Already successful business owners of the popular downtown Oakland nightlife destination, Bar Shiru, Shirin Raza and Daniel Gahr have been interested in developing a new outlet for their creativity for some time. The idea for launching their first business in 2019 emerged from a deep love for music and a desire to create a space where people could gather and enjoy exceptional cocktails and whiskey. “We both came from really corporate backgrounds and wanted to do something more tangible where we could actually see people enjoying the things we were working on,” says Shirin. From that desire, Bar Shiru was born.
However, keeping the business going during the pandemic was fraught with challenges. “There were definitely times when we questioned what we were doing, but the support from our community kept us going. Seeing our regular customers and their enthusiasm for our concept was incredibly motivating,” she shares. Shirin and Daniel’s commitment to their community led them to establish the Uptown Downtown Nightlife Committee, an informal group aimed at celebrating and upholding the vitality of their neighborhood. “We couldn’t bear the thought of losing more local spots. There aren’t many places open late for folks who are at a show or work in the industry. We wanted to change that.”
Their path to launching their new concept, Gold Palm/Moonglow, involved careful planning and seizing the right opportunity. “We had been looking to expand with a few concepts in mind, but the pandemic made us very cautious. When friends in the industry decided to sell their venue, it was like fate.” The space was formerly occupied by two different food and beverage businesses in a historic building in the heart of Oakland’s Uptown entertainment district. Shirin and Daniel decided to jump at the chance to embellish the unique venue with their own creative flair. The business will operate as two establishments: Gold Palm, a casual neighborhood bar and restaurant serving Pakistani-inspired small plates alongside creative cocktails and local beer and wine; and in the adjoining space, Moonglow, a small, music-forward and mixology-focused cocktail bar only accessible through a door in the back of Gold Palm.
With their first business, Daniel and Shirin were on a mission to create a welcoming environment that not only offered great drinks and music but also supported their community. “It was important for us to have good employment practices and bring some of our corporate learnings into this realm. We’ve always loved this industry, and it felt great to create a space that aligned with our values,” they add.
For their new venture, Shirin and Daniel needed additional funding in order to uphold their standards as a high-quality employer. “Our main goal was to offer fair wages and comprehensive opening packages for our employees.” Shirin explains. Adrian Gomez Zavala, VP – Relationship Manager at Main Street Launch, introduced them to a specialized job creation loan program. The loan provided the business with the working capital needed to fund those positions as well as cover essentials like utilities, glassware, and other needs.
With the loan, the business was able to secure their lease and continue tackling the crucial steps along their timeline for opening. The connection to affordable capital and individualized assistance provided by Main Street Launch proved invaluable. “Understanding all the contingencies and the unpredictable nature of opening a new business was crucial. Adrian’s willingness to work with us through the uncertainties, particularly regarding the liquor license and funding timelines, was a game-changer. This level of support is something you don’t typically get from traditional lenders,” Shirin emphasizes.
Gold Palm is now open serving the Uptown neighborhood Tuesday – Saturday from 5pm – midnight, with the kitchen open until 10pm on weeknights and 11pm on weekends. Moonglow is slated to open in mid-November. You can follow all their progress and stay up to date on all the happenings on their respective Instagram pages @goldpalmoakland and @moonglowoakland.
