Home of Chicken and Waffles and Other East Bay Restaurants Closing

Home of Chicken and Waffles, a soul food dining staple in Oakland’s Jack London district, will shutter permanently on August 31, 2026, alongside a wave of regional East Bay restaurant closures including Alma y Sazon, Chong Qing Noodles, The Coffee Mill, and Silver Ocean Chinese Restaurant, according to reporting by Berkeleyside and the Bay Area News Group.

Founder Derreck Johnson Cites Personal Timeline Behind Oakland Closure

Derreck Johnson, founder of Home of Chicken and Waffles, pointed to personal perspective as the primary driver for closing the 247 Fourth St. establishment. “I am at this age in my last quarter where I’m living with more summers behind me than in front of me, and I don’t want to spend them in the restaurant business,” Johnson told the Bay Area News Group. The restaurant originally opened in 2004 at 444 Embarcadero West as a franchise of Los Angeles-based Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles before transitioning into an independent family-owned operation.

Broader East Bay Restructuring and Business Exits

The closure of Home of Chicken and Waffles forms part of a broader contraction across East Bay commercial corridors. Berkeleyside reports that Emeryville’s Public Market kiosk resident Alma y Sazon will conclude its 15-month run on August 30, 2026. Simultaneously, Alameda’s Chong Qing Noodles has shuttered its Park Street location, making way for incoming concept Bull Tacos. Oakland brunch spot The Coffee Mill on Grand Avenue has also closed permanently after more than 35 years of family ownership, with “For Lease” signs appearing in the windows. In San Pablo, Silver Ocean Chinese Restaurant has ceased operations according to Yelp data cited by Berkeleyside.

These departures compound existing retail vacancies in the Jack London district, where venues such as Plank, Dokkaebier, the Seawolf pub, and the Waterfront Hotel have recently closed.

Future Outlook for Commercial Real Estate in Jack London Square

Despite high-profile departures, new operators continue to absorb vacant commercial footprints in the district, including incoming locations for Reem’s California and Dave & Buster’s. Johnson indicated he intends to focus on community investment and urban uplift initiatives in Oakland once the restaurant closes, while assisting longtime kitchen staff with job placement.