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Oldest Suburb of Sacramento
1887
What started as the small vision of developer Edwin K. Alsip and the Oak Park Association, grew into Sacramento’s first full-fledged suburb.
Beginning in 1887, with an initial division of 56 whole or partial lots, Oak Park gained a reputation as a community build by hard-working citizens.
In the early 1900’s, most residents had blue collar jobs working for the railroads, state fair, canneries and the highway commission. During this time most residents were White, with scattered Blacks and Mexican Americans.
40 acres Art & Cultural Center Grand Opening
May 2003
St. HOPE’s largest economic development project opened with Underground Books, Uncle Jed’s Cut Hut, Starbucks and the Guild Theater.
40 Acres is the jewel of the SHDC efforts in the Oak Park community. The building was the historic Woodruff Hotel which was build in 1922 and was renovated by St. HOPE Development company in 2003.
The 23,000 sq. ft. mixed use facility includes:
- Guild Theater
- Underground Books
- Old Soul Coffee House
- Coopers Wine Bar
- Upper Room Apartments
10 Black-Owned Bookstores To Tap For Your Fall Reading List
The Zoe Report
Nothing quite says fall like hunkering down with a good book and comforting mug full of your preferred hot beverage. But no matter what it is you choose to read this season, consider picking it up from one of many Black-owned bookstores. Not only can spending your money mindfully help support Black businesses — and in turn encourage more of them — but because many of these shops specialize in books about race and culture specifically, shopping here might just inspire you to fill your fall reading list with resources that educate and inform you.
A Place to Be
BOOKSTORE IS LITERARY HUB OF OAK PARK
Within days of the tragic murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, Underground Books in Oak Park launched a long-planned website for the sale of literary works online.
Not only did the Sacramento community respond, people across the nation took note. In the first two months, Underground Books received nearly 2,500 orders.
Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria Grand Opening in Oak Park
While Sacramento’s dining scene has been struggling with the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, there is a bright spot with this week’s opening of a new fast casual and gourmet pizza joint in Oak Park. Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria is a Nashville-based chain run by three childhood friends who dreamed up the concept inside an old garage in 2015. They spent two years testing pizza recipes in that garage and then launched their restaurant with great success. Their Oak Park grand opening marks their 5th location and is the latest Black-owned business to join the Oak Park resurgence.
Nashville-based Slim & Husky’s hits Oak Park
Aug 24, 2020
UPDATE: Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria will open Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 3413 Broadway in Oak Park, operators announced on Facebook. In accordance with restrictions to slow the spread of Covid-19, the restaurant will offer outdoor dining, takeout and delivery. The local site is expected to employ about 50 people. Here’s our previous story from April.
Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria, a fast-growing Nashville pizza restaurant, is taking its talents to Oak Park.
Oak Park book store helps to provide a space for the community to learn about Black art and culture
ABC News 10
Georgia West, aka Mother Rose, talks about Oak Park’s Underground Books and how they help provide a space for community members to learn about Black culture and arts.
Author: abc10.com
Published: 12:08 PM PDT June 18, 2020
Updated: 12:05 PM PDT June 18, 2020
Oak Park Restaurants are Still Open for Business
We are so thankful that Fixins, Old Soul, La Venadita, and Oak Park Brewery are still open for take out! Support your favorite local restaurants by placing a to go order and making it a picnic meal at the park or special night with the family. Check out their Instagram pages for the latest news and discounts!
Creative Distance Learning Happening at SHPS
It was a tough transition to distance learning for students – so some St. HOPE teachers aimed to help ease the way through video introductions to their “virtual classrooms” helping their students understand expectations, how the new process will work, and to get excited about their new way of learning.
Scholar Spotlight: Jazmine Spears
See below for a brief but encouraging interview with Sacramento High School’s 12th grade scholar, Jazmine Spears!
Q: Tell us a little bit about your high school experience.
A: These last four year years at Sac High have been so busy! I have been involved in so many different activities like step team, basketball, cheerleading, College Track, working at Underground Books and so much more! This year I was one of the team captains for cheer and last summer I got the experience of going to East Africa for 2 weeks with College Track. Being involved has been so important to me as it allows me to bond with my fellow classmates, be a part of a team, and gain different responsibilities.
More Improvements at 40 Acres
40 Acres, formerly known as the 1922 Woodruff Hotel, was once known as one of the most dangerous spaces of Oak Park. The 23,000 sq. ft. mixed use property was acquired and renovated by St. HOPE nearly 17 years ago. Today, 40 Acres is the jewel of the neighborhood and home to The Guild Theater, Underground Books, Old Soul Coffee Co., World Class Faders, Fixins Soul Kitchen, and the Upper Room Apartments. This year, 40 Acres will undergo a second set of improvements including paint, awnings, signage, window plant boxes, and more! At St.
World Class Faders Now Open!
We are very excited to announce the opening of World Class Faders, a barbershop at 40 Acres. See below for an interview with owner Lonnie Horne.
1. Where’d you get the name World Class Faders?
I wanted a name my team, myself, and the community would be proud of. I wanted our name to give the impression that the highest level of service could be expected for anyone who walks into our business.
At Underground Books in Sacramento, youth find their freedom
1.31.2020
Author’s note: The following story was originally written for Comstock’s magazine as part of my recurring “Media File” column, a monthly examination at media-related businesses in the Sacramento region. Comstock’s declined to publish this story.
Walk into Underground Books along Broadway in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood and the first thing you’re likely to notice is that it isn’t your typical bookstore.
St. HOPE Public Schools is Now Enrolling!
St. HOPE Public Schools is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 Admissions Lottery for all grades TK – 12th! Apply now to secure your scholar’s spot in the Admissions Lottery on April 2, 2020. Please visit our website for more information on how to enroll your scholar in one of Sacramento’s top performing charter school networks!
Are updates to Oak Park sign of gentrification?
Part 3
ABC 10 - December 19, 2019
Keristen Holmes found out some Black-owned businesses are fighting back against gentrification. Watch the video here.
Christmas in Oak Park
By Xavier Mascareñas December 14, 2019 05:07PM
Christmas in Oak Park, hosted by St. HOPE, featured photos with “Black Santa” at Underground Books, and more holiday-themed activities at neighboring The Guild Theater, on Dec. 14, 2019, in the historic African American Sacramento neighborhood. See video here.
St. HOPE Puts Data To The Test, And Aces It
November 14, 2019
After a difficult past, the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento has been undergoing a revitalization. One longtime force in this renewal has been a nonprofit, St. HOPE, that has spent 30 years energizing public education and economic development aimed at helping resident families thrive.
First Look at the Brand New PS7 Elementary School
In the winter of 2018, PS7 Elementary was awarded a $25 million dollar grant for a new facility. Over the past year we have hired key members of the team (construction manager, architect, civil engineer) and have developed the preliminary design. Our goal is to create one of the finest school facilities in the Sacramento area!
1st Annual Back to School BBQ and Backpack Giveaway with Diamond Autosport
We are super thankful to have partnered with Diamond Autosport this year for a community barbecue and backpack giveaway that was held at McClatchy Park on August 9th. Hundreds of families came out for free delicious grub, backpacks, and school supplies. Children also participated in a basketball tournament and Diamond Autosport even brought a few of their most decked out vehicles for the kids to enjoy. Overall the event was a win for our community and we send a huge thank you out to Diamond Autosport for their partnership!
Fixins Soul Kitchen brings soul food and more to North Oak Park
8.15.19
A new spot to score soul food and more has opened for business in the neighborhood. Called Fixins Soul Kitchen, the new arrival is located at 3428 Third Ave. in North Oak Park.
Fixins Soul Kitchen specializes in comfort food. On the menu, you’ll find fried catfish, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, gumbo, chicken and waffles, mac and cheese and more.
With a five-star rating out of 18 reviews on Yelp so far, the new addition is on its way to developing a local fan base.
Sacramento’s Oak Park transformed: One organization and its $89 million footprint
Sac Bee Article by David Caraccio
Long-time Oak Park resident and activist Robbin Ware remembers that when he moved to the neighborhood, “there wasn’t a damn thing.”
“There wasn’t nothing here but gangs, drugs, drugs being sold,” said Ware, 82.
Nearly 20 years later, Oak Park has become a hotbed of investment and development. One organization in particular has been busy — St. Hope.
St. Hope turns 30 and self-sustaining
July 8, 2019
One week ago today, at 4 p.m., to be exact, former Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and his fellow dreamers quietly celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of St. Hope — which started as a summer program in a portable classroom for 12 African-American boys but became an economic and education turbo engine for what had been the historically neglected Oak Park.