Had the occasion to be in my old stomping grounds last weekend and decided to drop by the Top Dog at the shopping center at 51st and Broadway, that I had visited just a month ago.

Unfortunately, the CVS drug store where it had been located for many years was closed and, with it, the Top Dog too.

I don't know how many of you had ever been to this location, but it had been a nice option for me when I was back in that area of town and I will miss it. I liked it better than the one on Center Street, for sure.

Years ago, there was also a store in the Montclair district and more recently, one in San Ramon, both of which are also now closed. I guess it's a trend, but I guess I'm not trendy in this regard.

RIP Top Dog Rockridge.
😥

That store goes way back:

[URL="http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Closing-CVS-in-Oakland-like-a-family-breaking-up-5552134.php"]http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Closing-CVS-in-Oakland-like-a-family-breaking-up-5552134.php[/URL]

Payless, then Rite Aid, then CVS, then gone. Not the first great Payless store to close that way. CVS's business plan simply could not make that amount of space a viable operation. After all, how much space do you need to sell alcohol, cigarettes, soap and pills?

Went into that store last year and it looked like a wasteland of junk. A pale comparison to the former Payless.

Same thing happened in Alameda.

CalBear68;842332428 said:

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Had the occasion to be in my old stomping grounds last weekend and decided to drop by the Top Dog at the shopping center at 51st and Broadway, that I had visited just a month ago.

Unfortunately, the CVS drug store where it had been located for many years was closed and, with it, the Top Dog too.

I don't know how many of you had ever been to this location, but it had been a nice option for me when I was back in that area of town and I will miss it. I liked it better than the one on Center Street, for sure.

Years ago, there was also a store in the Montclair district and more recently, one in San Ramon, both of which are also now closed. I guess it's a trend, but I guess I'm not trendy in this regard.

RIP Top Dog Rockridge.
😥

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There is a relatively new Top Dog at 6919 Grand Avenue just down the block from the Grand Lake Theater. On the same side of the street. But it is tiny. I did not notice it even though I walked past it 4 or 5 times.

GivemTheAxe;842332449 said:

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There is a relatively new Top Dog at 6919 Grand Avenue just down the block from the Grand Lake Theater. On the same side of the street. But it is tiny. I did not notice it even though I walked past it 4 or 5 times.

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Just down the street from Colonel Mustard. Hit the banjos. Dueling Hot Dog shops. Engard, we're having a sword fight and buns are included.

6919 grand is a nonexistent address. We're you thinking of the Top Dog on Lakeshore near Peets/Trader Joes?

GivemTheAxe;842332449 said:

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There is a relatively new Top Dog at 6919 Grand Avenue just down the block from the Grand Lake Theater. On the same side of the street. But it is tiny. I did not notice it even though I walked past it 4 or 5 times.

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It's actually on Lakeshore Ave, but yes in the same neighborhood as the Grand Lake.

RichmondBear;842332458 said:

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6919 grand is a nonexistent address. We're you thinking of the Top Dog on Lakeshore near Peets/Trader Joes?

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He's referring to Top Dog's Puppy Store in Chicago.

TD shares the same parking lot as Trader Joe's.

One of my jobs while at Cal was working at the Payless in Rockridge. Before the day of scanners. ( sigh )

93gobears;842332444 said:

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Payless, then Rite Aid, then CVS, then gone. Not the first great Payless store to close that way. CVS's business plan simply could not make that amount of space a viable operation. After all, how much space do you need to sell alcohol, cigarettes, soap and pills?

Went into that store last year and it looked like a wasteland of junk. A pale comparison to the former Payless.

Same thing happened in Alameda.

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Payless did go to Rite Aid, But Longs went to CVS. I like the bigger, newer Walgreens now

Is the Hick'ry Pit still there?

Also I think there used to be a Top Dog above one of the downtown Oakland BART stations, is that still there?

OldBlue1999;842332478 said:

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Is the Hick'ry Pit still there?

Also I think there used to be a Top Dog above one of the downtown Oakland BART stations, is that still there?

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The Emil Villas location was vacant for a number of years......it's now a AAA office and Jamba Juice recently moved there too.

jyamada;842332466 said:

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He's referring to Top Dog's Puppy Store in Chicago.

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My mistake. I was using my iPhone to search Top Dog locations and assumed that the Grand Avenue location was in Oakland. But yes the Top Dog shop in Oakland is half a block from the Grand Lake Theater. Pick up a "Top" before the movie.

The CVS Top Dog always had plenty of easy parking right out front. You will be missed.

93gobears;842332444 said:

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Payless, then Rite Aid, then CVS, then gone. Not the first great Payless store to close that way. CVS's business plan simply could not make that amount of space a viable operation. After all, how much space do you need to sell alcohol, cigarettes, soap and pills?

Went into that store last year and it looked like a wasteland of junk. A pale comparison to the former Payless.

Same thing happened in Alameda.

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In this case, it was not a business model issue. That store (which was my go-to drug store) was great and well supported by its customers. Safeway owns the property and terminated their lease because they want to use the space. CVS had its going out of business sell off unloading the store and then right before they were going to close, Safeway told them they weren't ready for the space yet, so CVS could stay temporarily. I believe the kickout was postponed a few times. CVS, understandably, never fully restocked the store, so yes last year it was pretty depressing to go in there. But all the stores on that side of the shopping center are gone now to make way for Safeway's plans.

I would also say that prior to Safeway terminating the lease, there really was no difference in the store as it went from Payless to Rite Aid to CVS.

That Safeway is my go-to store.

I wonder what will take its place when Safeway moves to the new Long's building.

What are rents like in that neighborhood now? Anyone know?

NYCGOBEARS;842332590 said:

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What are rents like in that neighborhood now? Anyone know?

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A friend told me in the Temescal neighborhood between Telegraph and Broadway around 41st, one bedroom with dining room and hardwood floors....$2450. Reasonable compared to SF.

jyamada;842332594 said:

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A friend told me in the Temescal neighborhood between Telegraph and Broadway around 41st, one bedroom with dining room and hardwood floors....$2450. Reasonable compared to SF.

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Thanks! Not bad.

jyamada;842332594 said:

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A friend told me in the Temescal neighborhood between Telegraph and Broadway around 41st, one bedroom with dining room and hardwood floors....$2450. Reasonable compared to SF.

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Seems like quite a lot for that area unless a brand new building.

I used to live in Montclair and went to that Top Dog like once. The thing is that Montclair was close enough to Berkeley and I'd end up there several times a month anyway to go out to eat. It was kind of tucked away and bot really lots of foot traffic there either.

ColoradoBear1;842332614 said:

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Seems like quite a lot for that area unless a brand new building.

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Yeah, or a really big apartment.

sycasey;842332620 said:

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Yeah, or a really big apartment.

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Sounds like a good deal to me but what do I know?

NYCGOBEARS;842332621 said:

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Sounds like a good deal to me but what do I know?

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big manhattan money man!

Safeway is moving into that CVS site, and they are going to tear down the other stores and build stores on both sides of the parking lot - so there will be stores on the side of the lot along Pleasant Valley and stores where the current Safeway is, with the parking lot between. There will no longer be two anchor tenants - just Safeway and a bunch of smaller stores, restaurants, etc. Hopefully Top Dog will be able to secure a space, but I doubt it - will be too high of a rent.

TD should take over the Kasper's on Telegraph and 42nd. The little triangle store.

ColoradoBear1;842332623 said:

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big manhattan money man!

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More like big Manhattan rent with tiny apartment man. Did I go all shocky1? Smoke some weed and calm down in your Rocky Mountain castle, will you?

ColoradoBear1;842332614 said:

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Seems like quite a lot for that area unless a brand new building.

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I don't think the building is new or the unit was too large...maybe 800 sq ft.

Temescal is a happening place now....lots of nice restaurants. Okaydo can confirm. Personally, I think the guy got ripped off.....hate to see what they're asking in Rockridge.

NYCGOBEARS;842332590 said:

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What are rents like in that neighborhood now? Anyone know?

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okaydo;842332639 said:

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Maybe $2450 is on the high end but that 'a what he told me.
I thought it was overpriced for the neighborhood.

jyamada;842332641 said:

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Maybe $2450 is on the high end but that 'a what he told me.
I thought it was overpriced for the neighborhood.

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I can believe it. The dining room (separate from the living room, right?) probably makes it cost a lot more.

Also, the area where Broadway meets College is pretty nice and safe, and (probably) a hella lot more expensive.

But if you live closer to the high school -- just a few blocks away, and slightly more dangerous-seeming -- I would bet the apartment rates are slightly, just slightly lower.

OaktownBear;842332557 said:

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In this case, it was not a business model issue. That store (which was my go-to drug store) was great and well supported by its customers. Safeway owns the property and terminated their lease because they want to use the space. CVS had its going out of business sell off unloading the store and then right before they were going to close, Safeway told them they weren't ready for the space yet, so CVS could stay temporarily. I believe the kickout was postponed a few times. CVS, understandably, never fully restocked the store, so yes last year it was pretty depressing to go in there. But all the stores on that side of the shopping center are gone now to make way for Safeway's plans.

I would also say that prior to Safeway terminating the lease, there really was no difference in the store as it went from Payless to Rite Aid to CVS.

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It went from Payless to Rite Aid to Longs and then to CVS when CVS bought out Longs. The lease was the short-term reason, but no way was CVS going to keep a huge store like that open. They were waiting for a reason to get out of there.

Longs was very 20th century, but at least their stores had a soul. When that Rockridge store was open 24 hours, with that eclectic product mix, it rocked. CVS, meh. And just to prove I'm not anti-corporation, what I'd really like to see there is a Target. A Target with a Top Dog.

RichmondBear;842332458 said:

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6919 grand is a nonexistent address. We're you thinking of the Top Dog on Lakeshore near Peets/Trader Joes?

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Reminds me of an old Oakland joke: "Last night I was attacked on Lakeshore but thought it was Grand".

[I guess you had to be there - and I was]

Used to go to that Top Dog in Montclair all the time when we lived in the Glenview neighborhood. That is, if we could find parking. Same goes with the Lakeshore location. But the Payless/Rite-Aid location was SO great if you had to pick up something there.

Even when we lived a few blocks from the Grand Lake, we would never go to the crappy little Safeway on Grand and instead would head up to the much better location at Pleasant Valley and Broadway and could easily find our way over to the Top Dog in Rite-Aid.