One of Oakland’s beloved sports bars is making its comeback after a three-month closure, reopening at 59 Grand Ave, under new ownership, according to a liquor license filing with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
With a refreshed name that proudly puts the city front and center, the new Oakland Athletic Club was acquired by a group of six owners incorporated as OIAST, LLC, including restaurateur Chris Pastena.
Oakland Athletic Club, affectionately known by locals as OAC, first opened in 2018 and quickly became a popular gathering spot for sports fans in Oakland. Over the years, the bar endured a series of challenges, including pandemic-related uncertainty and the scenario related to the departure of several professional sports teams from the city. At one point, the former ownership group even launched a crowdfunding campaign to help keep the beloved neighborhood pub operating through difficult times…