Uncategorized

Chef Rashard Opens Crave BBQ at Richmond’s Hilltop Mall

Published

6 years ago

August 24, 2019

For those with a taste of mouth-watering barbecue, look no further, Crave BBQ, a new blues house concept featuring live music opened in Richmond at The Shops at Hilltop in the 5,000-square-foot Suite D107. Owner Chef Rashad Armstead is living out his culinary dream in more ways than one.

Armstead recently hosted an after party at the rooftop terrace of the Port Co-Working Space in Oakland offering a food extravaganza at the downtown venue overlooking Lake Merritt.

Hundreds lined up at the upscale event with live music by West Oakland Blues Band. Guests experienced mini brisket biscuit sandwiches, fried fish, blue cornbread, macaroni and cheese, fried crab, potato salad and peach cobbler.

The event celebrated Rashad as the winner of the Food Network’s show, Chopped.

Attendees had the opportunity to hear the winning announcement first hand and celebrate with Chef Rashad, his family, friends and fans.

Dressed in a bright turquoise suit and red bandana, Rashad thanked the crowd for attending as a video screen looped Rashad on the show Chopped.

“In February, I applied to be on the show and by May we were taping,” he said. “This could not have happened at a better time, because I was considering throwing in the towel on my dream. My message to everyone is, don’t ever give up, go after your dreams.”

Rashad shared the story of his learning the art of cooking from his great grandmother, grandmother, and mother. “My great grandmother (Sarah Rawls) had a legacy in Oakland,” he said. “She owned several restaurants in Oakland, wrote cookbooks and had a TV show and was beginning to expand in Los Angeles.” Rashad said complications along the way prevented his grandmother’s national expansion.

“Through her recipes, my great grandmother’s legacy lives on,” he said. Armstead recognizes that soul food may not be the healthiest but he says it is a part of a cultural legacy none-the-less. “Many people are moving away from soul food and consider it unhealthy, however, these recipes represent our rich heritage and are a part of our history,” he said.

Oakland locals Lynette Jones Lipscomb attended with friend Deloris Whitehead-Joseph. “The food is delicious, I like the fried crab,” Lipscomb said. “I enjoyed everything especially the peach cobbler,” said Whitehead-Joseph. “The crust was perfect and the mac-and-cheese was oh, so creamy,” said Whitehead. Radio producer Terry Adams also enjoyed the event. “I’m so happy to celebrate Chef Rashad’s success and enjoy this great food.”

Rashad also owns Grammie’s Down Home Chicken and Seafood takeout at 3817 Market St. in Oakland.

“I want to expand and continue to hire people in the community and create jobs,” said Armstead. “I want to franchise my company as well. I want to show people that you can live your dream and I want to see others do the same.”

Crave BBQ is located at 1207 Hilltop Mall Road and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m.

For more information visit: www.eatgrammies.com, www.icravebbq.com, or call (510) 547- 1249.

Carla Thomas

Posts by Carla Thomas

Uncategorized

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

6 months ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Special to The Post

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA) today Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million.

In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland’s HCD stated, “Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities.”

In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is the media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

11 months ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.

Special to The Post

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units, including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Alameda County

Oakland Acquisition Company’s Acquisition of County’s Interest in Coliseum Property on the Verge of Completion

The Board of Supervisors is committed to closing the deal expeditiously, and County staff have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward on mutually agreeable terms. The parties are down to the final details and, with the cooperation of OAC and Coliseum Way Partners, LLC, the Board will take a public vote at an upcoming meeting to seal this transaction.

Published

12 months ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Haubert. Official photo.

Special to The Post

The County of Alameda announced this week that a deal allowing the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC, (“OAC”) to acquire the County’s 50% undivided interest in the Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum complex is in the final stages of completion.

Oakland has already finalized a purchase and sale agreement with OAC for its interest in the property. OAC’s acquisition of the County’s property interest will achieve two longstanding goals of the County:

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum complex will finally be under the control of a sole owner with capacity to make unilateral decisions regarding the property; and
The County will be out of the sports and entertainment business, free to focus and rededicate resources to its core safety net

In an October 2024 press release from the City of Oakland, the former Oakland mayor described the sale of its 50% interest in the property as an “historic achievement” stating that the transaction will “continue to pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to facilitate single-entity ownership of this property uniquely centered in a corridor of East Oakland that has amazing potential.

“The County is committed to bringing its negotiations with OAC to a close,” said Board President David Haubert.