Grand Avenue Social Club (temporary?)
It’s time to report on the ongoing closure of this welcoming bar and restaurant. It shuttered for renovations over the new year, and was only supposed to be dark through January, but there has been no movement, and management has not yet responded to our queries. (Yelp says the reopening is scheduled for April 1, but we have learned not to trust Yelp reopening dates too much.) We had high hopes for the revived, funky Victorian with the speakeasy feel back when it first opened under new ownership in 2022, and will continue to root for its reopening until we hear otherwise. Grand Avenue Social Club is at 3601 Grand Ave. in Oakland and has been temporarily closed since December.
In-N-Out Burger Oakland
As foretold back in January, and as every media outlet in the country (and many internationally) have dramatically reported, Sunday was indeed In-N-Out Burger’s last day in Oakland. Diehard East Bay fans already know they can still find those animal-style burgers and fries in Alameda, San Leandro and Pinole, but the location near the Oakland Airport will be missed. In-N-Out Burger was at 8300 Oakport St. in Oakland, and is now permanently closed.
Kitchen Story (temporary closure)
Oakland’s location of popular Asian-fusion brunch spot Kitchen Story has been temporarily shuttered due to a failed health inspection, as per Reddit. The notice in the window is dated March 25, and a spokesperson for the restaurant group, which also has a location in San Francisco and operates U :Dessert Story, said the kitchen is undergoing maintenance and the restaurant is expected to reopen on Friday, March 29. Kitchen Story is at 5422 College Ave. in Oakland and is temporarily closed.
Roya Afghan Cuisine
Upscale-casual Afghani restaurant Roya will close after service on March 30 after 11 years in Livermore, as first reported by the Livermore Patch. The farewell note from owner Abdul Yawari on the restaurant’s website expressed “mixed emotions” and deepest gratitude to his diners. It also mentions his new Oakland restaurant Saffron Kitchen, which continues to garner favorable reviews since opening in Rockridge in November. Roya Afghan Cuisine is at 2020 First St. in Livermore and will close after service on March 30.
