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Red Bay Coffee to Close Fruitvale Headquarters Nov. 30, Shift Cafe to Roastery

Leadership frames the closure as a downsizing response to remote work.

Red Bay Coffee, the Bay Area’s most prominent Black-owned coffee company, abruptly announced Tuesday that it will close its flagship Oakland headquarters café at the end of November 2025.
The Red Bay Coffee headquarters and cafe at 3136 International Blvd., Oakland, is closing.
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Keba Konte, founder of Red Bay Coffee, prepares a latte at the company’s retail location in Berkeley on June 2, 2023. The company abruptly announced Tuesday that it will close its flagship Oakland headquarters café at the end of November 2025.

Overview

  • The headquarters cafe at 3136 International Blvd. will serve its final drinks on Nov. 30 after nearly five years in Fruitvale.
  • Coffee service restarts Dec. 1 at the roastery three blocks away, at 3098 E. 10th St., returning to an earlier service model.
  • CEO Keba Konte cited reduced foot traffic, a largely remote staff, and a decision not to renew the lease as reasons for the change.
  • Konte said the move is separate from the September 2024 Chapter 11 reorganization, which listed over $3.3 million in debt tied to pandemic impacts and lawsuits.
  • Other Red Bay cafes in Berkeley, Oakland’s Grand Lake neighborhood, and San Francisco’s Ferry Building will continue operating.