Ruby Room in Oakland REOPENS!
Just a few months ago, we reported that Oakland’s iconic Ruby Room was closing after 24 years in business. This week, like a Ruby phoenix rising from the ashes it was reported that they are saved!
The journey from impending closure to salvation is a testament to the resilience of community spirit and the enduring legacy of this iconic Oakland establishment. There great ‘reopening’ is happening March 1st, 2024 during Oakland’s ‘first fridays’!
Ruby Room Oakland
How did everything unfold?
In January, Ruby Room made the decision to operate once a week to maintain its liquor license while searching for a new owner. True to this dive bar’s spirit, a member of the community stepped up to assume ownership of the bar.
As you might remember, the goodbye post from Ruby Room owners Alfredo Botello, Trevor Latham, and Tim Tolle was published on December 31st. Then, during a New Year’s Eve bash, Dawit Kidane and his wife Gibtsawit Abraha, owners of Blue Nile, an Ethiopian restaurant about a block from the bar, approached Botello to say they wanted to buy the bar and keep Ruby Room alive.
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Described as “Oakland’s Living Room”, Ruby Room has always been something special with a community that really cares about the space. It’s no surprise that someone swooped in to save the much-beloved dive.
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We’re pumped that Ruby Room is sticking around! There’s so much history here, and we know there are plenty more good times ahead. Can you believe it’s been over 24 years since they first opened its doors? The venue started off as ‘The Court Lounge’, then had a stint as ‘Chico Chimes’ before becoming the Ruby Room we know and love today. But no matter what name it’s rocking, it’s always been the place where you can kick back, grab a drink, and feel right at home.
Local Journalism for Working stiffs
We write for the poets, busboys, and bartenders. We cover workers, not ‘tech’, not the shiny ‘forbes 100 bullshit’. We write about the business on your corner and the beer in your hand. Join the Bay's best newsletter.
In a 2021 SFGate article they talk about how Ruby Room helps make Oakland, Oakland, “despite their criticism and ongoing run-ins with the city, East Bay outsiders — artists, boxers and bikers — each say that the Rats’ clubhouse, along with its president and founder’s other venue, the grimy and beloved Ruby Room, helped make Oakland Oakland.”
Let’s raise a glass to the memories made, the bonds forged, and the bright future ahead for Ruby Room, the beloved cornerstone of Oakland’s cultural tapestry. Cheers to many more years of laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments in this cherished “living room” of Oakland.
Ruby Room is officially reopening Friday March 1st 2024!
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