In 2004 Chef Ron’s Pastries started like many business: doing small orders here and there for family and friends. In 2015 brother and sister Ron and Rhonda Persons officially launched Chef Ron’s Pastries when an opportunity to work with the Golden State Warriors came to them. Since then, the business has been steadily growing, all…
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) may have the flexibility to create new loan products to better serve their communities. Concessionary loan capital is one such type of new loan product. Concessionary loans are loans that offer more generous terms than market rate loans. These terms may be lower interest rates, a longer pay-back period,…
Main Street Launch is proud to introduce Shop Oakland Now, an online directory of Oakland small businesses. The site is still in development, and we invite you to use it, share it, and send us your feedback. Our goal is to ensure that all operating Oakland small businesses have an online presence to help new customers…
The City of Oakland will mark National Small Business Week (April 29-May 5) with an an exciting week of community events and over 80 educational workshops for Oakland small businesses. The 2018 Small Business Week theme is “Helping Oakland’s Diverse Business Community Thrive.” Entrepreneurs and business owners may choose from sessions at Oakland City Hall…
Chris Pastena, owner, always knew he would own restaurants: “This is my destiny. I can’t remember not thinking about owning my own restaurant. I wanted the freedom of expression to do what I wanted to do where I didn’t have to play by other people’s rules.” Calavera has been open since 2015, and they…
Reem’s is an Arab street corner bakery. They bring the warmth of Arab hospitality through fresh baked bread. Their specialty is man’oushe, a topped flatbread that you can share with friends or fold up and eat on the go, akin to a slice of pizza or burrito. Reem’s isn’t just a business. At the…
Michael Cran is a woodworker, artist, and entrepreneur. When he was in his 20s and still living in Canada, he visited his grandparents at their cabin where he first saw a boat that his uncle had made. After spending time around the boat, he decided that he was going to build his own boat someday.…
After being a beer salesperson for years, Richard Allen decided to do something different. After careful planning and using his previous knowledge in the beer industry, Degrees Plato was born and started to operate on May 3, 2017. “Opening a restaurant that sells alcohol is not an easy task,” explains Richard. “The biggest obstacle we…
Below is information about changes to state employment laws that impact employers and employees in California. The recent Oakland City Council resolution prohibit any branch of city government from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the California Immigration and Worksite Enforcement Act includes information about employee rights and employer responsibilities related to ICE…
Julie Harleman, the owner of Maple Street Denim, has a lot of experience in the clothing industry. A couple of years ago, the denim store she previously managed had a fire and it was a major crossroad in her career, and she decided to recreate her career path by starting her own business. Maple Street…
