Alameda is located across the bay from San Francisco. You might not know this but Alameda is an island in San Francisco Bay. It is separated from the rest of the east bay by an estuary and across the estuary is Oakland. Alameda is among things, the home of a former Naval Air Station (do you remember it being mentioned in Star Trek IV?) and is currently the center for research into electric cars. Visit AlamedaInfo.com for all sorts of info on our town.

Field Trips

If you have a group of people interested in visiting the shop at the same time we ask that you give us a call in advance to set this up. While it's not required that you do so, it does help us determine if we need additional staff for your visit. We like to know what day you have in mind, how many people in the group will be coming and a time during the day we can expect you if it's a very large group.

Be sure to allow enough time for shopping, especially if you are scheduling a mutli-stop trip for your group. When you let us know how many people are coming we can give you some guidelines based on your groups' size. We can also give you recommendations on places to eat should you require that information.

Directions

You can reach us easily by driving (across one of three bridges or through the Webster Tube) or by public transportation. We're about 40 minutes away from the SF Airport and less than 20 minutes from the Oakland Airport or 10 minutes from the Oakland Amtrack station.

Driving

We're at 1533 Webster on the block between Lincoln and Haight.

From San Francisco

Take the Oakland Bay Bridge toward the east bay (80 East). Once across the bridge stay in the far right lane and take the 880 South ramp. Take 880 South to the Broadway exit (downtown Oakland). Turn right at the bottom of the exit and follow the signs to Alameda. At Broadway jog to the left to enter the Webster Tube.

From Berkeley, Marin and points north

If you're coming from Marin take the San Rafael Bridge toward Oakland. Take 80 West until you reach the 580/80/880 merge.

Stay in the lanes marked for 880 South (San Jose). Take 880 South to the Broadway exit (downtown Oakland). Turn right at the bottom of the exit and follow the signs to Alameda. At Broadway jog to the left to enter the Webster Tube.

From Pleasanton/Livermore

Take 580W to Hwy 238 and head toward San Francisco then get onto Hwy 880N. Take 880 North to the Broadway exit. Stay in the left lane of the exit ramp and make the first left onto Broadway and then the next left which will put you into the Webster Tube (the west bound direction). The 2nd left is not a 90° left, but about 105° (don't get back onto the freeway!!!).

From Contra Costa

Come through the Caldecot tunnel (Hwy 24 West). When the freeway splits take the 980 Downtown Oakland portion. Take 980 West to the 11th/12th Street exit. Go straight once you are off the exit until you get to 5th Street (under the freeway and at the corner where the Gingerbread Restaurant is). Turn left onto 5th (a one-way street). Stay in one of the two left lanes as Broadway jog to the left to enter the Webster Tube (do not go straight or you'll end up back on the freeway!)

From San Jose

You'll need to get to 880 Northbound (880 crosses 101 in San Jose). Take 880 North to the Broadway exit. Stay in the left lane of the exit ramp and make the first left onto Broadway and then the next left which will put you into the Webster Tube (the west bound direction). The 2nd left is not a 90° left, but about 105° (don't get back onto the freeway!!!).

From the Pennisula

Come across either the San Mateo or Dumbarton Bridges and get onto 880 Northbound. Take 880 North to the Broadway exit. Stay in the left lane of the exit ramp and make the first left onto Broadway and then the next left which will put you into the Webster Tube (the west bound direction). The 2nd left is not a 90° left, but about 105° (don't get back onto the freeway!!!).

Once you exit the tube in Alameda, continue straight ahead on Webster and we'll be 4 blocks up on the right. We're in the block between Lincoln and Haight.

From Oakland Airport

As you leave the airport follow the signs to Alameda. Once on Doolittle you'll pass the golf course and go across the bridge into Alameda. When you are across the bridge the street become Otis - stay on Otis until it ends, then turn right at Eighth. Turn left onto Central (the next light) then right onto Webster (next light). We're 3.5 blocks down on the left, between Haight & Lincoln.

From 23rd Avenue exit off 880 South

If you come up Park Street off the 23rd Avenue exit, turn right on Lincoln and then left at Webster (2 miles). We're 1/2 block up on the right.

From High Street exit off 880 North

If you get off 880N at High Street go across the High Stree Bridge and take the first right onto Fermside. Turn left onto Tilden Way (Fruitvale) at the next light (several blocks down). This becomes Lincoln just after the bend in the road. Continue on Lincoln until you get to Webster then turn left. We're 1/2 block on the right.

Public Transportation

BART/BUS

We are about 1.5 miles from the nearest BART station, the 12th station in Downtown Oakland (City Center).Take the AC Transit #51 bus from the 12th Street station. It comes up Webster Street and you can get off at Lincoln and Webster. This bus services Berkeley and Oakland as well, including the Berkeley Amtrack station. You can catch the bus heading toward Alameda at the City Center stop between 13th and 14th (across from the Walgreens). There is also a stop at 12th & Broadway in front of the large glass building. We're about a 10 minute ride from the 12th Street Station.

If you get off at Fruitvale you can take the AC Transit #63 bus. It makes a loop through Alameda so it's definitely slower than going to 12th Street.

TRAIN

If you decide to take a trip by train we are about 5 minutes from the Oakland Amtrack station at Jack London Square) or 15 minutes from the Emeryville station. You can easily catch a taxi at either station.

FERRY

You can also take the ferry from San Francisco to Alameda. The primary ferry, Alameda/Oakland Ferry operates between Alameda (Main Street) - Jack London Square (Oakland) - San Francisco (Ferry Bldg) and San Francisco (Pier 39 Fishermans' Wharf). AC Transit bus #63 connects to the terminal in Alameda and we're a 10 minute bus ride away.

Parking

Metered parking is available on Webster Street (2 hours) and on the surrounding side streets. There are also two public lots nearby with meters. One lot is on Webster @ Taylor and the other between Santa Clara and Haight, behind the Citibank building & Tillie's. Most of the side streets are residential and parking will vary from metered, to 2-hour to all day. Be sure to read the signs for limits and for street sweeping days (they DO give tickets). On Sunday all parking in Alameda is free.

Where To Eat

There are a number of restaurants and sandwich shops within walking distance of the shop. From personal experience we can recommend the following:

• Café Le(Vietnamese)
  510-523-6993, 1531 Webster Street
• Albert's Cafe
  510-523-4600, 1541 Webster Street
• Tillies Diner
  510-523-1737, 1500 Webster Street
• Kapok Seafood Restaurant
  510-865-5405, 1511 Webster Street
• Katsu Sushi House
  510-749-8461, 1465 Webster Street
• East Ocean Seafood Restaurant
  510-865-3381, 1713 Webster Street
• Tucker's Ice Cream
  510-522-4960, 1349 Park St
• Asena Restaurant
  521-4100, 2508 Santa Clara Avenue
• Kamakura Japanese Restaurant
  521-9121, 2549 Santa Clara Avenue

In addition we have restuarants and fast food joints such as Taco Bell, Togo's, Subway, Round Table Pizza and McDonald's within a few blocks.

Where To Stay

If you are planning to stay overnight in the area here are some places we can recommend in Alameda.

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Last updated April 10, 2008
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