POINT
Summer 2017
RICHMOND Business District News
A publication of Richmond Pulse, supporting local business, vibrant neighborhoods, and One Richmond pg. 8
pg. 10
Brezo at Baltic Square Restaurant Opens in Point Richmond
Station One Farmhouse: Vintage Chic in Point Richmond
Local Sports Bar Combines Rugby, Food and Welcoming Vibe
By Edgardo Cervano-Soto
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n American pop culture, local pubs and sports bars are portrayed as integral to the neighborhood. These places are where we can de-stress after a long workday and connect with locals over (sometimes) copious amounts of alcohol. Up and Under Pub and Grill in Point Richmond seems to fill that role of a neighborhood gathering place where you can drink, eat and watch your favorite team. Located at 2 West Richmond Avenue, the Up and Under anchors a lively neighborhood business district. The bright crimson exterior and pair of American flags encasing a gilded bald eagle accentuate the triangular-shaped pub jutting out toward the nearby train tracks. The building’s architecture announces itself, and the Point Richmond business district hiding just behind the building. On a night out in Point Richmond, Up and Under Pub & Grill feels like a required first stop. Since 2010, owners Nathan and Nikki Trivers oversee the pub’s operations and service. A rugby player for over 16 years, Nathan Trivers made sure to augment the wood and brick interior with a rugby hall of fame sensibility. The former property had a nautical theme, with cavernous, finished wood, reminiscent of a ship out of Pirates of the Caribbean. At Up & Under, the Trivers played to the space’s strengths. The interior is lit in a warm copper glow reflected off the ornate bronze ceiling. Seating is mixed
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in order to provide space for families and friends. Booths are intimate; corner tables wrap around to seat groups, and tables in the center provide a nice vantage point to view the TVs. Behind the bar is an additional dining space with an exposed brick wall. During sunny weather, customers can sit outside in a narrow patio looking out at a bustling intersection. The bar has a large selection of draft beers, liquor, wine, and other refreshments. The best deals are during happy hour from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Among the pub’s most popular dishes are the classic cheeseburgers and fish and chips. The kitchen also offers daily and evening dinner specials. On special occasions and selected weekends, the kitchen sets up a smoker outside cooking up delicious BBQ. Walking into Up and Under Pub and Grill, the sports memorabilia makes you feel like you are visiting a rugby museum. Rugby jerseys are framed on the walls. Photographs of international rubgy players are sprinkled throughout. Rugby ball fixtures hang overhead, lighting the bar. On one wall, photographs of Trivers’ rugby days are propped alongside glorious sports photos. The family wall, displaying details of personal life, invites customers to settle and watch TV in just as they would at a friend’s house. The clientele is mostly men and women in their 20s and 30s watching sports, but the pub lends itself to welcoming anyone: families, local residents taking out friends, workers in suits and uniforms, and regulars.
Publisher Malcolm Marshall Editor Jennifer Perez Photographer David Meza/Zap Inc.
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It’s a given that the Giants, 49ers, Raiders and Warriors will be on the TVs, says Trivers. “Unless there is a big rugby match,” he adds. Trivers grew up in Roseville, near Sacramento. He found his passion for rugby playing in high school. “I didn’t know it at the time but rugby changed my life,” he reflects. Rugby took Trivers on an international adventure. From 19 to 24 years old, Trivers lived in England, and traveled across Europe playing rugby. Medals, trophies and other rugby mementos point to this experience that shaped him. A professional in the food and beverage industry, Trivers says he tries to foster Up and Under’s sense of community. “We’ve combined my passions for rugby and food and beverage business to give that ambience and warm feeling where you feel comfortable,” says Trivers. That comfort is apparent during big championship or rivalry sports matches, and also in the pub’s diverse programming. Every Tuesday is a trivia night testing the players on Bay Area geography, entertainment and current events. Every Saturday night, a DJ hosts karaoke, where Trivers says unassuming customers have turned out some standout performances. If you go: Up and Under Pub and Grill is located at 2 West Richmond Avenue in Richmond. Or visit on the web at theupandunder.com where you can order food online. •
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Richmond Pulse is a youth led community media project for the City of Richmond, California. To spotlight the city’s emerging local business scene, Richmond Pulse is publishing a series newsletters focsued on Richmond’s business districts.
Point Richmond Business District News
Summer 2017
Spend a Day in Point Richmond
By Dave Schoenthal, President, Point Richmond Neighborhood Council and resident for 12 years
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oint Richmond is nestled on the south side of the 580 freeway, near the Richmond San Rafael Bridge. Known as the Hidden City, Point Richmond has small-town charm combined with wonderful places to eat and shop. If you are looking to start your day with something to eat or drink, you can head over to Little Louie’s Café for a full breakfast and lunch menu, Kaleidoscope Coffee for a wonderful pour-over coffee, Starbucks for a quick mocha or over to Aky’s Café for a lovely breakfast. Each place provides ample seating and is family friendly. After breakfast, take a stroll through town, peering into shop windows and admiring the beautiful gardening. You can shop for eclectic clothing at Outback at the Temple of Venus or stop by Point Pharmacy for any medical needs. To find interesting gifts for your loved ones (or yourself), check out The Incurable Collector, Butch’s Antiques, Mom & Pop Art Shop or Station One Farmhouse, where old furniture becomes new. You can also get your eyes checked or pick up a new set of sunglasses at Point Optometry.
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And if you’re looking to get a tattoo, check out Cerda Art Studio. For lunch, there are choices from around the world. Stop into the corner Point Richmond Market for a great sandwich, aptly named after local sites, like the Firehouse Sandwich. There is the Up & Under Pub and Grill, a rugby-themed restaurant where you can enjoy a Hooker sandwich with bacon. For tasty Chinese or Thai, check out Little China or Kao Sarn. There is also the noteworthy Extreme Pizza. Or head south of the border with a delicious burrito from El Sol Mexican Restaurant. Point Richmond is also known as a beauty capital. There are several locations to stop by after lunch to get your hair and nails done as well as pampering yourself (men included). Wooly’s on Park does hair for men and women. The luxurious Beauty By Nature will take care of your hair for any special occasion. There is the fun Ritzy Ruben, Sheer Heaven, New Leaf Salon and the ever-vibrant Thrive. Get your nails done at New Leaf Salon, Kristina’s Nail Spa and Above All Nails. To fully pamper and indulge, make an appointment at Ginger Springs Day Spa for a facial or massage; for a sports massage, head over to
Platinum Therapy Spa. If you want to get in shape, check out Body Wisdom Studio for some Zumba or TRX and stop into Mindful Life Yoga to clear your mind and spirit. You can even have your dog pampered at the new Cherry Dog cage-free grooming salon. As the afternoon sun goes down, invite your friends to join you at the 4 to 9 Wine Bar or get a martini at the ever-beautiful Hotel Mac where the restaurant is decorated in turn-of-the-century, old-world style. You can eat meat to your heart’s content at Pikanhas Brazilian Steakhouse. El Tunel provides tasty margaritas and Mexican food in a festive and expansive setting. The new Brezo at Baltic Square Restaurant provides a welcoming interior and delicious California Latin food. If you forgot to go shopping for groceries for tomorrow because you had such a wonderful day in Point Richmond, head over to Santa Fe Market. And if all this has you thinking of moving to Richmond, swing by the very knowledgeable Feagley Realtors, Point Realty or Bayview Realty to check out local listings of homes for sale. We look forward to seeing you all out in the Point! •
Point Richmond Business District News
Summer 2017
Black-Owned Salon Brings Touch of Hollywood to Point Richmond
www.caspershotdogs.com
By Chanelle Ignant
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yvonne Brown still remembers watching her grandmother style hair in her Richmond home. “My grandmother used to press the neighborhood hair,” says Brown. “She used to press their hair sitting on the pot in the kitchen. Watching her do that, I said, ‘You know, I can do this.’” Twenty-six years later, Brown is now the owner and head stylist at Beauty By Nature Hair Studio, the first black-owned salon in Point Richmond. Brown is one of a growing number of black female business owners around the country. According to a 2015 report published by American Express Open, African-American women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States. In 2015, black women owned approximately 1.3 million businesses throughout the country, or 14 percent of the total number of firms owned by women. The mother of two and grandmother of four says it was always her dream to have a salon. Like her grandmother, she began doing hair in kitchens around her neighborhood, and was soon assisting at Cuttin’ Up Hair Salon in Richmond. The well-known salon has seen five of its young stylist go on to open their own shops. Under the mentorship of Curley Wikkeling-Miller and
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Sherry Andrews, Brown learned much more than just the basics of shampooing and coloring. “It was not only a hair salon,” says Wikkeling-Miller. “It was a safe haven for women of all walks of life.” While there, Brown learned the importance of building relationships with her clients and staff. “We are more than just stylists,” she says. “We are counselors, we become friends, mentors, your prayer warrior. We become a lot of things standing behind that chair.” Curley Wikkeling-Miller, who now works at Beauty By Nature, says she has seen Brown develop into a fine stylist and business owner. “She developed her talent for styling and has really honed it to a fine skill.” Brown also harnessed her love for making people and things beautiful, a touch clients see when they walk into the Point Richmond salon. “Before my dad passed he told me, ‘If you didn’t have any kids, you would be in Hollywood,’” says Brown. The interior decor transports you from its Park Place location to a salon on Los Angeles’ Rodeo Drive. A vibrant red carpet lines the aisle between styling chairs and chandeliers hang in front of grand mirrors. “My customers are celebrity clients getting the hair done by a celebrity stylist,” says Brown. “Right here is our Hollywood.” Brown, who has seen up to 15 customers a day, prioritizes
her clients’ needs by scheduling based on hairstyle. A full-service shop, her salon offers services from weekly shampooing and styling to texturizing, extensions, natural hair stylings and color. Brown says she is grateful to have her studio in Point Richmond. Growing up, she occasionally visited the neighborhood with friends to go to the Plunge and the Great American Burger place. “But we never came on this side,” she says. “When I was able to get the salon over here, it was because they wanted more of a diverse community.” Beauty By Nature is now located in the space of a former art studio. At night, the salon’s chandeliers attract the attention of Point Richmond’s passersby, adding to the character of the quaint business district. Brown encourages young stylists to surround themselves with others who share the same passion. “You have to have a love and a heart for wanting to deal with people, and a love for hair, in order to pursue this career,” says Brown. Her dedication to serving customers and refining her craft is a trait she hopes to pass on to the next generation of stylists that now come through her doors at Beauty By Nature. For salon hours and stylist information, visit bbnhairstudio.com. •
$hop.Visit.Explore
Point Richmond WHEN WE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES WE STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY
Ritzy Reuben Hair Studio
Cherry Dog
110 Railroad Ave, Richmond
145 Park Pl suite F, Richmond
510-230-4776
510-860-9755
Clean Smiles Dental Hygiene
Mom and Pop Art Shop
229 Tewksbury Ave, Richmond
24 W. Richmond Ave, Richmond
510-778-8182
510- 730-1154
Aky’s Cafe
El Sol Restaurant
201 Tewksbury Ave, Richmond
101 Park Pl, Richmond
510-778-1196
510-260-0163
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Point Richmond Business District News
Summer 2017
Kaleidoscope Coffee Fosters Richmond’s Storytelling Community
Cassie Cushing, owner of Kaleidoscope Coffee. By Ariel Plotnick | Richmond Confidential
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t was just another weeknight at Kaleidoscope Coffee in Point Richmond. One woman recited a Brothers Grimm story, a man recounted his Burning Man escapades and another woman—a children’s librarian— read a picture book to the audience. “There’s a big storytelling community in the Bay Area,” said Ruth Stotter of Marin County, excited to share her own story from the Kaleidoscope stage for the first time. “There are festivals and small storytelling gatherings. People of all ages and ethnicities get together to share stories.” Opened less than a year ago by owner Cassie Cushing, Kaleidoscope Coffee is a coffee shop by day and performance space by night. Every week, the cafe hosts storytelling nights, open mic nights and musical performances. For Cushing, who worked as a barista while an undergraduate at Arizona State University, opening up Kaleidoscope was a lifelong dream. “I loved interacting with the customers and establishing a rapport with the regulars,” Cushing said. She rose up the
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ranks from barista to manager, and then decided to try her hand at roasting coffee. Soon, she began to sell her own roasts. At the same time, Cushing discovered a storytelling institute at a community college in Phoenix, and was instantly hooked. “The first time I got up and told a story out loud, I had no idea how fun it could be,” she said. Cushing moved to the Bay Area in 2013 and began looking for a place to set up a shop dedicated to art, community and storytelling. “Berkeley didn’t have the exact vibe I was looking for, and Oakland was really expensive,” she said. A friend who worked at Chevron suggested she check out Point Richmond, and as soon as she stepped into the main square, Cushing knew she had found the right place. “It’s such an art- and small-business-oriented town. Everyone is so warm and encouraging,” she said. Laura Paull, a freelance writer who moved to Point Richmond from San Francisco in June, said she comes to Kaleidoscope for a monthly writing group and to work on her articles. “Kaleidoscope,” she said, “provides a
lively yet relaxed artist community. It’s less frenetic here than in San Francisco.” Kaleidoscope’s emphasis on storytelling is on display throughout the shop: tall bookcases surround the cafe’s upholstered couches and armchairs, giving the space a cozy living room feel. On a recent Tuesday evening, visitors told stories while the baristas served coffee, wine and beer. Spoons clinked on ceramic mugs, fingers clicked on laptop keyboards, and the hiss of the milk steamer occasionally punctuated the storytellers’ moments of pause—a brief reminder that Kaleidoscope serves Point Richmond as both performance space and a place for the community to gather. Sitting outside after the event, local artist Russ Wagner said he was impressed with the spot. “It’s really become a social community destination,” he said. If you go: Kaleidoscope Coffee is located at 109 Park Place in Richmond. Visit on the web at kaleidoscopecoffee.com •
Point Richmond Business District News
Summer 2017
Brezo at Baltic Square Restaurant Opens in Point Richmond By Michael J. Fitzgerald | Photos By David Meza
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rezo at Baltic Square, Point Richmond’s newest restaurant, is an eclectic mix of old and new. The old is the historic Baltic building, built in 1904. At different times it has been a private home, a speakeasy, a funeral parlor, a saloon, and a German restaurant, among other things. (The name “Baltic” remains emblazoned on the front windows of the original tavern.) The new is the new owners, Heather Mervine and Hector Hernandez, who revamped the restaurant’s interior and offer a menu of items they call “California Latin Fusion,” a blend of food that has something for the most dedicated carnivores to the most faithful vegetarians. The couple has a long history in the food industry in the Bay Area, working at various restaurants and catering. Mervine attended the California Culinary Academy and was raised on an organic farm in Ukiah. Hernandez is originally from Mexico City. The couple met while working at Paula Le Duc Fine Catering in Emeryville. “But I decided I really wanted to do my own food,”
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Mervine says. She focuses her culinary efforts on doing the side dishes coming out of the Brezo kitchen as well as making all of the restaurant’s pastries. Hernandez’s specialty is cooking the meat items offered. “But honestly, Hector can cook anything,” she says. Mervine’s personal favorites on the menu are the kale quinoa salad, grilled zucchini, and the cod or chicken sandwich. But she says she is also tempted by green chili braised chicken and the grilled rib eye steak. Since the restaurant opened in February, the most popular items with customers are braised short ribs, green chili chicken, chilaquiles, polenta with eggs, and scallops. “Right now, we are kind of feeling out what the customers want,” Mervine says. Also in the works: opening the deck in the back of the restaurant for table service, and providing musical entertainment during their Sunday brunch service. The expansive wooden deck only needs time to dry out after this winter’s heavy rains before it will be pressed into service. The couple tries to offer food that is organic and sustainable whenever possible. Even some of the wines
behind the historic bar are organic, Mervine says. Beer and wine are available, along with plenty of nonalcoholic beverages. The restaurant is considering getting a full liquor license as well. While the couple has their hands full running the restaurant six days a week, they are also open to hosting special events, particularly when the deck becomes available. They also have their hands full with their three children: Valeria, 13, Wesley, 6, and 2-year-old Evelyn. “We are a family restaurant, for sure,” Mervine says. And where did the couple come up with the name, Brezo at Baltic Square for their restaurant? “Brezo” means heather in Spanish. If you go: Brezo at Baltic Square is located at 135 Park Place in Richmond. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday, with dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and brunch offered on the weekends. Brezo is closed on Mondays. Reservations are not required but can be made by calling 510-680-5196. •
Point Richmond Business District News
Summer 2017
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Point Richmond Business District News
Summer 2017
Station One Farmhouse: Vintage Chic in Point Richmond Interview • Richmond Pulse
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or Nikki Villa, one man’s trash can become her treasure. Villa is the co-owner of Station One Farmhouse, a unique store in Point Richmond that features refurbished vintage items, décor paint, candles, handcrafted jewelry and other home accessories. Villa runs the shop with her mother, Sheila Grovhoug. The store’s name comes from its building’s history: the space was once home to Richmond Fire Station #1. Villa recently sat down with Richmond Pulse to discuss her new store. Why did you want to start a business? My whole background is in design, art and fashion. I have worked for lots of other people in my lifetime. I feel like everything that I’ve done up until this point has been leading up to this. I always knew I wanted to have my own retail space where I could build things and have my own say in what I wanted to do. So I went to my mother and said, ‘Mom let’s open a store together.’ The store really has an emphasis on home accessories and interiors and we do vintage repurposed to new. I really like to take a piece and look at it and see how I can make it better. How do you describe the products you sell? It’s farmhouse chic. I like things that feel good. I spend time searching for things at thrift stores or estate sales. We do a lot of flea market shopping and go to vintage fairs. But I also have pickers who will pick for me. They keep an eye out and know what I’m looking for. We get a lot of stuff that’s donated to us or things that people will sell for $10 and then we can turn it into something fabulous with a little work. I hunt for all these things. I like to actually get my hands on stuff and create things that are really beautiful. When people come in here, they constantly say, ‘Oh it smells so good in here.’ We do soaps, candles, jewelry, custom-made signs out of things like vintage boards. We carry Annie Sloan chalk paint, which goes on furniture, walls, floors, etc. It’s non-
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toxic, non-latex and with it you can transform any piece in your house into something fantastic. You can take a dresser or desk or something that has a lot of wear and tear to it and use these fabulous colors and paint it. The nice thing about it is that you don’t have to sand or prime your piece and you can get right to the fun part. Where do you get your inspiration? People compare us a lot to HGTV’s “Fixer Upper.” A lot of my inspiration comes from the way things make me feel. I’m on Pinterest and Instagram a lot and I like to see things that people have done. It’s looking at something and saying, ‘I think it’s great how it is, but I want to make it into something else.’ I think that’s where the wow factor comes in for some people. The repurposing part of things is really important because I think people are super wasteful. What’s the best part about being a business owner? I think it’s the flexibility of having your own say in what you want to do. You will never work harder for anybody other than for yourself. I’m still on cloud nine that I get to build things all day. Working for other people is actually a great way to
hone your skills. Having that patience, learning and taking everything you can from a job, is actually one of the best skills people can have. You will know when you’ve outgrown that space. For me, I knew the fire was burning to get out and do something different, but I finally had the business-minded skills to do it. My mom was a teacher for 35 years and that’s where I got so much of my creativity. I took it and ran with it. I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I always wanted a space to be able to do something creative and make things. My things are going into people’s homes and they are actually using things that I’ve made. That has a huge effect on me because it’s personal. For me, this is liberating because this is a female-owned business. I get to show my daughter what’s possible with hard work. If you go: Station One Farmhouse is located at 145 Park Place Suite B in Richmond. The store is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm WednesdaySaturday and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. For more information, call 510-778-1355 or visit stationonefarmhouse.com. •
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Point Richmond Business District News
Summer 2017 Photo • MCE
Richmond Takes Lead in Green Economy Sponsored Content from MCE
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he City of Richmond was the first community in Contra Costa County to join MCE, the not-forprofit, public electricity provider that gives customers the choice of having 50 or 100 percent renewable energy service from pollution-free sources such as solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and hydroelectric at competitive rates. In 2010, MCE became California’s first Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, allowing groups of communities to purchase power on behalf of their residents and businesses. The Richmond City Council voted to join MCE in 2012, making MCE the City’s default electricity provider and giving all Richmond electric customers the opportunity to purchase cleaner, affordable electricity as an alternative to PG&E. Not only was Richmond a trailblazer in paving the way for towns outside of Marin to join MCE, but the city had the third highest adoption of MCE’s Deep Green 100 percent renewable offering in MCE’s service area at the time it joined, and the lowest opt out rate. Since that time, MCE’s service area has grown to include the Contra Costa cities of El Cerrito, Lafayette, San Pablo, and Walnut Creek. Recently, more cities and towns in Contra Costa County, as well as the County itself, have voted to follow Richmond’s lead and become part of the CCA movement redefining California’s energy landscape. Collectively, MCE-member communities are having an enormous impact on greenhouse gas reduction, rate stability, and new, local renewable projects and jobs. MCE funds programs that provide local, working class residents with job opportunities beyond the
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Alexandra McGee, MCE’s Community Power Organizer and Rianto Lie of East Bay Energy Watch brought their bilingual skills door-to-door to help Richmond’s small businesses reduce their energy usage. minimum wage economy. MCE’s partnership with RichmondBUILD trains local residents in the green collar jobs of tomorrow, supporting positions that pay living wages, provide benefits and create career pathways for local residents. RichmondBUILD teamed up with MCE on local projects like MCE Solar One, the Bay Area’s largest publicly owned solar farm, which will support 341 jobs and generate enough power for 3,417 homes per year. MCE also partnered with RichmondBUILD on Richmond’s Freethy Industrial Park. This solar project supported 23 jobs, and supplies enough electricity to power up to 600 homes annually, with greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to taking 114 cars off the road each year. In partnership with Energize Richmond, MCE recently went door-to-door offering free assessments to help small businesses reduce their energy usage through free rebates, LED lighting retrofits, energysaving refrigeration measures, water-saving nozzles and HVAC measures. “So far, we’ve reached 85 small businesses,” said
Alexandra McGee, MCE’s bilingual community power organizer. “64 percent of them immediately chose to have a free assessment and energy audit on the spot, and 58 percent spoke four non-English languages with our staff.” In today’s economic climate where many struggle with the rising cost of living in the Bay Area, MCE is committed to helping retain the diversity of the community by supporting opportunities, training and career pathways for our local talent. The Bay Area, and Richmond in particular, has a rich history of industrial labor and MCE believes those jobs can continue to thrive as they evolve into the cornerstone of California’s new, green economy. MCE is a not-for-profit, public electricity provider that gives customers the choice of having 50% to 100% of their electricity supplied from clean, renewable energy at competitive rates. MCE provides service to 255,000 customers in Marin County, Napa County, and the cities of Benicia, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Richmond, San Pablo, and Walnut Creek. For more information about MCE, visit mceCleanEnergy.org •
Point Richmond Business District News
Summer 2017
Photo • Erica Skone-Reese
Mom & Pop Art Shop – ModernDay General Store Draws Local Artists By Malcolm Marshall
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s a kid, Jacinto Castillo spent years on the road with his father’s traveling band. Being immersed in music and around creative people sparked his own love of art. “I like to find objects and try to paint on things that would otherwise be trash, I guess,” said Castillo. Castillo went to a technical school for computer-aided drafting and then took his talents to the professional world, working for architectural engineering companies. But it was wife, Kelly Nicolaisen, who encouraged him to start getting his original artwork out to the public. Nicolaisen, an accomplished photographer who has a degree in advertising and marketing, had experience organizing art shows and had her work featured in restaurants throughout San Francisco. Together, they hit the road selling their art at trade shows and festivals, where they made relationships with other like-minded artists. Now Castillo and Nicolaisen are bringing their love and passion for art, and for others artists, to the newly opened Mom & Pop Art Shop located in historic Point Richmond. It’s a new take on an old-fashioned type of store – a modern-day general store that has art and community at its center. The small space of the Mom & Pop Art Shop exudes a big, timeless charm and features lots of cool arts and crafts supplies. But the store is much more than that. You can also find locally made, unique prints, original art pieces, jewelry, art projects for kids, t-shirts, candles and much more. Adjacent to the storefront is an art gallery, showcasing original artwork by Castillo, Nicolaisen and other artists. “The store brings everyone we know together,” said Nicolaisen. “We carry all of our friends’ work.” Since they opened their doors in April, Mom & Pop has been a platform for local artists, leading to new
connections and opportunities for artists from Richmond and the Bay Area. Currently about 70 percent of the items in the shop are sold on consignment. “We try to provide things that you wouldn’t find anywhere else,” said Castillo. Looking for a bigger home for their growing family in a part of the Bay Area with a sense of community, they decided to leave a changing San Francisco in 2014. They relocated to Point Richmond, where they found a house in the neighborhood that they loved.“At first, we were just trying to think about, ‘What does Point Richmond need here…to not have to go to Berkeley or Albany to get something?’” said Nicolaisen. “The closest good art store was in Berkeley.” When the storefront in Point Richmond became available, Nicolaisen said, they decided to open their own business in town. “Some of my friends’ stores had recently closed, so I was able to bring their works and sell them here in our store,” she said. Soon after Mom & Pop opened, they decided to include a small run of art supplies for kids. They quickly noticed that customers were buying up the kids’ supplies and looking
for more. To meet that demand, they now feature toys for toddlers, brain teasers and other merchandise for kids. Jacinto says a constant stream of new items helps to keep the store evolving. “We want to keep changing things around and finding new things for people to check out,” said Castillo. “They take a few weeks and come back and it’s a little different.” Castillo believes the business and the Point Richmond neighborhood are a great fit. “I think a lot of people like the nostalgia of the mom and pop, and Point Richmond already has that feeling. There are not a lot of places in the Bay Area that have that anymore more,” he said. “We wanted to bring it back, but with a modern twist on it.” “It’s a place that people can come and feel welcome,” said Nicolaisen. “You can always come in and find something handmade and special for someone, for your kid.” If you go: Mom & Pop Art Shop is located at 24 West Richmond Avenue in Richmond. Visit on the web at mompopartshop.com. •
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Point Richmond Business District News
Summer 2017
New Barbershop with Vintage Look Opens in Point Richmond Interview • Richmond Pulse
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ive questions for Daniel Webster, owner of Cuts 1st Class in Richmond. The new barbershop with a vintage look and feel opened in October in the Point Richmond neighborhood. Why did you decide to launch your own barbershop in Point Richmond? I live in Richmond so I knew eventually I wanted something close to home. I knew I eventually wanted my own shop. It was time for a change and for something different. At first I thought Point Richmond would be too far for my customers to travel, so I started looking in Downtown Oakland, Emeryville, Lake Merritt or Berkeley so I could make everyone’s trip shorter. Some of the buildings I couldn’t afford and the others, the landlords didn’t want a barbershop. I’m familiar with Point Richmond and I saw a ‘For rent’ sign here. I wasn’t too sure about the location because I’m used to being near a high school, a mall and a place where you can get a lot of traffic. But I love it out here. I have several places to eat, Keller Beach and everyone is friendly. It’s just nice all the way around. Business has been great and at least 85 percent of my customers followed me. The area has been good to my business. What can customers expect when they visit Cuts 1st Class? I have a vintage look here. It’s a peaceful shop where you can relax. And we have a lot of conversations outside of sports. Women and kids can come and feel comfortable here. What are your future goals for the business? I would love to expand and have another shop somewhere in Richmond. I would want to give someone else an opportunity like I had coming right out of high school. I’m planning to bring on two other barbers. And hopefully I can learn more about the business to be a better barber
and business owner. I also want to offer my customers more specialty services. Barbering has changed and there are so many more services you can offer besides a simple haircut.
After completing barber school, I started at Eastmont Barber Shop in Oakland in 2000 and I worked there for 16 years. What do you enjoy about being a barber?
How did you get started cutting hair? I was in the eighth grade when I started cutting my own hair. We had a pair of clippers at my mom’s house just sitting underneath the sink. One day I just picked them up and once I got a little better at cutting, people started noticing. A couple of my friends from school were asking, ‘Where did you get your hair cut?’ When I told them I did it, they started asking if I could cut their hair. But the problem was I had never cut anyone else, so I just told my friends that we can try. In high school at Fremont High, I had a lot of people I could practice on. I didn’t even have a price list, but the next thing I knew, people started knocking on the door. I was cutting in the kitchen, the bathroom and my bedroom. Sometimes we would go in the gym or bathroom at school during lunchtime. Eventually my parents bought me some professional clippers for Christmas and that helped out a lot. After high school, I attended Laney College for a few classes. Then a buddy suggested I go to barber school.
I enjoy meeting people and making them feel happy from the work I’ve done. There’s freedom in being your own boss and setting your own schedule and I really like that. Barbering is something that I would recommend for those who don’t plan to go to college. If you go: Cuts 1st Class, 147 West Richmond Avenue Suite A in Richmond, is open from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:00 am – 3:30 pm Wednesday, and 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday. Haircuts are $30, $35 with a shave, and $20 for kids. For more information or to make an appointment, call 510-679-2887 or visit cutsfirstclass.com. •
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