http://www.eastbayexpress.com/WhatTheFork/archives/2016/01/29/breaking-news-rent-hikes-may-force-genova-delicatessen-an-oakland-institution-to-close-after-ninety-years-in-temescal

That's sad...likely replaced by an artisan kale and quinoa juice bar. Oh well.

We lived in that neighborhood in the 50's when it was heavily Italian.

Some of my earliest memories are going to Genova's with my mother, who had come over from Sicily as an infant. The counter guys would give me a slice of salami when she paid.

Was sad when they moved, even though the food was still great, because I was nostalgic for the old place.

Well, at least we'll still have the raviolis.

LudwigsFountain;842640828 said:

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We lived in that neighborhood in the 50's when it was heavily Italian.

Some of my earliest memories are going to Genova's with my mother, who had come over from Sicily as an infant. The counter guys would give me a slice of salami when she paid.

Was sad when they moved, even though the food was still great, because I was nostalgic for the old place.

Well, at least we'll still have the raviolis.

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Why did they move to the current location? I remember the old location but not a local to Temescal.

no........if they close bakesale across the street too, I may just lose it..

Didn't know they had a Napa location. No mention of the two spots in Walnut Creek.

beeasyed;842640836 said:

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no........if they close bakesale across the street too, I may just lose it..

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Bakesale is still hugely popular, right?

Temescal is kind of weird in that there really should be more to it. I'm speaking specifically of the Eastern side between the bank and the McDonald's. There's really not that much on that side.

By the way, the $1 Chinese place (which didn't actually offer $1 Chinese, just quick food to go that was already cooked) closed and was replaced by an expensive Chinese place.

okaydo;842640840 said:

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Bakesale is still hugely popular, right?

Temescal is kind of weird in that there really should be more to it. I'm speaking specifically of the Eastern side between the bank and the McDonald's. There's really not that much on that side.

By the way, the $1 Chinese place (which didn't actually offer $1 Chinese, just quick food to go that was already cooked) closed and was replaced by an expensive Chinese place.

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seems pretty popular, especially among the younger crowd. at least, judging by the weekend lines.

just saying I'd hate for them to face the same dispute with their landlords...

okaydo;842640840 said:

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Bakesale is still hugely popular, right?

Temescal is kind of weird in that there really should be more to it. I'm speaking specifically of the Eastern side between the bank and the McDonald's. There's really not that much on that side.

By the way, the $1 Chinese place (which didn't actually offer $1 Chinese, just quick food to go that was already cooked) closed and was replaced by an expensive Chinese place.

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The size/width of Telegraph kind of kills the pedestrian friendly vibe. I understand a bicycle lane is going down most of Telegraph and see the new design spray painted on Telegraph near the 30s...maybe that will also be in Temescal.

Those old Guido places are too old school. It will be replaced by an artisan sandwich place serving pork bellies with jalapeo jam.

GB54;842640858 said:

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Those old Guido places are too old school. It will be replaced by an artisan sandwich place serving pork bellies with jalapeo jam.

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For those who don't know, the area nearby by the freeway used to be an Italian enclave (before there was a freeway). I guess this is a remainder of that. Well, at least there's Pizzaiolo (which I;ve never been to.)

BearDevil;842640837 said:

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Didn't know they had a Napa location. No mention of the two spots in Walnut Creek.

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Years ago they were all jointly owned by two brothers. They had a falling out and split the pie. One brother got Oakland and Napa and the other brother got the two Walnut Creek stores. The two families each own a ravioli factory.

okaydo;842640866 said:

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For those who don't know, the area nearby by the freeway used to be an Italian enclave (before there was a freeway). I guess this is a remainder of that. Well, at least there's Pizzaiolo (which I;ve never been to.)

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Makes sense, Bertola's was also nearby.

GB54;842640858 said:

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Those old Guido places are too old school. It will be replaced by an artisan sandwich place serving pork bellies with jalapeo jam.

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That sounds pretty good tbh

beelzebear;842640874 said:

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Makes sense, Bertola's was also nearby.

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Bertola's was around for 60+ years. Drinks were incredibly stiff and cheap and don't know how they got by without carding anyone.

They have owned the store since 1926 and didn't think to purchase the property? My brother-in-laws family owned a restaurant in San Francisco which they started right after WW2. They purchased the property at that time. When they decided to retire a few years ago they made a killing on the sale of the restaurant and property.

okaydo;842640813 said:

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http://www.eastbayexpress.com/WhatTheFork/archives/2016/01/29/breaking-news-rent-hikes-may-force-genova-delicatessen-an-oakland-institution-to-close-after-ninety-years-in-temescal

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They did it to themselves. They had a storefront forever until they decided it would be better to go up-scale, which made them vulnerable to gouging landlords. New store didn't have the right smell anyway, not like the old place.

bar20;842640883 said:

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They have owned the store since 1926 and didn't think to purchase the property? My brother-in-laws family owned a restaurant in San Francisco which they started right after WW2. They purchased the property at that time. When they decided to retire a few years ago they made a killing on the sale of the restaurant and property.

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No!!! Say it ain't so!! I go there frequently. My "go to" deli for the last 40 years. Yeah, I'm old.

They haven't been in this location since 1926, used to be 1/2 block from current location on San Pablo. And, the Oakland store is much better than the WC one. And I agree with CGB, the new location/store does have a different feel than the old one, but has more space.

BearDevil;842640837 said:

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Didn't know they had a Napa location. No mention of the two spots in Walnut Creek.

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Walnut Creek is a different group not related to the Oakland store

CaliforniaGoldenBear;842640885 said:

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They did it to themselves. They had a storefront forever until they decided it would be better to go up-scale, which made them vulnerable to gouging landlords. New store didn't have the right smell anyway, not like the old place.

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They got booted out of original location. Redevelopment

diva1;842640911 said:

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Walnut Creek is a different group not related to the Oakland store

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....except by blood.

GB54;842640858 said:

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Those old Guido places are too old school. It will be replaced by an artisan sandwich place serving pork bellies with jalapeo jam.

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You say that like it's a bad thing. Pork bellies with jalapeo jam sounds awesome.

Bertola's was great. During my time at Cal (early 70's) the place was always packed. 5 item menu on the wall, Chianti bottles with candles for atmosphere and if memory serves me the booze was 50 cents for a single, a buck for a double and $1.50 for a triple! Here's some background on the Italian history in Oakland.

https://localwiki.org/oakland/Italian_American

co

BearDevil;842640878 said:

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Bertola's was around for 60+ years. Drinks were incredibly stiff and cheap and don't know how they got by without carding anyone.

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mtkaibab;842641104 said:

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Bertola's was great. During my time at Cal (early 70's) the place was always packed. 5 item menu on the wall, Chianti bottles with candles for atmosphere and if memory serves me the booze was 50 cents for a single, a buck for a double and $1.50 for a triple!

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In the early '80s, I thought it was $0.50 singles, $0.75 doubles, and $1 triples. Food was cheap too. Only problem with family style dinner was that you had to avoid going with people who could eat faster than you.

My old fart memory is always hazy, but I think a Mexican place in Jack London Square had $ 0.05 margaritas for a limited time on Cinco de Mayo during the same era.

Memories

My mom's fav

Miss her

diva1;842640912 said:

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They got booted out of original location. Redevelopment

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There was a second Italian deli in that old neighborhood that closed along about then, but I forget it's name; anybody remember?

CaliforniaGoldenBear;842641201 said:

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There was a second Italian deli in that old neighborhood that closed along about then, but I forget it's name; anybody remember?

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Luccas Deli.

http://luccasdeli.com/

okaydo;842640813 said:

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http://www.eastbayexpress.com/WhatTheFork/archives/2016/01/29/breaking-news-rent-hikes-may-force-genova-delicatessen-an-oakland-institution-to-close-after-ninety-years-in-temescal

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We'll still have Ratto's on Washington St in Oakland.
It's been the real deal forever.

Didn't they used to be on Broadway near Oakland Tech and the infamous boston market?

Went there today, it was packed. Maybe cuz people hear they may be closing. Wish the person making my sandwich would be a bit quicker. It took like 5 minutes a sandwich

okaydo;842640813 said:

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http://www.eastbayexpress.com/WhatTheFork/archives/2016/01/29/breaking-news-rent-hikes-may-force-genova-delicatessen-an-oakland-institution-to-close-after-ninety-years-in-temescal

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Ironic since its presence in the neighborhood help spark a Foodie revival in the area.

GivemTheAxe;842641444 said:

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Ironic since its presence in the neighborhood help spark a Foodie revival in the area.

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Reminds me of when Spenger's Fish Grotto was going to close down, and then there was publicity about that in the local East Bay newspapers. Then, the local outcry helped it stay open.

The issue with that was that Spenger's just wasn't very good. From what I have heard in the past, it still isn't very good.

okaydo;842640813 said:

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http://www.eastbayexpress.com/WhatTheFork/archives/2016/01/29/breaking-news-rent-hikes-may-force-genova-delicatessen-an-oakland-institution-to-close-after-ninety-years-in-temescal

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Okay, no offense to everyone else who has posted in this thread, but until the above post, I had never even heard of Genova's Deli, let alone gone there to eat.

I went to Cal and graduated in the '90s. I don't live in the area, having left to return to Southern California after I graduated, but I visit most every year multiple times in the fall for home football weekends. Even then, no one I know in Berkeley has ever suggested to me that we go to Genova's Deli to grab a sandwich or anything else.

BearDevil;842641108 said:

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In the early '80s, I thought it was $0.50 singles, $0.75 doubles, and $1 triples. Food was cheap too. Only problem with family style dinner was that you had to avoid going with people who could eat faster than you.

My old fart memory is always hazy, but I think a Mexican place in Jack London Square had $ 0.05 margaritas for a limited time on Cinco de Mayo during the same era.

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BD, $0.50 singles, $0.75 doubles, and $1 triples at Bertola's was what I remember as well (around 1980). I used to like going there but the cigarette smoke was really thick. Also, a bit of trivia: during the 1960s when Mario Savio was leading the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, he would hold his strategy meetings at Bertola's.

Could the Mexican place at Jack London have been El Caballo?

Have been to the Genova's in Napa. It is great. Very popular and great food.