Oakland’s only Denny’s restaurant has closed for good.
The restaurant, located in the 600 block of Hegenbeger Road, was shut down because of safety concerns, the company confirmed. Denny's corporate released the following statement Thursday morning:
"Denny’s has been honored to serve the Oakland community over the last 54 years. Closing a restaurant location is never an easy decision or one taken lightly. However, the safety and well-being of Denny’s team members and valued guests is our top priority. Weighing those factors, the decision has been made to close this location.
"Denny’s offers its heartfelt thanks to the team members and the local community for their love of the Denny’s brand; it has been a pleasure serving you. Team members who are able to relocate will be offered positions elsewhere, where available."
The area of Hegenbeger Road has been plagued by robberies and car break-ins.
"I don't want it to be where there is nowhere for us to go because people are in fear," Oakland resident Jahlilah Johnson said. "A lot of people are moving out of state. A lot of people don't want to visit. Don't nobody want to come somewhere where they are going to get robbed."
Councilmember Treva Reid has been working with law enforcement and actively meeting with businesses in the area, including Denny's, to try and address their concerns and prevent more from leaving. It is an effort Reid said will take city and regional support.
"I can't be the primary leader at the table with these businesses," Reid said. "It's going to take regional leadership at the table for us all to come together to figure out how we leverage every resource that we got to invest into a corridor that really fuels the economy."
Denny's is the second restaurant to shut down in the airport corridor recently after a nearby In-N-Out Burger location made national headlines when the Southern California-based food chain announced it would be closing the location in March also because of safety concerns.
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Starbucks, Black Bear Diner and others have already closed in the same area.
But it is not just the airport corridor that is being impacted.
Eddie's Liquor in Rockridge said it is struggling to stay open after four break-ins in eight months, including on this week, where thieves rammed a truck into their front door before stealing liquor, money, and their safe.
"We try our best to be here," said David Shrestha, Eddie's Liquors owner. "We are not making that much money and it keeps happening. Just like the other businesses that's been closing down in Oakland, we might be another."
Business break-ins, car burglaries, robberies, and car theft have all increased in the past three years citywide. But the numbers show police may be making some progress.
Preliminary figures suggest auto burglaries have hit a 20-year low.
Mayor Sheng Thao said she is actively working to address the issue, noting a 40% reduction in crime last year around the airport after an increase in police presence.
"It is outrageous that criminal gangs and groups continue to harm Oakland residents and businesses. I join Oaklanders in demanding more prevention, enforcement, and accountability for the criminal groups inflicting harm upon our community," Thao said in a statement. "As mayor, I have prioritized this critical gateway to Oakland and surged police presence and employed technology to deter and respond to criminal behavior. The surge in public safety resources has led to a reduction in property crimes along the Hegenberger Corridor. However, more is necessary and I will be working with regional and state leaders to protect this tourist gateway into Oakland."
