The Commercial Side of Glenview

The Commercial Side of Glenview

PHOTO BY PAT MAZZERA

Corinne Kinczel and Brady Bellis own Rocky’s.


A Park Boulevard hillside neighborhood lures with shopping, diversions, and restaurants.

Glenview is a supremely walkable, bungalow-filled neighborhood and home to a bustling restaurant row, mom-and-pop markets, and a gem of a public park. See what you may have been missing.

 

Shop

Savemore Market, aka Glenview’s corner store on steroids, is the place to stop for a chilled bottle of rosé, a pint of Straus Family Creamery ice cream, or even a bottle of NyQuil for a sudden bout with the flu. Its surprisingly vast selection of necessities and comfort items (think multiple brands of fancy chocolate and dozens of herbal tea varieties) are available every day of the year, even holidays. A small deli counter serves Peet’s coffee, breakfast burritos, and sandwiches. 4219 Park Blvd., 510-530-6296.

Glenview Key and Lock has been making keys and selling locks from multiple locations on Park Boulevard for 35 years (and counting). You can also get your pet’s ID tag inscribed while you wait or look for new drawer pulls for the kitchen. Check out the displays of Baldwin and Emtek hardware in the basement for larger projects. Antiques Roadshow types will savor the collection of finely worked locks of yore displayed on the wall facing the counter. 4197 Park Blvd., GlenviewKey.com, 510-530-6141.

Rocky’s Market is basically a farmers market under a roof, complete with organic produce, locally sourced goodies, and meals to go courtesy of Two Local Girls catering. On the other side of the historic Leimert Bridge, this modern neighborhood store also hosts food trucks in its parking lot and newborn baby meet-ups for parents and their progeny. 1440 Leimert Blvd., 510-213-7985, Rockys-Market.busness.site.

 

Play

Spend the day at Dimond Park, which marks the eastern side of Glenview off El Centro Avenue. Swim at the open-year-round Lions Pool, barbecue, picnic, play tennis, or shoot hoops. Watch the kids romp through various playgrounds or just kick back and chill on one of Oakland’s finest grassy fields or under one of the park’s enormous redwoods. Named after Gold Rusher Hugh Dimond who used to own the land, the park also houses a recreation center that hosts qigong classes and after-school programs. 3860 Hanly Road, 510-482-7831, www2.oaklandnet.com.

The original inhabitants of the Sausal Creek watershed, which makes up much of Glenview, were the Ohlone people who hunted and fished along the banks of the waterway. You can walk the 3.1-mile main artery of Sausal Creek, which slices its way through Dimond Canyon. The trail begins next to the Dimond Park rec center and ventures upstream to the concrete parabola of the Leimert Bridge. Here, the creek bed becomes the trail, and the tromping becomes more challenging, especially during rainy season. When you spy the huge nets that traverse the canyon, you’ve reached the Montclair Golf Club. Trail map: Documents.sausalcreek.org/sausal_creek_trails.pdf.

Built in 1926, the fixed-arch Leimert Bridge was designed by George Posey (of Posey Tube fame) and built by Walter and Harry Leimert to connect Park Boulevard to the Oakmore hills. Hailed as the largest single-span bridge on the West Coast when it was built, the Oakland city landmark spans 357 feet and is 117 feet above Sausal Creek. Its concrete-and-steel side-by-side arches (and accompanying graffiti) are best viewed from below on the Dimond Canyon Trail. Make sure to walk over the bridge and catch the view of the bay, preferably at sunset. LocalWiki.org/oakland/Leimert_Bridge.

 

Eat

Named after the owners’ two daughters, Bellanico Restaurant and Wine Bar has served rustic Italian dishes and Old World wines to Glenview residents since 2008. Try the tasting menus for brunch, lunch, or dinner (with accompanying wine pairings) for the best deal and a fully realized culinary experience. Favorites include any of the seasonal handmade pasta dishes, killer bruschetta, and a more-than-satisfying braised beef pot roast. 4238 Park Blvd., 510-336-1180, Bellanico.net.

Park Burger is known for its locally sourced and sustainably raised meat and family-friendly atmosphere. Find your house on the vintage map of Oakland that decorates one wall while you bite into a juicy burger and munch on crispy sweet potato fries. The over-21s can enjoy a local brew or glass of wine, while those young at heart can sample the weekly special milkshake in flavors such as peppermint bark, Reese’s peanut butter cup, and tutti frutti. 4218 Park Blvd., 510-279-1402, ParkBurgerOakland.com.

Paulista Brazilian Kitchen & Taproom, the newest addition to Park Boulevard’s restaurant row, is open all day long—empanadas and coffee for breakfast, a robust salad for lunch, and for dinner bobo shrimp stew and feijoada black beans. Owned by two Glenview natives and best friends, this Brazilian comfort-food destination is designed as a neighborhood gathering place. The 26 rotating craft beer and cider taps are turned on at noon, so come grab a glass. The space invites with communal tables, natural light, and lots of bar action throughout. 4239 Park Blvd., 510 866-2133, Paulista510.com.

Faces of the East Bay