On May 6, Emmanuel Singh, the owner of couchdate, a hybrid bar and community space located in Frank Ogawa Plaza, experienced a harrowing incident as he was unloading groceries from his car.
In the midst of his routine, Singh heard three gunshots, one of which ricocheted off his vehicle.
While no employees were harmed, Singh was deeply shaken when he witnessed a man struck by gunfire outside his business.
This traumatic event prompted Singh to reach out to city officials later that day, including Cristy Johnston Limón, deputy director of the Economic & Workforce Development Department, and Brendan Moriarty, the city’s real property asset manager.
In his email, he requested support such as rent reductions to help stabilize the area after the shooting.
Singh expressed his frustration, stating, “I have been breaking my back doing my job — bringing art and culture to this neighborhood. It’s time you showed some support.”
Three months later, couchdate announced it would be closing its downtown location on July 26, a decision influenced by the city’s perceived lack of support after the shooting as well as continuing conflicts over permits and operations.
Couchdate, branded as a “third space” for Black and brown creatives and adorned with vibrant decor, has hosted vinyl listening parties and community events since its inception.
Singh, who emphasizes the business name in lowercase, expressed disappointment over the city’s response to his challenges, stating, “The city of Oakland has given us no reason to be here. In fact, they’ve made it impossible for us to be here.”
Contrarily, city spokesperson Jean Walsh contested Singh’s view, asserting that the city had attempted to work creatively with couchdate to allow it to sublet its city-owned space.
Walsh claimed that couchdate had repeatedly violated city rules governing business operations.
Internal documents disclosed that the city had expressed concerns about Singh’s association with Binta Ayofemi, an Oakland artist and couchdate investor who has faced claims of delinquent rent payments on other commercial spaces in downtown Oakland.
The conflict underscores the broader issue regarding the city’s role in sustaining cultural spaces amidst ongoing recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, where downtown Oakland has recorded retail vacancy rates triple those of pre-pandemic levels.
While recent weeks saw tensions sharp in the dispute between couchdate and the city, a shift occurred following a meeting in which Singh and city officials engaged in discussions about couchdate’s future.
However, Singh aired his grievances publicly through an Instagram post on July 6, accusing key city staff members of being unresponsive and actively working against businesses that serve Black and brown communities.
In his post, he claimed that the city’s staff discriminated against couchdate, citing efforts to shut down operations over minor violations.
The city officials referenced by Singh subsequently declined interview requests but through Walsh stated that their commitment to small businesses was strong and emphasized compliance with city regulations was non-negotiable.
As Singh and his business prepared for the upcoming move, tension between his community-focused efforts and city regulations continued to grow, revealing complicated dynamics of running a cultural business in a contested urban space.
The difficulties couchdate faced in securing necessary permits for events also contributed to the friction, as Singh maintained that many of the city’s requirements were unnecessary for his operations.
Singh’s challenges were exacerbated after the shooting incident, when he received a fine for hosting an unpermitted event just days after the traumatic event unfolded.
As discussions about rent relief and permit issues ensued, Singh lamented about the lack of clear communication and support from city officials, particularly after the tragic events that marked May 6.
While couchdate navigated these obstacles, Singh remained hopeful about finding a new community space in the Temescal neighborhood, launching a GoFundMe to raise $30,000 to facilitate the move.
Couchdate’s journey began in 2019, with Singh aspiring to create an ideal social environment blending art, music, and gastronomy.
Originally starting out in Jack London Square, couchdate later evolved into a vibrant hub for cultural expression and community gathering.
After outgrowing its initial space, Singh relocated to a larger venue in Frank Ogawa Plaza, where it embraced the previous legacy of the Slug Bar while striving to introduce a different ambiance and offerings.
Despite his efforts to cultivate a culturally rich venue, Singh’s relationship with the city began to deteriorate as bureaucratic hurdles piled up, notably a rejected request to transfer the lease from Slug Bar.
This denial stemmed from concerns about Singh’s background as a tenant and the association with Ayofemi, reiterating the scrutiny tied to investments and previously troubled ventures.
As the landscape for downtown businesses remained tumultuous, especially after COVID-19, Singh’s relationship with the city raises critical questions about how local governments support small businesses trying to navigate complex urban environments.
While Singh seeks to rebuild couchdate in a new location, the ongoing dialogue with city officials remains crucial for other businesses in the area facing similar challenges.
Couchdate’s struggle reflects a larger narrative about cultural preservation, community resilience, and the importance of support systems amidst uncertainties in urban settings.
image source from：oaklandside
