OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — The upscale Waterfront Hotel in Oakland’s Jack London Square will close on Friday.
“To hear that they are leaving is very disappointing. But understandable, because the traffic in Jack London is so slow,” says Derreck Johnson, who runs the popular Home of Chicken and Waffles restaurant in Jack London Square.
Johnson says the Waterfront Hotel closing is a big deal because small mom and pop stores are dependent on big anchors.
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“I know people want to keep Oakland ma and pa. I mean, I’m ma and pa. But my sales tripled when we had a Friday’s, and El Torito – when I had all of that surrounding me,” explains Johnson.
In a statement to ABC7 News, the hotel did not give details about why it is closing. Only to say: “Effective January 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. local time, Hyatt …