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Oakland’s Two Star Market to Host 20th Annual Thanksgiving Community Celebration Nov. 24

Farouq Alawdi, manager of Two Star, the former historic site of the Tepper Hotel and Beer Garden, said his staff and volunteers are ready to feed an anticipated 1,000+ guests during the afternoon celebration feast. “We are prepared to cook 100 turkeys, 500 pounds of grilled chicken, side dishes, and plenty of pies for dessert,” said Alawdi.

Published

3 years ago

November 20, 2022

Oakland Post

Clifford L. Williams

By Clifford L. Williams

Autumn is in the air, which means the holiday season is getting ready to set it off, and one of the biggest holidays is celebrating Thanksgiving.

Oakland’s Two Star Market, a family-owned, community-oriented convenience store, located at 2020 MacArthur Blvd. (off Fruitvale Avenue in the Dimond District), is gearing up once again to recognize the special holiday with its 20^th Annual Thanksgiving Community Celebration Thursday, November 24, between 1:00 p.m and 4:00 p.m.

To make this a successful event, Two Star is seeking at least 100 volunteers to help with serving the throngs of people expected to attend. Volunteers should bring their own aprons and oven mittens.”

Volunteers interesting in helping to feed residents should text Aleja Rambonga at 510-847-9398 or alejarambonga@gmail.com. Donations are welcomed by visiting www.2starmarket.com. For more information, call 510-531-3576.

Similar to last year, the annual Thanksgiving meal will be modified because of the lingering pandemic which has determined how large groups of people can gather and celebrate during festive times. Attendees are encouraged to wear a mask as well as social distancing. Masks will be provided upon request.

Already, the Market’s staff is stocking up for the big meal and making arrangements to reconfigure its parking lot to handle the nearly 800 guests who attended last year, and the many more who are expected to attend the free event this year.

Food will be served buffet-style to guests, and there will be limited seating outside throughout the day. Families with more than two members will be able to take additional dinners with them.

“All of the turkey dinners are provided by Two Star Market,” said Alawdi. “We’ve been serving these hot dinners for the past 19 years, feeding local residents, as well as people from other cities. It is our way of paying back to the community because without them, we wouldn’t be here. The community has helped to sustain our business since we first opened in 1983.”

“The dinners have become a tradition that began with my grandfather back home in Yemen. It was during the Holy Month of Ramadan where dinner is served for those in need. So, 19 years ago, my brother Adob, and our dad, decided to continue that tradition here in the United States. It was the best way to give back to the community.”

“When we first started here in Oakland, it was just for local residents, and over the years we’ve reached out to provide dinners to anyone who wanted a Thanksgiving meal. Past celebrations had guests coming from Richmond, Hayward and Fremont.”

Alawdi said “the only thing the public needs to bring is a good appetite and have fun while listening to live entertainment including DJ-provided Latin jazz, old-school and rap music.” Children attending the event will also enjoy playing in a jump house and other activities at the venue. An assortment of donated clothing and shoes will be available for attendees.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

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4 days ago

March 7, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

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3 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.