Hegenberger Exodus: Oakland’s Economic Downturn as Businesses Depart

The A’s decision to leave Oakland after this season is a severe economic blow to the struggling Hegenberger commercial area.

Retired city officials claimed it took decades to persuade businesses to invest in the area. Many individuals are upset that years of hard work were lost in a short period when firms fled the area.

The A’s will soon join the expanding list of firms that have left the Hegenberger area. The team admits that the relocation will cause employment losses.

“We don’t necessarily want to call it an economic desert, but it’s starting to look that way,” said Charles Johnson, a lifetime east Oakland resident.

Johnson believes the looming A’s departure will cause additional economic hardship for some of his neighbors who work as concessionaires at the Coliseum. “It is absolute frustration and it even goes to, at times, a level of anger,” he said.

The Hegenberger neighborhood has experienced a deterioration in recent years, beginning with the departure of Walmart in 2016. The rate of closures has increased during the last year. Two Starbucks locations, a Subway, an In-N-Out Burger, a Denny’s, and a Black Bear Diner have all closed. Two businesses, Taco Bell on Hegenberger Road and Raising Cane’s, have closed their dining rooms and gone drive-thru only due to automobile break-ins.

“It’s very sad. Bethzy Mares, an east Oakland resident, said she used to frequent Denny’s in the neighborhood. “You look at it today, they’re leaving here like the city is on fire,” said Acts Full Gospel Church Bishop Bob Jackson.

Acts Full Gospel is located near the Coliseum. Bishop Jackson stated that, while the A’s are departing for various reasons, the end impact is the same: less tax revenue and fewer jobs for folks in east Oakland.

“This is only exacerbating the problem, since what are you going to do without a job or a source of income? “How will you live?” Bishop Jackson asked.

Neighbors believe it will take several years to restore the Hegenberger area.

“The crime is undeniable, and as a younger lady, coming to the gym here is terrifying. I make extra sure to lock my car. I glance in all directions. “It’s scary,” Mares added. Johnson stated that the city must enhance public safety or businesses will continue to flee.

“I do not think (Oakland) is over. I just believe that we need to have some positivity and visionaries who want to return and make Oakland as tough and strong as it once was,” Johnson added.

The A’s will play their final regular season home game on September 26.