Grand Opening Celebration set for July 10
OAKLAND (July 7, 2009) – Farley’s East, a community coffeehouse and cousin of the ever popular Farley’s in San Francisco, has joined the thriving arts and entertainment scene in downtown Oakland’s Uptown District. The owners invite the public to enjoy complimentary beverages and live music during a Grand Opening Celebration on Friday, July 10, from 5:00-9:00 p.m.
Located at 33 Grand Avenue, just west of Broadway, Farley’s East lures patrons with a full menu of locally roasted coffee and tea beverages, tasty grilled panini, free Wi-Fi and a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Like its San Francisco cousin, Farley’s East will have upwards of 250 magazine titles for purchase. With a staff of 15, the coffeehouse will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends.
“Since we live in Oakland, we are very excited to be a part of the Oakland community and do our small part to make Oakland a wonderful city,” said Farley’s East Co-Owner, Chris Hillyard. Hillyard and fellow Co-Owner, Amy Hillyard continued, “Creating a place for community, comfort, great food and great coffee, was our goal. We hope we achieved it!” This sense of community is reflected in their partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Every month, Farley’s East will give a different nonprofit the opportunity to showcase their mission and cause with a display in the coffeehouse and an evening reception.
Farley’s East has also connected with the Arts community and will host rotating monthly exhibitions for local artists. The coffeehouse is adjacent to a cluster of galleries on Grand Avenue that participate in Art Murmur, a monthly celebration of the arts held on the first Friday that attracts hundreds of art aficionados, hipsters and urban revelers to galleries throughout Oakland. Farley’s East will be open during Art Murmur to showcase its local artist exhibitions and meet the caffeine and food needs of Murmur goers.
The elegant interior and crisp exterior were made possible through the City of Oakland’s Tenant Improvement and Façade Improvement Programs. These matching grant programs assist business owners with interior built-outs and exterior improvements to bring under-utilized properties back to productive uses. The business also worked with OBDC Small Business Finance to secure a low-interest loan. “The grants and loan were significant pieces to the project,” said Hillyard. “We couldn’t have completed the project without that financial support.”
The opening of Farley’s East is latest in a trend that has seen successful San Francisco business owners open restaurants, clubs, coffeehouses and galleries in Oakland after discovering the benefits of doing business in the East Bay’s largest city.
For more information, visit http://www.FarleysCoffee.com or call (510) 835-7898.
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