With a sigh and a frown, but with a glimmer of hope we here at Live, Love, Oakland are sad but not too terribly surprised to see Monkey Forest Road shut it’s doors. On December 31st they served their last yummy cup of coffee due to low revenue. Monkey Forest Road had such a great concept but it was highly ambitious and at times it felt as though it was not fully carried through. They did an extensive and beautiful buildout of their building, turning it into a distinctive gallery and coffee shop. These are two things that theoretically should go together, coffee and art should be a perfect match. Personally, I found that I would generally take my coffee to go though as the atmosphere of the gallery was too cold and statuesque, and when hanging around in a coffee shop a warm, comfy atmosphere…or at least one where I’m not afraid to speak above a whisper in…is preferred. Their coffee though, was so smooth and their treats delightful, and my Monday morning coffee fix will be forever lost without them.
In more positive news, both for the Grand Lake area, and for the Monkey Forest crew, Monkey Forest Road is not completely gone. They will be moving their show room for their gallery to 489 25th Street in Oakland! On January 11th they open the gallery to the public on Saturdays from 10am-3pm and by appointment only Tuesdays-Fridays. Different, but still part of our community.
In terms of the Grand Lake area, Splashpad.org reports that Charlie Hallowell (Boot and Shoe, Penrose, and Pizziolo)and Richard Weinstein are the buyers of the MFR building, and are working on plans to open some sort of market that compliments both Boot and Shoe, Penrose, and the rest of the neighborhood which this writer (an admitted Boot and Shoe junkie) could not be more exited for. Our best wishes are sent to both Charlie and Richard for their new endeavor, as well as Chris and Arnel with the relocation and crisper focus of their art and gallery undertaking!
Now onto the hunt for the best Monday morning latte…
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