Places Like This Remind us Why Oakland is Called “The Town”
Editor’s note: As of September 9th, Rooz has shut down stating crime as a deciding factor. Read why this place was so special in our feature on them below.
This past weekend, I saw and now understand why Oakland is called “The Town”, because places like Rooz Cafe exist. A place for a group of people to be accepted for who they are, meet others, and build community. For a few hours, I was surrounded by friends from different parts of my life listening to live music, seeing smiles and experiencing joy.
inside Rooz Cafe – photo by @kris_mendizzle
On Saturday afternoon I found myself at a concert at Rooz Cafe, a cafe that has been in Oakland since 2001 and has been through changes like any business, and especially has been hit hard due to Covid-19. Trying to recruit and bring back business, the owner, Steve, has worked with local pop-up kitchens, has opened early in the morning to project The World Cup, and teamed up with Peerspace to rent out the shop for private parties.
I describe myself as a live music nerd and love to go and look at all the concert posters around the walls and enjoy hearing all the varying genres of music always played here, but I was especially happy to hear live music at the cafe. There’s something about live music that hits me differently than listening to a recording. I mentioned Rooz, once before in an article for music lovers to go on dates. If you couldn’t tell it has become my favorite cafe in the East Bay, and more than just a good date place.
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Live music happens often at Rooz Cafe – photo by @kris_mendizzle
Rooz is a dog-friendly cafe, with a rotating menu filled with freshly made breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and baked goods made on site. You won’t get drip coffee at Rooz, Steve, has been on a mission to Make Americanos Great Again. He also serves smoothies, a varied selection of beers, non-alcoholic beverages and Kombucha on tap. I ordered the turkey avocado sandwich for lunch, but was definitely eyeing other peoples orders, including vegetarian options like the bagel with pesto, feta and vegetables. There’s local art on the walls for sale, and even some outdoor seating.
There’s a group of regulars that frequent Rooz, some have been loyal customers for over ten years if not more. I ask them what they like about Rooz, and they all respond with it’s a place where we can shoot the shit, and shit talk with each other. They like the community. They all gave similar answers on what community means to them, “It’s where you can be accepted for who you are and accept others for who they are, as well as holding people accountable.” They share changes that have occurred throughout the neighborhood, but stopping at Rooz has always been a constant for them.
Palm Fire is a three piece band that David (guitar player) has formed with Jeff (drummer) since 2014 and latest bassist Brian joined in 2017. David also has worked with the acoustic guitar player, A Made Man, since college. David explains to me that he has known these performers as well as played with them for quite some time. The music had a perfect sound and vibe to create a beautiful day, as the sun started to come out when the band took the stage. For a time, people were not on their phones, the attention of all was in the moment, sharing in the groove.
Palm Fire playing at Rooz Cafe – photo by @kris_mendizzle
Jamie Lee Curtis recently went viral attempting to start a movement for day time concerts, and that was heard by Steve and customer David, of the band Palm Fire. Friends and families around joined in listening to the music.
Anne, with daughter Josephine, tells me how great it is to enjoy music with friends in the neighborhood and those who traveled from Berkeley. “It’s just great that it’s in the daytime and we can all hang out with our kids and have a good time, this place always has a chill vibe. It’s been hard to get everyone together, now that some of us have kids, and it’s great that we get to have this in the daytime.”
Anne with her daughter – photo by @kris_mendizzle
It was also exciting for me to bump into friends I met through a Brewskee-BallⓇ league that I didn’t know were going to be at the show and are friends with the band.
I’m reminded of the Grateful Dead song, Shakedown Street, “don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart, you just gotta poke around.” So go to your local cafe, meet your neighbors, you never know you might walk into a day time concert as well.
Where you can find Rooz Cafe Online?
Rooz Cafe
A Made Man
Palm Fire
Howdy! My name is Katy Atchison and I'm an Associate Editor for Broke-Ass Stuart.
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