Oakland, CA – Ellis Partners LLC, the developers of Jack London Square, today announced the availability of first-of-its-kind space in the Jack London Market. Ellis Partners is offering leases on the market floor for vendors of produce, meat, fish, wine, cheeses and other culinary specialties. The spaces will be available in low square footages that make starting or expanding a business affordable in a down economy. As the centerpiece of the Square’s ongoing redevelopment, the Jack London Market will provide a home for culinary entrepreneurs and established businesses alike in an environment that reflects the culinary ethos of the Bay Area. The Jack London Market will showcase vendors of local, sustainably produced culinary goods. It will serve the everyday needs of local residents and be a regional destination for exceptional shopping and dining.
“Times of economic downturn foster a vigorous entrepreneurial spirit. In this climate, the Jack London Market provides the perfect opportunity for innovation and quality to flourish,” said Julia Allenby, Market Manager of the Jack London Market. “With leases on the market floor as small as 200 square feet, culinary entrepreneurs will have a chance to bring their work to the public without the need for a full-sized store or restaurant. We’re excited to see some of the business ideas that will come forward and welcome anyone with a dream and a plan.”
Jack London Square already boasts a collection of the Bay Area’s most respected names in the food industry. Among the new faces in Jack London Square are Miette Patisserie founder Meg Ray, San Francisco culinary scene veterans Rick Hackett and Meredith Melville, Daniel Patterson of San Francisco’s much acclaimed Coi, Delfina’s Lauren Kiino, and local celebrity chef Joey Altman who created the menu for the revival of his famous Miss Pearl’s Jam House, now open in Jack London Sqaure.
“At the Jack London Market, we’re building a community of local culinary artisans,” added Allenby. “It is our hope that the vendors in the market will provide each other, as well as area restaurants, with support and inspiration. If the chef at a local restaurant is looking for locally grown, fresh ingredients, he or she will have to look no farther than Jack London Market.”
Comprising 70,000 square feet, the Jack London Market will be housed in a six-story building with breathtaking water views. In keeping with the project’s focus on sustainability, the structure is targeted for LEED Silver Certification. The largest of its kind on the West Coast, the ground-floor market will offer local and sustainably produced fruits, vegetables, meats, wine, and speciality products. The second floor will feature casual dining, restaurants, and culinary shops. Class A office space will fill the top four floors of the building, providing a built-in customer base for the businesses below. Jack London Market promises to be a values-driven marketplace and food destination that is vibrant, successful, and profitable while adhering to ethical principles of responsible behavior toward the environment, working practices, and the local, diverse community.
Vendors in the market will have the opportunity to take part in a project that promises to change the face of Oakland’s waterfront. The Jack London Market building is the centerpiece of the ongoing Jack London Square redevelopment, a $375 million, 1 million square foot project designed to spur the revival of a dining and entertainment district. The project will combine culture, cuisine and commerce in a waterfront setting to futher enhance this already popular regional destination. Elegant new Class A office space with panoramic views will blend with destination restaurants, major new retail, the newly renovated Waterfront Hotel, ample public gathering areas, and the largest everyday fresh market on the West Coast. Adding to the mix will be a new 248-room, 4-star urban resort hotel and conference center adjacent to a sparkling marina, great for business and an ideal getaway for area residents.
Inquiries regarding space within Jack London Market should be directed to Julia Allenby at 510.645.9292 x224 or julia@jacklondonsquare.com. Interested parties should be prepared to discuss their ideas, experience, and business plan.