Merritt Bakery Loan Approved With Conditions; Nic Nak Postponed Again
The $150,000 loan for Merritt Bakery discussed in Tuesday's City Council meeting was first recommended by the Mayor and has now been approved by City Council 5-1, but with conditions. It is not currently clear whether the bakery's future bank loans are legal and this will need to be resolved first. The bakery will also need to comply with recommendations made by the city auditor on how the loan will be used.
Councilwoman Patricia Kernighan, whose district Merritt Bakery is located in, was the only council member to deny the loan. She clearly has a lot of knowledge about the details of this and previous loans (which she has approved in the past), but said that "The situation has changed and another loan is not going to save the bakery." She brought to attention that this is their third outstanding debt which would amount to $800,000.
The one thing that was clear at this meeting was the disappointment everyone felt at the possible demise of Merritt Bakery. While it may be true that the owners haven't changed their business plan to meet the demands of the changing community around them, the true blame, as it turned out, does not sit with them only. Since the construction of the Albertsons's (now Lucky) grocery store in 2002 within just a few feet of Merritt, the bakery has seen cars parked improperly in their lot, potential customers doing all of their food shopping next door, and finally, its sales decline.
Whether Merritt Bakery remains is up to the owners, and of course, up to you - the loyal customer.
Nic Nak Will Have to Wait
On Tuesday night, the appeal of the City Planning Commission's decision to allow Nic Nak Convenient Store at 6400 Shattuck Avenue in North Oakland to continue selling liquor came before the council yet again. The council heard the appeal on May 4 when a decision could not be reached due to the absence of council member Ignacio De La Fuente.
Prior to the May 18 meeting, the owners of the store requested a 30 day extension for the decision in order to seek more counsel on the matter. After hearing one representative from each side, the council tied in their decision to grant the extension. After much disorganized discussion it was decided that the Mayor will need to break the tie. As the Mayor was not present, the matter was moved yet again, to June 1. If the Mayor approves the extension, the matter will be heard on June 15. If not, a decision will be made on the same day, June 1.
Despite the lack of decision on the liquor license, the people still spoke passionately, but this time with frustration with the council. Jeffrey Jensen, who spoke on behalf of the neighborhood, aggressively challenged the council members as he said, "Do you really want to defend a liquor store in court? You have no affirmative defense to approve this liquor store. Zero." Supporters of the Pannells and their store, called out the appellants on blaming the store for blight in the neighborhood.
As before, Oakland Local will continue to follow this matter and will keep you updated.
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I shop at that Albertsons 2-4 times a month for the last few years. I have never parked on the Merritt Bakery side of the lot as I can always find a place on the Albertson's side. The parking issue is a smoke screen. People aren't patronzing Merritt Bakery because it's old-fashioned. I went inside once to try and find a dessert for a party and turned right around. It's a time warp and not in a good way. The city council should have kept out of it and let that business rise or fail on its own merits.
I no longer shop there because I moved to Temescal - but I shopped at the Albertson's/Lucky and at Merritt Bakery from 2002-2007. Occassionally parking from the grocery store would overflow into the Bakery parking lot at peak times but I agree that this factor does not account for the failure of the business.
The service is poor at the Bakery restaurant and the menu is severely limited. The baked goods are excellent but overpriced. I bought several birthday cakes while living in this neighborhood and I always bought them at the grocery store bakery instead - the quallity was very good and the price much cheaper.
eric and julie--it sounds like history and legacy are bigger factors in protecting the bakery than value to customers--and of course, the city wants to give the loan to fund those 55 jobs.
I am not happy to hear about this loan. The food is very bad and over priced. The bakery and the chicken have always been popular. I am a long time Oakland resident (45+ years) I rememer going to Merritts years ago and the food was good. Now you get a over prized, luke warn cup of canned soup. It would not take much to turn the place around.
This meeting and the outcome for both issues have made me very clear on two things: 1.) Thank God I didn't go to law school and 2.) A lot of our council members need an education in finance and The Law.
This is totally inappropriate!!
Does someone at this bakery have naked picture of someone on the City Council? What other viable explanation is there for propping up a poorly managed business, who are cleary out of touch with their pricing of the goods and services offered in their neighborhood.
When a business is badly run it deserves to go under.
LET THIS PLACE DIE, Please.
Do the people of Oakland need to petition the council to stop this obvious nepotism?
When Oakland's infrastructure is so badly in need of funds, i.e. potholes on Jackson St. laying off 100 policeman. what ARE they thinking?
This is truly an outrage to intelligent peope.
Why didn't the City of Oakland support Neldam's Bakery? In my opinion, Neldam's cakes and pastries are far better than Merritt. I ordered a cake from Merritt Bakery that was similar in appearance to Neldam's "Cream Dream", but it was heavy and tasteless. The last time I ate at the Merritt Cafe, their hours had been changed, the service was poor, the food was expensive and about 50 years out of date - the vegetables appeared to be canned - it was awful! Why wouldn't the city support a much more viable bakery operation rather than shore up what appears to be a poorly run and outdated business? The quality of Neldam's products is so superior to Merrit Bakery, there's really no comparison. What's going on with the City of Oakland? Is it political? Does someone at Merritt have an inside connection? If Neldam's closes, I'll really miss their cakes, breads and pastries. To view exchanges between Neldam's bakery and the City of Oakland, go to saveneldams.com