Keeping Up with Queer Oakland Pop-Ups

Oakland is changing before our eyes by the day. With that change comes new challenges that entrepreneurs must be equipped to tackle, including the cut throat real estate market, growing tech industry and outrageously high cost of living. All of which are felt hardest by underserved Oakland communities. In response, communities of color and LGBTQ entrepreneurs have embraced one method of overcoming these barriers with the rise of “pop-up” businesses, or “pop-ups.” 
How does it work? Pop-up businesses coordinate with pre-existing brick-and-mortar venues to temporarily house themselves inside various storefronts. But be sure to catch them while you can. One moment they’re there, and the next they’re not, moving on to a new location and a new audience. 

The flexible structure of pop-ups enables up and coming entrepreneurs to raise brand awareness, reach new customers and operate in a cost-effective way, all while removing the financial barriers that keep most from ever acquiring the coveted brick and mortar location. Plus, the pre-existing store gets a little help on their rent and benefits from the buzz that the pop-up inevitably brings. It’s a win-win.

To make it easier on y’all to begin exploring this outlet for new and interesting local businesses, I’ve compiled five queer-centric pop-ups for you to check out.

Malibu’s Burgers – @malibusburgers

Malibu’s Burgers is a POC and queer owned pop-up vegan burger truck! Fresh off the grill, the owners, Natasha and Damien, began their pop-up journey in 2019.
They offer several varieties of burgers served with a Puerto Rican and Black American twist hidden in their special sauces.

They’ve worked hard to maintain accessibility within the community of Oakland and are always evolving to suit their consumers needs. Catch them out around Lake Merritt. 

The People’s Dispensary – @mytpd.oak

The People’s Dispensary is a resource for cannabis founded in 2016 by a group of four POC and queer folx, Christine, Chaney, Charleen, and Michael. The group crafted their business in hopes of creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for acquiring cannabis in the Bay Area and beyond. They have a physical location, offer delivery, and also collaborate with other local businesses and artists to host pop-ups.

They started with a dream and now have a customer base of close to 5000 folks from around the bay.

Mystik Sage @mystiksage

(Photo by Mystik Sage) 

Mystik Sage is a POC and queer owned apothecary and lifestyle brand led by the strength of their ancestors and the spirit. Beginning their journey into mysticism during 2015, they became certified as an herbalist in 2017, jumpstarting the creation of Mystik Sage. They provide a variety of products ranging from bath bombs to room sprays. According to the owner, the nature of pop-ups has enabled them to, “discover their shop’s style and explore new scenes” while maintaining the intimacy required for the spiritual nature of their work.

They are working tirelessly to provide for queer and brown folks in desperate need of healing in and around the Bay Area.

The freedom enable through being a pop-up has enabled them to cater specifically to these communities by vending at queer and POC centered events.

S+M Vegan –  @smveganchefs

(Photo by Jason Addy)

S+M Vegan is a POC and queer owned vegan Teochew-Singoporean and Italian influenced pop-up restuarant. The owners, Shane and CY Marie, have been working diligently since 2013 to provide eccentric, vegan dishes to the people of Oakland.

Both started out in the professional culinary world and by that experience, culminated they’re unique style with their Italian and Teochew-Singaporean cultural roots leading the way.

According to Marie, “Kitchens are notoriously toxic environments, in which LGBTQI workers too often don’t get to thrive, so pop ups are a way to create one’s own path.” They partner with bars, artists and eateries around the Bay to bring their dishes to the people! Their next goal is to open a brick and mortar, Lion Dance Cafe, mid 2020.

Transnormativity – @transnormativity

A, or “Transnormativity,” as their large following on Instagram knows them, is a gender non conforming tattoo artist and photographer living and working out of Oakland.

They utilize their following and local connections as a means of bringing their services to queer folks all across the bay and US as a whole. Surviving in the US as an artist can be difficult, A has been able to tackle this by hosting pop ups at fellow artists shops and broadening their reach to consumers.