amazing oakland

Strengthening Small Businesses, Celebrating Oakland’s Spirit

Our Mission

We raise funds to support small businesses in Oakland that have been impacted by crime. Through direct donations, we help owners recover, reopen, and continue serving their neighborhoods. Every gift strengthens community spaces and keeps Oakland vibrant.

our STORY

When Shubh Doshi founded Amazing Oakland in 2022, it began with simple weekend trips. Armed with a camera and curiosity, he and friends explored neighborhoods, photographing murals, streets, shops, and hidden landmarks. They shared posts to show the Oakland they knew: beautiful, historic, and vibrant, not just the one often reduced to headlines.

But the more time Shubh spent walking through the city, the more he noticed what lay beyond the photo opportunities. Broken windows taped together. Storefronts freshly painted to cover graffiti before fines arrived. Business owners quietly absorbing the cost of repeated thefts and vandalism. He followed the news and saw the same story echoed again and again.

What began as a celebration of Oakland slowly evolved into a mission to support it. Over the last two years, Amazing Oakland has pivoted from storytelling to action. The focus is now on fundraising and making direct donations to small businesses recovering from crime. Today, the project continues to tell Oakland’s story, while also helping write the next chapter by keeping its local shops alive.

Stories of impact

See how your donations directly help Oakland's small business community recover and thrive.

Interview with Chef Mark Liberman of Mago Restaurant

3762 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

August 2025

Chef Mark Liberman has made Mago a shining example of creativity and hospitality in Oakland dining. His food is inventive and welcoming, and the restaurant has become a destination for people who want a memorable meal. Like many others, Mago has faced challenges from operating in a city where crime is a daily concern.

To share Mark’s story in his own words, I recorded a video interview with him that will be featured here on the site. In it, he talks about his vision for Mago, the realities of running a restaurant in Oakland today, and why community support matters so much.

<< 🎥 Watch the Interview

Sitting down with Mark and giving him Amazing Oakland’s donation was a reminder that even the most talented chefs and restaurateurs need the community’s support to thrive.

Website: Mago

Mago restaurant

Pho Mekong Restaurant

3345 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

March 2025

Oakland’s Little Saigon neighborhood is one of my favorite places to go for pho, and Pho Mekong has been a go-to spot with friends and family. The food is generous, comforting, and affordable, and it has always felt like a gathering place. Sadly, recent break-ins in Oakland restaurants have hit Pho Mekong too.

When I delivered Amazing Oakland’s donation, I had the chance to meet the owner in person. We took a photo together and that moment was about more than just handing over funds. It was about building a personal connection and a reminder about how important it is to protect places that bring us together.

Supporting Pho Mekong means supporting a piece of what makes Oakland’s dining scene special.

Website: Pho Mekong, Further Reading: KTVU News

Bardo lounge & supper club

3343 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

September 2025

Meeting Seth Bregman at Bardo showed me how much heart goes into running a restaurant in Oakland. Bardo is a cozy and creative spot that feels like it belongs to the community. But even this special place has been affected by crime and uncertainty. Our donation here was about more than money. It was about making sure Oaklanders continue to have spaces where they can gather over good food and conversation.

Instead of just telling his story secondhand, I sat down with Seth for an nterview to capture his voice directly.

🎥 Watch the Interview >>

Website: Bardo’s

Interview with Seth, owner of Bardo Lounge & Supper Club

Pic credit:

Edith’s Pie

412 22nd St, Oakland, CA 94612

August 2025

Jeff Wright and Mike Raskin, the duo behind Edith’s Pie, have created a place that feels like home. My family always picks up pies for the holidays, and we often stop by for a savory pie at lunch.

Sadly, graffiti and crime in their area have led to low foot traffic and financial strain, and at one point they even considered closing. Delivering Amazing Oakland’s donation felt especially personal because their pies are part of my family traditions. Supporting Edith’s Pie is about preserving comfort and connection in Oakland.


Website: Edith’s Pie, Further Reading: SF Chronicle | Eater SF

Update (Fall 2025): Edith’s Pie is now on the verge of closing, trying to stay open at least through Thanksgiving. They have launched a GoFundMe to rally community support. If you’d like to help, you can contribute here:
👉 Support Edith’s Pie on GoFundMe

Image credit: https://www.edithspie.com/

Woodminster Market

5000 Woodminster Ln, Oakland, CA 94602

January 2025

Raja and Amit run Woodminster Market, a small store that has been part of my daily life. It sits right next to my school, and my friends and I stop there before games, after practices, or just for a quick snack. Woodminster Lane itself is a hidden gem in Oakland, full of charm and community.

One afternoon, I walked in and saw Amit sweeping up shards of glass from yet another break-in. That moment stayed with me. It made me realize that the crime I was reading about in the news was not just statistics, it was affecting the very businesses that were part of my own life. This is where the idea for Amazing Oakland truly began. I wanted to find a way to help shop owners like Amit and Raja, who kept showing up for the community even in the face of setbacks.

Sadly, repeated break-ins have continued to hit the market hard. Being able to return with Amazing Oakland’s support felt full circle, from witnessing the problem firsthand to taking action that could help. Supporting Woodminster is not just about saving a shop, it is about protecting a place that holds personal meaning and reflects the resilience of Oakland.


Website: Woodminster Market, Further Reading: NBC Bay Area

Image Credit: google.com

Colonial Donuts

3318 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

May 2025

Since 3rd grade, Colonial Donuts has been part of my life. Owner Phing Yamamoto keeps this Oakland institution running, and it is more than just a donut shop. For me, it was the place for bagels and donuts before school, and now it is the tradition that keeps finals week going at my school. At least one day during exams, Colonial is always on the table.

When I reached out to offer Amazing Oakland’s support, Phing’s response said so much about what makes this shop special. Instead of simply accepting a donation, she suggested that we support Colonial by purchasing donuts for our club. That way, our contribution would help the business financially while also letting us share in what they love most: bringing joy through donuts. We took her up on that offer, and our club gathered around boxes of fresh donuts from Colonial. It was more than a snack, it was a reminder of how community and generosity are at the heart of Oakland.

Sadly, Colonial has also faced multiple robberies, including frightening armed incidents. Supporting them in this way made me realize how much of an anchor Colonial Donuts is for Oakland — a place where kindness, resilience, and neighborhood spirit are baked into every dozen.

Website: Colonial Donuts, Further Reading: ABC7 News

Silver Moon Kids on Lakeshore Ave

3233 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

February 2025

When I met Dima Hart, the owner of Silver Moon Kids on Lakeshore Avenue, I was struck by her passion for both families and the community. Her store is filled with toys, clothes, and treasures that light up little ones’ faces, and it sits in the middle of one of Oakland’s most vibrant streets.

What made the visit even more meaningful is that I learned she employs local high school students. For many of them, Silver Moon is their first job and a place where they learn responsibility, customer service, and how to be part of Oakland’s small business ecosystem. Sadly, Dima has also had to face constant theft and shoplifting that threaten her ability to keep the store running.

Handing her Amazing Oakland’s donation was a reminder of how important it is to stand behind small business owners who, in turn, are investing directly in our community and its young people. Supporting Silver Moon Kids means supporting both families and the next generation of Oaklanders.

Website: Silver Moon Kids

Contact Us

Business owner in need or supporter with questions? Reach out below.