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Jack London Square
Category: Shopping Shopping Centers Shopping Centers [Edit]
2 Broadway(at Jack London Sq)
Oakland, CA 94607
Neighborhood: Jack London Square
(510) 645-9292
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
116 reviews for Jack London Square
Review Highlights
"...place to rent kayaks, plus the farmers market was going on."
(in 20 reviews)
"and of course, the 2010 Eat Real Festival was here."
(in 3 reviews)
"I still love to walk along the waterfront on a warm sunny..."
(in 5 reviews)
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116 reviews in English
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Review from Tanya P.
While we do miss gathering at what would become Barnes & Noble, we appreciate the refocus on locally owned businesses. This is one of the best Bay Area waterfront pedestrian-friendly areas. This coming from an Oakland native who would visit the waterfront back when Cost Plus was literally a warehouse.
The saloon is the only post-earthquake remnant of the old part of the original square, but they've grown the area to accommodate the changing population. It's refreshing to see businesses actually worth frequenting and realistically supportable by the local residents. Family drives or takes one of the many train options in for the cool festivals and markets. Try Yoshi's for live performances. Many places such as Scotts for seafood. Make sure to go the small side streets for incredible dining options.
Fantastic food, wine, entertainment, parking, shopping, banking, businesses. It's very friendly to people of all ages and ethnicities. The marina weather is the most consistent and friendly of the Bay Area. Great hotels and business offices. Excellent exercise routes.Try renting a boat for an overnight! Yes, Oaklandish Oakland cleans up nice. -
Review from Jenn C.
1/10/2012
Jack London Square always seems like it is so "out of the way" but I always have a perfectly charming and enjoyable outing when I do get down there for festivals like "Eat Real." It's nice to walk around there at night - great views over the water, lots of awesome sounds and it's so close to many venues I like such as Yoshi's and Souley Vegan.
JLS has really come a long way in the last 16 years since I have been visiting the area for Yoshi's concerts and shopping at BevMo and Cost Plus! I look forward to the steady, incremental improvements to continue. -
Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Any sunny day in Oakland is a good day to head down to Jack London Square. Taking a stroll along the waterfront, checking out local festivals and fairs. I forget how beautiful the area is, but always remember the good times.
My how the area has changed over the years, I guess it's been awhile. Although there are many new places to eat and drink, the ones I like the most are those that have been there forever. RIP Old Spaghetti Factory, I still miss you.Listed in: Adventures in the East Bay!
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Review from N Family N.
San Ramon, CA
12/30/2011
Such a cool place but chill with the expensive parking!
I really miss Barnes and Noble. -
Review from Mary C.
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been absolutely satisfied with every festival Jack London Square hosts.
However, when it's not during a festival, this place is pretty dead. Some of the little shops might/might not be opened and there's really not much to check out on any ordinary weekday/weekend.
I agree that this spot has so much potential. I used to go the Barnes and Nobles and Starbucks in the store all the time, but am guilty of using it like a library and reading in the store more than making any purchases and that's why bookstores are going bankrupt :(
I really really hope somebody moves in some sort of giant gallery or museum/attraction to all these empty stores and spots. The location and view is beautiful; it's just in the area of town where people can't afford to go.
Nevertheless, it's a place if you want a nice quiet stroll, maybe rent out a boat or kayak. It's one of those places that you want to grab a cup of coffee down the street and take it on a walk with your date in a private intimate setting (? buhaha corny).
Again, CHECK OUT THE FESTIVALS here. My two recent ones were Eat Real Fest and Pedalfest which was just a few days ago, both lovely.
I don't even own a bike and I enjoyed it so much with good company. Tip:
-try out Q's bar and grill for their happyhour and Beer Revolution just down a couple blocks from the pier :)
-check out non-metered free parking spots on the side streets towards the ends of the pier -
Review from Nora S.
10/17/2011
The cabin is cool and interesting and the old saloon nearby is doubly cool and interesting. But that takes all of 5 minutes to look at (we couldn't go into the saloon with kids). The piers are pretty to walk out onto and then you are left with hours to go until lunch and two bored kids going nuts.
I hope the economy hasn't derailed the plans to put in the market here. Because otherwise there is no reason to visit. -
Review from Albert L.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2011
A client of mines that I had to meet with brought me to this area and wow it sure has change dramatically. I just don't get it today was a hot and humid day and yet there wasn't much people around.
Don't get me wrong though, I mean the whole time I was there, there was maybe less than 20 people that I saw. This area has potential for lots of activities can be a bustling area like the ferry building in SF. I saw a lots store with signs on windows saying (for lease). I remember back in the days were I would come by sit in the cafe at barnes&nobles bookstore just to kill time. Also for all you people that didn't know what was here back 10 years ago, I'll fill you in a little.
Jack London Square used to have Old Spaghetti Factory,El Torrito,TGI Friday's,Tony roma's,Uno One just to name a few. Now all those places has closed up. All I saw was Subway,Ben&Jerry's,Hana Habachi,Bocanova,Heinold's,Meitte,Kincaid's,Scott' s Seafood,Il Pescatore and Miss Pearls. Maybe I'm missing more that I don't see but I can only write what I saw. Btw a place call edible arrangements use to be here too and its gone also. Oh well I hope someone one day will realized what this area could've been if they had put some efforts into it. -
Review from Central B.
Fort Worth, TX
6/27/2011
We recently went (May '11) to San Fran and stayed in Hayward which is just outside of Oakland. While our main intentions was to visit San Fran, we did visit a few places in Oakland and the surrounding areas. I decided that Jack London's Square would be a good place to visit based on the reviews.
However when we got there (around 5pm), it was like a ghost town. Granted it was a weekday but there was hardly a soul around to the point we thought something was wrong. We then decided to stroll around the shops but there was empty building after empty building. The main anchor, Barnes and Noble, apparently left a while back. But even the smaller venues are gone. Of course there were a handful of bars and a few restaurants but very few shops.
Even the maps that are scattered throughout (like a mall directory) were outdated and still showed old shops that used to be there.
It truly seemed weird and we wondered what had happened. We decided to stop by Ben & Jerry's for an ice cream and while we were there, I asked where everyone was at and where did all shops, etc go. The lady there said that a while back they raised the prices significantly on the area and many shops were forced to shut down.
It is sad really because the place looks like it would be incredible. The sailboats that are docked near there are gorgeous and it really could be a great tourist venue. Right now it is just a bar hangout it seems. Before going there, just go to the website for the Square and look at the locations listed there. You will quickly see it has been reduced significantly.
I want to also point out that if you travel down the street just a few blocks, the neighborhood starts to get pretty questionable. It is not the worst I have been in but almost laughable compared to the city across the bay.
If the stores and shops fill back up and the vacant lots disappear, maybe the action will pick up. But when you can go and find yourself totally alone other than the annoying train that runs right down the heart of the square honking its horn at least 10 times, it is hard to get excited about the place unless you were looking to read a good book or reflect on your thoughts. -
Review from Toni M.
4/30/2011
Inspired by my friend Eric's review, here's mine. I have been going to Jack London Square for decades and am delighted w/ the changes I've seen. Long ago it was the home to a restaurant called The Elegant Farmer and very little else. Restaurants have come and gone over the years, most of them forgotten. The large Barnes & Noble has closed, which is a sad loss. Even though it's a big chain, it's still a bookstore and was a pleasant place w/ nice, clean restrooms. We always browsed there when in the area and scored a few books from the remainder tables. As Eric mentioned, Jack London Square is home to a good size farmers' market on Sundays.
Its primary attraction for me, though, is Yoshi's Jazz Club and Restaurant, which has been at this location about 14 years. There's also Everett & Jones, which serves up barbecue in the restaurant as well as blues in Dotha's Juke Joint, their back room club. For years it featured a fine blues singer called Birdleg until he returned to Texas to reconcile w/ his ex-wife of many years. I'm not sure who plays there now. FDR's former Presidential yacht, the Potomac, is berthed at Jack London Square and offers Bay cruises on weekends, a marvelous experience on a sunny day. Cost Plus is a few blocks away, as is Kimball's Carnival, another music club.
There is a wide variety of restaurants, from Miss Pearl's Jam House to Scott's to the Home of Chicken and Waffles. W/in a few block walk are the Oakland Grill, Bocanova, The Fat Lady and the excellent Chop Bar. It's far from the rundown, faintly dangerous area it was years ago, although the presence of Security on the streets after concerts is reassuring. There's a parking garage as well as street parking in the neighborhood. I love Jack London Square.Listed in: I Hella Heart Oakland
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Review from Sarah H.
Clovis, CA
9/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was very confused when I came here at night. It was DEAD. I've come here many times during the day to drop off/pick up people at Amtrak but I never got to explore. There are no stores there. The restaurants are overprices, but I love Kincaids! (see my review for that) It's just all dark and deserted with like, a few restaurants and a bar.
The dock is beautiful and you can see the bay bridge all lit up but that's it.
I was very disappointed. -
Review from Eric B.
4/27/2011
Jack London Square is named after the author Jack London and is owned by the Port of Oakland. What you'll find here are various stores, restaurants, hotels, an Amtrak station, a ferry dock, the historic Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon, the (re-located) cabin Jack London lived in the Klondike, and a movie theater (with validated parking). there's also a decent farmer's market, an active rail line that runs right down the middle of one street, and at least one old historical train station.
This area has undergone significant rehabilitation in the last several years, including loft conversions and new construction. The City of Oakland has tried hard to make Jack London Square a destination location, but for me there's still a long way to go. I'll come down for a movie or a show at Yoshi's, to have drink at Beer Revolution or the Last Chance Saloon, or walk along the water. But after I'm done, it takes me too long to decide that I'd like to come back. -
Review from Victor G.
Oakland, CA
4/26/2011
Jackon London Square was an afterthought until some events started occuring here on a regular basis:
-eat real festival
-farmers market
-restaurant week
-mexican/various celebrations
-heinhold's saloon: just to look, not to drink, beers not cold enough and too pricey.
-concert
the restuarants and retailers were never enough to draw me here, now a few of them have gone:
-barnes & noble
-silk road
-TGIF
-various night clubs...
only bocanova interests me here as a special ocassion visit.
the other eateries here are subpar or just average...
it's nice to look at the flowing waves and passing ships. oh, these flying globs of feathers pecking at your feet? you don't need to tip them for entertaining you. those scraps you threw away in the garbage or drop on the grounds are enough to keep them happy and coming back for more. -
Review from Teju A.
Mountain View, CA
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dry as a dog biscuit on a Saturday evening... where did all the people go!?
Took a few friends here after a couple years and was surprised at how empty this place was. Must be the economy.! -
Review from Alicia T.
Oakland, CA
10/29/2011
They change the Pork Chop special...what a shame...the best thing on the menu. Customer service on the phone is not great...
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Review from Kelvin P.
Hayward, CA
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lots of empty businesses but still a wonderful place to hang out.
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Review from Matt R.
Oakland, CA
11/14/2010 3 Check-ins Here
It's slowly coming back.
What a fantastic event venue. Ferry access, sunny waterfront promenades, free sailboat parking, Broadway shuttle to Uptown, several excellent bars and restaurants (and more to come, we hope), grassy squares to sit in, really big empty spaces to fill with art, bikes, alcohol, food, or whatever else fits your weekend extravaganza. It's only "ghetto" in the sense that it's not adjacent to a gated community. (OK, some of those condos...)
I hope they can get their shit together long enough to make this work. Night and weekend shuttle service would be nice. A new ballpark down by the old Oakland Sailing club wouldn't be bad, either. -
Review from Travis R.
Oakland, CA
2/2/2011
There are restaurants and lots of activities and usually a good art exhibit.
There is valet parking and security guards patrolling.
mostly people come here on friday an Saturday evenings dressed nice for an expensive dinner... I think most of the expense goes to the ambiance, not necessarily the food quality. not that the food isn't good but don't expect it to be fresh local catch. I've seen some of the restaurants receiving their orders of frozen sea food from a sacramento based seafood distribution company.
Heinholds is a great bar and has all delicious local beers on tap.
There are no recycling receptacles. Only trash cans. : \
They cut down a 60' tall spruce tree to put up for "the hollidays." every year. NOT COOL.
They are hosting cannon firing tall ships for school kids to visit for state sponsored promotion of the armed forces.
There are about 100 american flags flying prominently here.
The farmers market on sunday is good.
The shore line is difficult to see through all the trash. They keep the walkways very clean but neglect where the water meets the land/ concrete.
They have free outdoor movie screenings and out door free dance lessons in the summer time that are cool. -
Review from Ivy R.
10/4/2010 7 Check-ins Here
Jack London Square is one of those places that I actually get excited about visiting.
When my husband and I were first dating we would come here to walk around. We would go eat at one of the restaurants and then go drink at First & Last.
On nice spring or summer days the weather can be just perfect.
Careful in heels though. The little stone way path can be dangerous. Luckily I fell into a sign that broke my fall.
We come here for the Eat Real Festival and have also visited the Farmers Market a few times.
Fourth of July is crazy down here and I cant stand when people come and literally tramp all over the Jack London Cabin's roof. Its so disrespectful.
Come here in good or bad weather, be respectful of the history and you'll love it just as much as I do.Listed in: Event Spaces, Free & Fun, I like Oakland!
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Review from Simone F.
Oakland, CA
hella love!
much cleaner than walking the sf embarcadero waterfront!
love their yearly massive food rave - eat real fest!
love their waterfront farmers markets on sundays! -
Review from Jupiter U.
Oakland, CA
11/10/2011
If you are planning to move to any of the appartments in Jack London Square beware that all the rental properties have increased rents by 30% claiming that it is the market. Double Speak for Corporate Greed. These Properties are taking advantage of the housing foreclosures that are forcing people to rent. The Landing, Allegre, and others tell you that the rate can change anytime depending on the market. A complaint was filed with the City of Oakland by a renter who's rent was increased and the City ruled that it was ok because it was new construction. Occupy Oakland needs to put this on their list of what is becoming a serious problem of Greed. Taking advantage of people who are trying to make it in these hard times. "The Rent Is To Dam High"
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Review from Lorrayne L.
Oakland, CA
10/23/2010
I imagine there are rare few who can truly understand what the Square means to me. This is where I found my voice for the very first time; this is where I grew up. It is here where I find peace in a lifetime of turbulence. This is home.
As I walked the waterfront's edge tonight - amidst the windy cold and light drizzly rain, cutting a suspicious figure in my duster, hat and shades - I am brought back to years past, and am reminded of how much the Square has changed in just my lifetime. Gone now are the dilapidated wooden docks, replaced by concrete floaters. Buildings rise and fall, others remodeled, while establishments aplenty come and go like the tide. As I stand there on the edge of the pier, bathed in darkness, I begin to hear the whispers of the longshoremen and adventurers, workers and children of old times past, as they carved a life out of the unforgiving shores of Oakland's frontier.
But there are elements that are as unchanging as the seas. Heinhold's First and Last still stands in its original locale despite a heavy hundred plus years of weather, erosion and progress. The horse-like guardians still watch over the front, silent yet imposing like Cerebus to Hades. And let us not forget the half of Jack's cabin that still stands proudly next to the saloon, reminding all of whom the Square is named for.
Has anyone else in this town and beyond been to see the other half of that cabin? I have. Several years ago, my aunt and I made the trek up to Dawson City just for that purpose. Memories resurface whenever I look at that cabin; precious memories that will live forever. I can still see the other half in Dawson, mounted on stilts with a large cache overhead in the spruces. If your eye is keen, you can separate the original logs from the new ones used to recreate each cabin when they split the building to be shipped from Henderson's Creek. I smile every time as I run my fingers over them in reverence.
There are many aspects of the Square's past that I still mourn over, like Jack London's Village. Does anyone remember that? It was my sanctuary when I was little. Can you recall the wooden structure, filled with unique mom and pop shops and the Jack London Museum, with its lifelike replica of White Fang lurking just inside the doorway? Does anyone else remember the replica of the skiff that Jack used to pirate the Bay's oyster beds at the age of 15? Hmm, I wonder.
But change can be good, depending on its intentions. Now the Square boasts a lively Farmer's Market, attracting droves of people from all walks of life. The Port remodeled the entirety of the Square to be more aesthetically pleasing, and, in conjunction with the City of Oakland, has brought life back to all the run-down warehouses and abandoned buildings that make up the whole of the neighbourhood.
If you haven't been there yet, come on down and say Hi to old Jack. He's waiting for you with a smile and a bow. -
Review from Tisha K.
7/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place as definitely upped its quality and aura within the last decade! Jack London Square is a treat for the eyes and a great place to chill out, relax and have fun with family, friends or that special someone. Right off the water, the area has a serene feeling that makes you never want to leave. Not to mention, there are some GREAT eats around the area.
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Review from Pamela B.
Alameda, CA
10/7/2010
I love Jack London Square - I live in this neighborhood. I walk and or bike here every day. I've enjoyed the friday nite Dancing Under the Stars and the outdoor cinema. That said, it was a big blow to loose Barnes & Noble/Starbucks. You cannot get a decent cup of coffee at JLS any more. You can walk a few blocks up to the Warehouse District and go to Blue Bottle or Peerless, but at JLS - nada on the java. Don't try to get a cup of coffee at Ben & Jerry's. Their coffee is a joke - terrible.
Also missing is a grocery store and a place to purchase sundries. I do enjoy having Bevmo close by, as well as Bed,Bath & Beyond and Cost Plus.
As far as restaurants are concerned; Miss Pearl's Jam House is excellent. For a fun place to have a cool brew, Heinhold's First & Last Change Saloon is a great, historic spot. Scott's & Kinkaid's are also excellent, if not expensive. -
Review from Learnee L.
Emeryville, CA
1/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I always like this place.
Cool place to hangout.
The restaurants are mostly good.
There's a theater, bar, and farmers market I need to check out (too bad is on Sunday).
I wish they'd put more good restaurant/bars. We need this place to be the talk of the town. -
Review from Jon P.
Berkeley, CA
7/3/2011
Clean, ample parking and pretty safe but the food choices are limited, there's nothing really worthwhile going out of your way to see or shop at and the view isn't all that great.
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Review from Jennie P.
9/3/2010 7 Check-ins Here
This place is so nice.. waterfront restaurants (Kincaid's my favorite!), secure garage parking, theater, Ben & Jerry's, BevMo!, and of course, the 2010 Eat Real Festival was here! Whoooohooo!
But hey, what ever happened to Starbucks?! -
Review from Rat a tat R.
San Francisco, CA
4/26/2010
Ah, Jack London, the poor man's San Francisco.
I appreciate and give the Jack London Square area a lot of credit for working so hard to clean up this area over the last several years. The waterfront itself is quite lovely, and you can charter boats as well as eat at some fairly nice restaurants where you can enjoy the view. (As waterfront restaurants go, I like Kincaid's Bayhouse quite a bit but am not as enthralled with Scott's.) There's an Amtrak that comes right here as well, but unfortunately the last Capital Corridor train on a Saturday night leaves fairly early (about 9:30pm), which makes it difficult to utilize this service.
Other than the actual waterfront, though, there just isn't a lot to Jack London Square. It's nice to walk around for a little while and get dinner, and there's some ok stores in the immediate area. However, you quickly run out of things to do. The area also gets quite run-down quickly as you leave the immediate square, so you can't really go exploring.
While Jack London Square is good for a night out to dinner for those in the East Bay who don't want to drive across the Bay Bridge for the night, it doesn't even come close to comparing to San Francisco as a tourist attraction or for local entertainment. -
Review from Veronica S.
Fremont, CA
5/8/2010
Went here for my first time today, and I liked it! I had no idea Oakland had places like this to offer. To be honest, it reminded me of a similar waterfront area down in Long Beach, which is comparable and also this beautiful.
There are lots of little restaurants surrounding Jack London Square as well as convenient parking or street parking that is not too horrible (but pretty pricy at $2/hour so bring a LOT of quarters).
I wouldn't mind coming here again, it's quiet but still nice! I also heard they have a great farmers market with lots of home made goodies. -
Review from Janney B.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2009
When I was a child at camp, I stood on stage before the entire congregation of baptist/nazarene/seventh-day adventists (I forget which denomination THIS one was) and announced that my parents were getting a divorce.
Which wasn't true. But I was supposed to be reciting bible quotes from memory and the ones I knew had already been taken, so the only option was to stare out at the masses and share some information guaranteed to please the crowd.
My news one-upped my friend Heather's John 3:16, that's for sure.
Not only did the counselors forgive me for not knowing any bible quotes, but my parents received casseroles and apple pies for weeks.
Unlike me, Jack London Square doesn't pretend to be what it's not. It doesn't stuff its bra from a B to a C. It doesn't take the dorky friend to the prom and secretly hope for the popular quarterback to stop calling her a brainer and ask her to dance. It doesn't read a copy of US Weekly tucked inside the Economist at lunchtime.
Instead, it sits there proudly by the water and proclaims, "Come and shop here. Sure, you might get shot - but who wants chicken and waffles?!"
It has a bookstore, art galleries, chain restaurants, spendy romantic restaurants, an Amtrak station, a Saturday farmer's market, a log cabin pub, validated parking, and a nice vibe.
I can't wait to see what is unveiled in the Spring of 2009 when the gentrification project is concluded.
I consider Jack London Square to be my little slice of purgatory; It's too early to determine if this place will go to heaven or hell, but come give it a chance.
Amen. -
Review from Alan A.
Fremont, CA
11/28/2010
I really like to just stroll along the waterfront and check out the nice boats moored on the docks. If you head further north, it is interesting to see all of the container ships and loading equpment as well. As for shopping and restaurants, this place has been hard hit by the sagging economy. There are quite a few vacant places. The most recent big store to vacate the place is Borders Books.
I was really shocked at how this place has changed. It was kind of like a ghost town when I visited a few weeks back. I will still go visit Jack London Square because I really do enjoy strolling along the waterfront, and California Canoe and Kayaks is located there. However, this place has become a little bit depressing. -
Review from Jeff R.
San Francisco, CA
11/14/2010
The Farmer's Market, Swarm Gallery, . Heinold's First And Last Chance Saloon, Encuentro,wine bar, and Merchants are my favorite parts of Jack London Square. I do like that it is near the water. That is why I have two stars. The rest is awful. No decent cafes that provide Wireless. So... web designers, Pixar peeps, graphic designers, anyone that wants to use a laptop for work, or pleasure and wants to get out of the house. Avoid this place. Avoid buying a loft here because, again, no decent coffee places, or places to really kind of hang out and get some work done while enjoying the water...
PS Many of the places have closed due to really bad marketing, and not catering to some of the vibrant artists, and youth of Oakland. -
Review from David D.
12/10/2007
This is a pretty waterfront shopping center. It's one of our favorite Sunday afternoon stops.
There is a harbor front stair flanked with little lighthouses, which reminds me of the harbors in the Greek islands. Nice paving, pretty fountains and mobiles, and a small centrally-located stage. A half-size cabin made from one that Jack London lived in. Restaurants all over the place, including Yoshi's and Scott's. An outdoor bazaar that is like a perpetual farmer's market and street fair, which has lots of vendors in the summer. A harbor tour boat that will show you the Alameda water front and the Coast Guard base.
Southern Pacific tracks pass right by, with the trains going right down the street. There's an SP station nearby. A large parking lot and theater are about a block away. Broadway comes right down to the shopping center. So whether you take a train a boat, or a car, Jack London Square is easy to reach. -
Review from Jen S.
Berkeley, CA
10/27/2007
The non-mandatory star is for the 3 hour movie theater validated parking. Otherwise, I certainly wouldn't have been happy to pay the parking rate for the garage.
I had heard about this area and, hate all you want, but I was severely disappointed. It was like a ghost town. I'm not sure why the revival effort has been so unsuccessful but it should've been more bustling with people for a sunny fall day right before a habor halloween fest or whatever they called it. I hope they get some quality shops/vendors to bring in the people. I'll go back if that's the case, but not otherwise. It just isn't a pleasant place to hang out at all. -
Review from Aspasia s.
San Francisco, CA
9/4/2006
Quiet, serene, sunny and just a ferry boat ride away from downtown San Francisco. I love this plaza. Crowdless, hence quite a few park bench spots to kick back and devour a wonderful book for an hour or more. A Barnes and Nobles bookstore with lots of tables under the sun, sprawling walks, industrial feel, ships, ports, sail boats, and lots of sun.
I think I will move here in a few months.
Spent a wonderful afternoon with my son as I showed him a condo that I plan to move us into. JLS reminds me of SOMA 15 years ago. Very raw, very industrial, very cool.
I love this place. I am getting to love Oakland more and more.Listed in: oakland
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Review from Kelly N.
Oakland, CA
7/8/2010
I was saddened by the loss of Barnes & Nobles and Starbucks at jack London square a few months ago, but I've seen some attempt to improve since summer began.
A few things a lot of people probably don't know about that recently is being offered include:
1. There's a FREE shuttle that runs from jack London up and down broadway street. There's a Bart station at 12th and broadway which makes accessing jack London square much easier.
2. "Dancing under the Stars" is FREE dance lessons offered every Friday sponsored by the Lindin (sp?) Dance Group, which includes salsa, tango, chachacha, merengue, and much more! Even though it's late at night, it's safe in this area. The last time I attended, there was a diverse group of over 100 people of all ages. Very fun event. I recommend it for anyone, ebb those like me who can't dance.
3. "Waterfront flicks" I beleive they have outdoor movies and trivia every Thursday after sun sets. I haven't been to one but check out http://jacklondonsquar... for more details and showings.
I see some potential for expanding and hope more stores soon open at all the vacant shops. With all the new Condos/Apartments being built, I see that happening in a few years. Maybe a few more coffee shops & cheaper parking will increase the crowd -
Review from sibani b.
El Cerrito, CA
9/1/2008
Go to Jack London Square on a sunny day when it is empty. I like going when there is a big festival happening somewhere else in town. It's gorgeous!
Things to do at Jack London Square:
1. Ride a Segway around the Embarcadero.
2. Take a ferry to San Francisco.
3. Get fit by taking a walk by the water.
4. Take in a film at the movie theater.
5. Park at the structure and get a sweet validation.
6. Have some yummy ribs at Tony Roma's.
7. Have over-priced seafood at Scott's.
8. Sit outside Barnes & Noble with a book or a GameBoy.
9. Indulge in some Ben & Jerry's (which will cancel out your walk and then some).
10. Have a conversation with the friendly cashiers at Cost Plus.
11. Shake your head at the numerous empty shops.
12. Contemplate the new development and wonder if it will make the area better or worse. -
Review from Surf R.
San Francisco, CA
4/21/2007
I like wandering along the dock and dreaming of being able to afford one of those boats or eating in some of the restaurants. At least I can pick up some local organic food while I dream during farmer's markets.
Oh, and I like to pop in to the bar there for a nostalgic drink to forget that I can't afford one of those sailboats. -
Review from Clarence A.
Daly City, CA
5/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
3 stars
Attended the Sweet Shoppe Festival got to say all the hype did not fully deliver, if you buy a ticket for samples you expect to get to try samples, alot of these vendors were all about we don't have samples but if you buy it would be better, not sure if this was the first one but didn't live up to the hype, ghiradelli festival in sf is way better sad to say but did not seem they were organized, it was indoors which is a plus, but other then that choices or selection of sweets was nill there was maybe at most 25 vendors and more have you had to pay to sample.
one vendor had the chocolate covered bacon if not hazelnut covered bacon pure genius and they had samples haha, alot had the typical red velvet just ok, there was one vendor that had orchata mini cupcakes wow super different super melt in your mouth good
i would go back for a second shot maybe next year the bubble bar was good several choices of champane and 2 dessert wines the vanilla dessert wine stay away from literally syrup in a cup.
service *** ehh depended on the vendor alot seemed like they did not want you to loiter in front of there stall horrible
price ranged from few bucks on each stall depending on what you wanted
ambiance *** indoor which is a plus if u got newborns or kids several new moms out and about getting there fill of sweets
more or less place seem a lil unorganized not sure if this is their first but they need to make it better in regards to presentation and entry -
Review from Tracy A.
Oakland, CA
7/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
Beer Fest housed in the old Barns and Noble building!
Love me some JLS! I can walk here from both home and work (work is a little closer). BART-able and walkable, what more could I ask for? -
Review from Anita L.
8/28/2008
Whenever we visit our friends who live in this area we always end up eating somewhere at Jack London Square. I must say our friends aren't always the adventurous type so we're not able to to go to hole-in-the-wall places, so the generic cookie cutter style restaurants works well and there are a lot here.
Personally, I am not thrilled by JLS because none of the restaurants really appeal to me. I like how there is a Barnes & Noble to kill some time at and when the farmers market is on. Otherwise, there's nothing really exciting about this area except, maybe Yoshi's.... but then Yoshi's isn't exactly in the square itself now is it?
It's convenient so I guess that garners an extra star.
