February 2021

Welcome to February 2021! This month we are delighted to introduce Neil Mehta, the new owner of Buckingham Wine and Spirits. We are relieved to be in the purple tier which means hair salons can be open and outdoor dining is back!

We are lucky to have such amazing businesses on Lakeshore and it is getting easier to (prudently) enjoy them even more just before Valentine’s Day. As Shakewell says, after the last year, our small businesses are “too small to fail.” Let’s prove them right with an outpouring of support for February, Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, and more so Lakeshore businesses can not only survive but thrive.  

Valentines Day on Lakeshore during Purple Tier

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner — and Oakland is in the Purple Tier just in time to celebrate! While the purple tier still has several prudent public health restrictions, it also opens more ways to delightfully celebrate while supporting our amazing local businesses. Hair salons and outdoor dining are back! You can get a 2021 suave hairstyle at Bounce Blow Dry and eat outside at Shakewell or Heart and Dagger Saloon. Incidentally, February is also Heart and Dagger Saloon’s 11th anniversary!

Urban Indigo always has elegant and fun gifts and cards. Bay-Made has gorgeous locally made gifts (and divine chocolate!) along with gift baskets and gift cards. Almost all restaurants have their items to go and many have delivery through Door Dash, Caviar, and GrubHub. Many retail stores have curbside pickup too. Buckingham Wine and Spirits has an event planned for Saturday, Feb 13th for Maker’s Mark.

Bardo Lounge & Supper Club has a swoon-worthy take-out dinner planned!  Whether you’re looking for a place for you and your sweetheart, a delicious girls’ night out, or just want to treat yourself, get your reservation now!

There is much fun to be had with the creativity of Lakeshore merchants. Keep an eye out for more specials! Here is a list of currently opened Lakeshore stores, services.

Support Black-Owned Lakeshore Businesses: Black History Month

February is Black History Month. Please honor and support our incredible black owned businesses this month and all year round:

Keep an eye out for specials in Lakeshore businesses supporting local Black-owned businesses. Buckingham Wine and Spirits will have some deals for them and other businesses plan to promote Black-owned businesses too.

A Warm Welcome to Buckingham Wine and Spirits New Owner Neil Mehta

It was a true pleasure speaking with Neil Mehta, the new owner of Buckingham Wine and Spirits. It is an honor and a joy to introduce him to the greater Lakeshore community (if you have not met him). Please read our Q and A below and join me in giving him a warm welcome to Lakeshore. Neil is almost always in Buckingham’s Wine and Spirits, stop by and say hello!

Neil Mehta, new owner of Buckingham Wine and Spirits

What made you want to buy Buckingham Wine and Spirits? Why do you like being the new owner?
I really have to owe the purchase of the store to my Dad, Minesh Mehta. He met Jessie Patel by chance while shopping for supplies for his store in Berkeley and has held my hand the entire way through the process. Manish Bhattarai has also been a tremendous help. Both Manish and my Dad are essentially in this venture together with me and I’d like to thank the community for giving us a warm welcome so far.

What specials and gems do you have in the store that we should know about?

There are a lot of hidden gems and one off bottles within Buckingham’s. A significant amount of the store has products produced from the Bay Area for the Bay Area. Buckingham’s is proud to carry so many local products.

As for specials, we have an event planned for Saturday, Feb 13th for Maker’s Mark and will have some deals for supporting Black-owned businesses products for Black History Month.

Do you plan to make and changes to Buckingham Wine and Spirits?

“My number one priority is to keep Buckingham Wines and Spirits the same store the community knows and loves. I really have to credit Mira and Jessie for establishing the kind of selection and Oakland-rooted products you see today.

The changes we are planning at the moment are mostly structural. Improving the flooring, shelves, and storage are first on our to-do list.”

What do you like about being located on Lakeshore?

The best part about being here has got to be the people. Getting to know the Lakeshore community and interacting with everyone who has stopped by Buckingham Wines & Spirits has been great!

Being on Lakeshore has really introduced me to such an amazing and inclusive community. The area feels like the perfect mix between city and residential where you can really feel at home when you are out.

What did you do before buying Buckingham’s Wine and Spirits?

“Before purchasing Buckingham’s, I went to school at Cal and UNR for Mechanical Engineering, but mostly worked within our family business afterward.

What is a fun hobby of yours outside of business and/or a fun fact about yourself you’d like to share?
“Outside of business, I am actually an avid movie lover. In 2019, I saw 55+ movies in theaters which is not quite movie critic level but it is getting there! I’m really awaiting the theaters to be able to open up again after this pandemic is over because the theater experience can’t be beat at home.”

Anything else you’d like to share or want us to know?  
“I hope everyone is staying safe for this tail end of the pandemic. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.

I also want to thank my Mom for being so supportive and loving through this new endeavor.”

Shakewell Co-Owner Jen Biesty on Chopped!

Jen Biesty, Co-Owner of Shakwell, rocked it on Chopped! The experience was suspenseful to watch and is best summed up in by Jen Biesty herself:

“Well, you win some, you lose some! But you have to play to have the experience. If you don’t challenge yourself, you don’t get to grow as a person. It was a great experience being back in the Chopped kitchen and I’m glad I did it. I have to say, seeing the Judges sweat it out under the clock with random ingredients was truly a pleasure! And I’m really excited for Tara… to go in for the final grudge match! I am thrilled that a woman is competing in the final, and especially a woman who is an immigrant because, as we all know, immigrants are the backbone of the restaurant industry and it’s high time for them… to be recognized as great chefs. I look forward to competing again in cooking competitions because you got to play to win!”

Bernie Sander’s Meme Visits Lakeshore

As we move forward into 2021, resilient, well-intended fun is in high demand! Lakeshore always delivers and did not miss a beat when Bernie Sander’s meme made the rounds, check it out on Lakeshore!

Holiday Lakeshore Love Winners Announced in February

Holiday Lakeshore Love has ended. Thank you to everyone who participated! We are contacting the winners and will announce them shortly!

******