Don’t get us wrong, we love our selection of snazzy shops sprinkled around S.F. But, we can’t ignore the flurry of stores that are heating up the East Bay retail scene, too. And while we already know that Temescal Alley has quickly become the darling destination in the area, we were excited to find a gem hidden on the fringes of downtown Oakland. Oakland Surf Club has quickly catapulted its way to the top of our must-shop list, housing cool brands like Popomomo, Mara Hoffman, Ace & Jig, and QSW.
Plus, it has one of the most enviable magazine selections we’ve ever seen — The Gentlewoman, Foam, i-D, Kinfolk — you name it! The surf-inspired goodness doesn’t stop there though. The two-story space also has a unique art gallery on the second floor. So, when First Fridays roll around (ahem, tonight) this is the place you need to be to shop and ogle the night away. Owners Ariana Serrano-Embree and Max Klineman have definitely curated an amazing selection of surf-meets-street, all in the heart of downtown Oakland. It’s safe to say this store crush is now a full-blown obsession.
Oakland Surf Club, 337 14th Street (at Webster Street); 510-465-2770.
Photo: Courtesy of Oakland Surf Club