Park Street Neighborhood

Coming into Alameda is like entering a time warp, people say. It’s both an island and a small town, home to a former naval base and the highest concentration of Victorian-era houses on the West Coast. Needless to say, it’s a little bit different from the rest of the Bay Area, but for many, that uniquely Alamedan vibe gives the city its charm.

While non-Alameda residents once had little reason to visit, aside from a day trip to Crown Beach or a friendly house call, they now have several. Those reasons primarily consist of the various shops and restaurants lined up in the now-bustling Park Street neighborhood of downtown Alameda.

Park Street has come a long way in recent years, stretching several blocks from the Park Street Bridge to Crown Beach. Along that stretch and on intersecting streets, there’s enough gourmet fare and couture culture to sway crowds from Piedmont, Berkeley, and San Francisco, but at the same time, Alameda has managed to maintain a historic essence that keeps it one-of-a-kind.

Long-time favorites like Tucker’s Ice Cream and Ole’s Waffle Shop have been drawing lines for decades, as people drive in from all over the Bay for old-fashioned ice-cream and famous, homestyle waffles. And now, a stream of new restaurants has evolved on the scene, giving Alameda a modern, culinary edge.

Pappo’s brings in the latest buzz from the slow food movement; Zen, Barceluna, and HobNob add their own sense of flair to tapas; Tomatina and Bowzer’s Pizza keep families happy; and Burgermeister appeals to the tourist crowd. Burma Superstar’s new location on Park has all the same award-winning dishes as the San Francisco location, but without the hour-long line. Coffee shops on the premises include Starbucks and Peet’s, as well as independents like Julie’s and Java Rama.

Needless to say, shopping is everywhere, from sneakers at District, clothing at Sway and M Zoe Couture, specialty gifts at Space Happy and Sumbody, and toddler gifts at Toy Safari or Monkey Bars. There’s a Marketplace with organic options on one end of park, and a shopping center with your neighborhood Safeway on the other side. In other words, there’s something here for everyone, and people are beginning to notice.

Alameda once slept at sunset, but these days, there’s a steady crowd here long after dark, as bar-hoppers skip from Havana or La Pinata to Scobie’s or Lucky 13. Even the movie theater has a story. While the historic building has been around for over a hundred years, it took a lot of time to get it up and running again, with hurdles to cross over the consequences of a seven-screen multiplex and giant parking garage taking over the city. So far, the theater hasn’t caused any havoc – just another example of Alameda blending the old with the new.

HelloSanFrancisco tip: Park Street hosts yearly street fairs during the summer, like the annual Art & Wine Fair. It's also a stop on the country's longest 4th of July parade.

- by Renee M. Rutledge, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Renee M. Rutledge

Renee M. Rutledge currently writes articles on local travel and culture for Red Tricycle, Parents' Press, Oakland Magazine, and Alameda Magazine.