Merchants of Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood said they are crying out for help as more and more businesses say they are being forced to shut their doors and fold.
After running a restaurant in Fruitvale for decades, Leticia Chavez had spiraled into debt and was forced to close her doors in in December of 2024. Customers were afraid to come in and she herself feared for her safety.
Loyal customers came to her rescue. Family and friends crowdfunded for her and their personal loans helped her open Obelisco in the Lakeshore neighborhood. She’s now getting to live out her goals…