Final Gap store in Oakland to close this summer

Gap Closes Last Store in Oakland

This summer, Oakland residents will find one less option for khakis and hoodies as Gap shuts down its final retail location at 3277 Lakeshore Drive. The store’s closure aligns with the expiration of its lease, which the company has confirmed.

Previously, the Broadway Gap closed back in 2008, and that space has since been taken over by a Walgreens, effectively leaving Oakland without a Gap outlet for years.

As employees prepare to leave, Gap has announced that they will be offered opportunities to transfer to other locations within the Bay Area.

Currently, Gap maintains various stores in San Francisco, Marin County, and the South Bay, alongside a Gap Factory Outlet situated in Livermore.

The 10,318-square-foot Lakeshore property, which includes 8,344 square feet on the main floor and 1,974 square feet above, will be represented by CBRE, a Dallas-based company. The location is part of a bustling retail area, featuring other prominent businesses like Trader Joe’s, Chipotle, Philz Coffee, Wells Fargo, and T-Mobile.

According to the property listing, the ideal future use includes boutique retail, wellness and fitness services, specialty food and beverages, as well as financial and general service-based businesses.

The Lakeshore Gap opened its doors back in 2000, with local general manager Terry Ellis expressing that the store was a staple in the community. She shared that its closing feels particularly poignant since her late husband developed the Rubino Building in 1999, prior to Gap’s arrival.

Interestingly, the first Gap store originated in August 1969, founded by Doris F. Fisher and her husband Donald, who just passed away last week at the age of 94. That inaugural shop, located on Ocean Avenue, specialized in selling leftover Levi’s jeans and LP records to attract younger customers. From those modest beginnings, Gap quickly grew into the well-known brand it is today.

Alongside its Gap brand, the company also operates Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta, and anticipates sharing first-quarter financial results in its upcoming earnings call on May 28.

Gap isn’t the only national name exiting the Oakland area; reports suggest that In-N-Out plans to shut its last Oakland outlet in March 2024 due to ongoing crime issues. This closure is particularly significant, as it marks the first time in the fast food chain’s 75-year history that a location will be closed.