make life simpler for you and us. We hope you like them.

Open Mic, Open Late

Join us Thursday, November 19, 7-9pm for Open Mic featuring poetry, hip-hop infused spoken word and urban folk.

Keep Up to Date

With the website, newsletter, Facebook and Twitter all in play, the blog doesn't get updated as frequently as we would like. Check us out on Facebook and Twitter and DEFINITELY register for our newsletter!

Website Updated

Our new fancy, OK maybe not fancy, website is up with info on both locations now. The site also has our menu posted: www.farleyscoffee.com

New Sign

At last we have a new marquee sign. Stop by to admire any time.

Grand Opening Planned for July 10

Now that we are open and fine-tuning things, we are ready to have an actual Grand Opening party. Join us on Friday, July 10 from 5-9pm for coffee, beer, music and of course, a great time.

See you then....

We Are Open

Happy to report we are coming up on our one week anniversary. We have spent some time working out kinks in the system and each day is getting better. We hope that you feel it as well.

Just a few highlights:

1. You can now pay with credit cards, however we really like cash :)
2. Wifi is available free of charge
3. More magazines are becoming available every day...we just got copies of Italian Vogue for all you fashionistas
4. Now selling the NYT for all the intellectuals keeping up with the last news that's fit to print
5. The window bar will be completed Thursday for great people watching

If you've visited us and enjoyed your experience, be sure to tell others about us on Yelp.

Thanks to all of those who have visited us so far and for those who haven't, we hope to see you soon!

Officially Opening Today

We finally will be opening our doors today at 11am! Stop by and goes easy on us as we work out the kinks...stay tuned for info about the upcoming Grand Opening party July 10.

Farley's East!

Opening When?

Our opening looks like it will be June 18 for the Uptown Unveiled event. Perfect timing!

Floors Complete

Happy to report that the floors are complete upstairs and downstairs. We are furiously working toward opening on the 15th...it will be close. Either way, we will be opening sometime next week and in full swing for the event, Uptown Unveiled on the 18th. Hope to see all our readers soon!

The Mother Ship Has Arrived

Our brand spanking new La Marzocco semi-automatic 3 group machine is in place

Inching Closer to Opening

We have our first two employees.

We are steadily moving forward and getting closer to opening. Look back to the beginning, I was hoping for a May 1 opening date. I was naive! Our projected opening date is set at June 15 right now. Bare with us and please be patient, we do promise to open soon.

Just a Cool Picture

Like to Read Magazines?

This is just half of our magazine shelf space. We'll have over 300 magazines for browsing and purchase.

Lot's of Great People

We just began the hiring process and posted a listing on Craigslist. We are grateful to receive so much positive response and interest in working at Farley's East. Sadly, the huge number of inquiries also correlates with the current economic climate in our country. We'll hire for as many positions as we have available and hope that all the others find a suitable position soon.

Bike to Work Day

Farley's was proud to support Bike to Work Day today. We provided coffee for an "energizer station" at the corner of 14th and Oak Street. Look for us again next year.

Thank you to the local organizers of the Oakland event, Walk Oakland Bike Oakland. Check them out online at: www.walkoaklandbikeoakland.org

Mark your Calendar for a Great Event in June - Uptown Unveiled

Billed as downtown Oakland's new arts and entertainment district, Uptown is having a festive launch celebration: Uptown Unveiled!

Read the press release for details.

Thank You

Thank you to all of the folks that made it out to our preview party. The rainy weather did not stop many brave souls. Thanks for all your support and we'll see you on June 1!

Preview Party Notes

We are looking forward to seeing all of you at the Friends and Family PREVIEW party. We want to stress that this is a PREVIEW party…the place is far from finished…you can read more about why at our blog: www.farleyseast.blogspot.com. It may seem strange to throw a party when there are exposed walls and unfinished countertops, but that is just the way we want it. We want you, our community, to see the coffee house in-progress and participate in its creation. We will have a sampling of the Panini we will be serving and we are feverishly working to get the brewers up and running so you can enjoy what Farley’s is all about….great coffee.

In addition to showing off Farley’s East, the other objective of the evening is to expose you to the hip, happening and up-and-coming neighborhoods of Oakland. To this end, if you are planning on staying in Oakland for dinner, please make a reservation…the place will be packed due to Oakland Art Murmur, http://www.oaklandartmurmur.com, which will be going on all evening.

To help you make a selection, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite restaurants.

Thanks again for coming and showing your support!

 

UPTOWN

Flora 1900 Telegraph Ave Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 286-0100 Opened by the Dona Tomas duo, they also blazed the trail in the Uptown district. They are right across the street from the newly renovated FOX Theater. Be sure to get reservations – they are always packed.

Franklin Wine Bar Sister restaurant to Lukas. Good locally grown dishes and a robust wine menu. Just around the corner from Farley’s and if the weather is nice, you can sit outside on their patio and enjoy the scene.

Lukas Taproom and Lounge 2221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 451-4677 Lukas was a pioneer in the Uptown district. They serve upscale “bar” food with killer fries and burgers along with dishes that you would find in more formal restaurant. There is also a pool table in back to give it a tavern feel.

Ozumo – Uptown 2251 Broadway Ave (between 23rd St & Grand Ave) Oakland, CA (510) 286-9866 Sister restaurant to Ozumo in downtown SF. Some complain that the plates are small, but the atmosphere and the quality of the food makes up for it. Make reservations

Pican 2295 Broadway (between 23rd St & Grand Ave) Oakland, CA 94612 Yet another establishment who is part of the Oakland Uptown revival. Pican just opened in April and has been packed every weekend. They serve “upscale” southern food with cosmopolitan twist. They also have a swanky lounge if you just want to have a drink.

OLD TOWN

B Restaurant 499 9th St. (between Broadway & Washington St) Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 251-8770 Great atmosphere and good food. Sit outside if the weather is nice.

Levende East 827 Washington St (between 8th St & 9th St) Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 835-5585 Yet another SF establishment that has migrated east. It’s a very hip restaurant with a lounge feel. They have got plenty of outdoor seating and it would be good choice if the weather is nice

Le Cheval 1007 Clay St (between 10th St & 11th St) Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 763-8495 An Oakland classic…the best Vietnamese food you’ll find in the Bay Area.

Tamarindo 468 8th St Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-1944 Delicious Mexican small plates. The owner of this restaurant is a partner in the hip night club ERA that is going in next to Farley’s.

LAKE MERRITT & GLENVIEW

Camino 3917 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610 (510) 547-5035 New hotspot from Chez Paniz prodigy. Good local faire and specialty cocktails.

Marzano 4214 Park Boulevard Oakland, California 94602 510.531.4500 Sister restaurant to Garabaldi’s on College. It just opened this winter in the Glenveiw district and it’s a huge hit. They don’t take reservations but the will serve you wine outside while you wait.

Bellanico 4238 Park Blvd Oakland, CA 94602 (510) 336-1180 Traditional Italian trattoria that aims to serve delicious California-Italian fare at reasonable prices. It’s the sister restaurant to Aperto which is a neighbor to Farley’s In SF.

Zaa’s Trattoria 552 Grand Ave. (Lake Merritt) Oakland, CA 94610 (510) 839-9124 If you are bringing the kids, this is your best choice. They have great pizzas, pasta and Italian favorites. Next door is a wine bar if you are looking for a lighter fare and a flight of interesting wines.

NORTH OAKLAND

Citron 5484 College Ave., Oakland CA 94618 French, Mediterranean, California. Since its inception by Chef/ Owner Christopher Rossi, Citron has established itself as an Oakland landmark catering to those who want the freshest ingredients possible prepared in tantalizing fashion.

Doña Tomás 5004 Telegraph Ave., Oakland CA; Tel. 510.450.0522 Mexican. Oakland's premier Mexican eatery, Dona Tomas does everything classy, from the food to the cocktails.

Oliveto 5655 College Ave. Oakland, CA 94618 Northern Italian. Oliveto offers regional favorites and some interesting specialties in the Northern Italian tradition. Menu selections change dramatically with the seasons.

Pizzaiolo 5008 Telegraph Ave Oakland, CA 94609 Tel: (510) 652-4888 Opened by a former Chez Panisse chef. Food is simple, locally grown faire with Italian influence. It also has a great bar with specialty cocktails. Always busy, so make a reservation.

 

Preview Party Renamed

Oh, I forgot to mention that the preview party next Friday has been officially renamed as a pre-preview party. This is an opportunity for you to experience Farley's East in its naked state. Definitely a work in progress....we will be issuing hardhats at the door.

Hope you can make and be ready to contribute your creative talents as we'll look for your ideas on artists, musicians, magazines and the like.

AMMR, PG&E, Sheet Rock, Interviews...What a Week

Wow, as I look back on the week, I wonder how it all happened. The building inspection revealed that steps are all 1/2" too short due to how they are supposed to be measured (for the record, it's nose-to-nose as opposed to riser-to-nose). Anyhow, we were going to have to rip them all out and move a steel beam, BUT we very fortunately granted an AMMR (alternative means and methods request) allowing us to provide 2" wide contrasting tape on the front of each stair. You won't be able to miss it!

The electrical situation reared its ugly head again. The city electrical inspectors took issue with the service load and condition of equipment PG&E has in place. Thus, PG&E is going to do a whole new round of calculations and site inspections. This will keep things interesting. If it turns out PG&E service is inadequate, come visit us at our opening next year....However, there will be a temporary solution so we're only strongly concerned, as opposed to freaked-out.

Moving on, electrical be dammed, the sheet rock went up today. Yes, all of it in one day! I have an office with walls, there's a bathroom, no holes in the ceiling and no holes in odd spots on the other walls. It really looks like a different space. If we could only hire the sheet rockers to do all the work, the project would have been completed two months ago.

Interviews: we began interviewing this week as well and met some really good folks. If you know anyone looking for employment, email us for an application.

Happy news about the sheet rock and the interviews, so a nice way to start the weekend!


PS. We're doing a mosaic right outside the front entrance. So, even when you're looking down, you'll have reason to smile upon entering Farley's East.

Thanks to OBDC Small Business Finance

We would be remiss in not mentioning the source of our business loan. OBDC Small Business Finance has worked with us to secure a loan through the City of Oakland and that is not an easy task with the current economy. We thank them for their efforts.

In addition, they are a great group of people who love Oakland as much as we do!

Check them out: www.obdc.com

Preview Party Invitation

We are happy to announce and invite you, the reader, to a preview party on May 1 at 6pm. We won't be done with construction but we want to give you a preview of the coffee house and expose you to Oakland's Art Murmur (www.oaklandartmurmur.com).

There will be food and drink for your enjoyment. Please feel free tell your local friends, we'd love to meet them!

We're very excited to share our new venture with all of you and hope that you will join us to celebrate!

Chris & Amy

Stay Updated With Us on Twitter

Follow us on Twitter: FarleysEast

Open Call for Artists

We will be featuring a rotating Artist of the Month at Farley's East and will soon be looking for talented artists interested in having a show. You would be required to have a one month show with reception on the first Friday of the month to coincide with Oakland Art Murmur. Preference will be given to Oakland residents but all interested artists are welcome to submit an application.

Email for further information and an application.

Contact Chris -at- FarleysCoffee -dot- com

Equipment Auction?!?!?!?

Today led us to San Leandro for the bi-weekly restaurant equipment auction. After doing loads of research on equipment over the past several months and the opening approaching, we were ready to start seriously looking AND buying. The auction warehouse was packed floor to ceiling with everything you ever thought you could use in a restaurant, walk-in freezers, floor mats, kegerators, rubber floor mats, double-door refrigerators, plates, laddles (yeah, we got a set of 6!), giant pots, outdoor chairs (we found a great set for people to sit in as they enjoy their espresso outside on a warm sunny day), and of course we bought a case of crab crackers which has nothing to do the restaurant but we never have enough at home.

Not exactly ready to open, but it was a start. Anyone know where I can find an under-counter ice machine?

Plumbing is Underway

Day in the Life of a Coffee House Owner

Life is rapidly changing as my "day job" hours are drastically reduced and demands of the coffeehouse increase. Here was today:

1. Dropped-off Marin at school.
2. Went to look at restaurant equipment supplies with Amy and Makenna. We had Makenna in tow because her care-provider called in sick.
3. Visited Airport Appliance to check-out refrigerators b/c the one at home is dying
4. Met the electrician and his team to scope out the project and set the start date (next week)
5. Lunch to discuss lighting plans, fixtures and the like.
6. P/U Marin from school.
7. Spoke to ABC regarding the beer and wine permit. All looking good and waiting on the fingerprint clearance from the DOJ and FBI. Also need to see the loan docs to make sure the money is on the up-and-up. I'd love to have the loan docs to show them - waiting for the final approval.
8. Home to meet the in-laws. Took Gary to the site to meet my dad for a site tour - looking great! Strategized on ideas for enhancing our street presence. We'll have outdoor benches, tables and a few small trees.
9. Home to review new website comps and new cup design.
10. Break time until the kids go to sleep and then back on the computer for more.

Today was a light day.

Construction Continues

Guided by a steady hand, construction continues as Farley's East begins to take shape.

Creating a Great Good Place

We are aiming to create a comfortable space where everyone feels welcome and part of a community, a “third place.” The term, third place, in contrast to the first and second places of home and work, is the premise of the book, The Great Good Place. The author, Ray Oldenburg, identifies third places, or "great good places," as the public places where people can gather and interact. Third places allow people to put aside their concerns and simply enjoy the company and conversation around them. Third places “host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work.” The author states that beer gardens, main streets, pubs, cafés, coffeehouses, post offices, and other third places are the heart of a community's social vitality and the foundation of a functioning democracy. They promote social equality by leveling the status of guests, provide a setting for grassroots politics, create habits of public association, and offer psychological support to individuals and communities.

While I can’t say we will do all of the above, I hope we achieve a healthy dose!


Check out the book for yourself: The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community by Ray Oldenburg

Local Beer & Wine?

The other news from last week is that I met with the the good folks over at Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC). We will be serving beer and wine at Farley's East so naturally you need a permit to do so and naturally, permits cost money and take time. Right now they take even more time because state employees have a work furlough (thanks Arnold). In the end, I do expect to receive the permit before we open but if we don't, blame it on the economy.

As Farley’s East works to build community and support the local businesses, we will feature local wine makers and local brewers almost exclusively. If you have any recommendations, we'd love to hear from you so please post them in the comments section below.