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Change Comes Quickly
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Tina "Tamale" Ramos
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Last Updated on September, 08 2008 at 10:15 AM
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Walking down 8th Street between Clay and Washington Streets was never
very exciting and I don’t say that as a bad thing. There is a tiny
little bite of a building sandwiched between two larger Victorians. The
Yamagata family owned the building and housed the A-1 Fish Market that the
family started in 1946, a year of many new beginnings for
Japanese-Americans. Howard Yamagata turned the market into a fly-fishing shop, but not much changed.
Then late last year, I saw a huge For Sale sign attached to the top of the
building that shortly thereafter became a Sold sign. That had the
neighborhood buzzing with what was going to happen next.
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Melanie Abad and Winson Lei in the quickly kitchen.
Walking down 8th Street between Clay and Washington Streets was never very exciting and I don’t say that as a bad thing. There is a tiny little bite of a building sandwiched between two larger Victorians. The Yamagata family owned the building and housed A-1 Fish Market that the family started in 1946, a year of many new beginnings for Japanese-Americans.
In 1990, Howard Yamagata, transformed the market into a fly-fishing shop. Whenever I passed by, I would always wave hello to Howard and his wife Kay. The store was filled with fishing rods, lures and Oakland police officers planning weekend retreats.
Late last year, I saw a huge For Sale sign attached to the top of the building that shortly thereafter became a Sold sign. That had the neighborhood buzzing with what was going to happen next. The question was answered “quickly” as the Coming Soon sign in the window announced that a Quickly franchise selling tapioca drinks and snacks was coming to Old Oakland. That news rankled some in the neighborhood. Most of the opposition stemmed from the idea of a chain – even one as small as Quickly - setting up shop in our historic neighborhood.
The inside of the building took shape over a few short months. And even this sparked discussion, as we Old Oaklanders had grown accustomed to renovations taking years in this part of town.
My own concerns were eased when I met the young woman with the big smile running the place. That would be Melanie Abad, who opened the franchise with her mother, Sonia Yeung. Ms. Yeung had bought the building with the idea of leasing it, but after Ms. Abad was laid off, the family changed plans. The Yeung’s had run several franchises over the years, so opening a Quickly made sense.
As someone in the food business, what I really wanted to know was how the extensive menu works. In addition to the long list of tapioca drinks, the menu boasts everything from corn dogs to French fries to fried chicken and fish balls. The drinks, said Abad, are easy.
Abad explained that many of the bases and syrups for the three-panel drink list are easy to keep in stock. Here’s how it works: teas can be with or without milk, milk can be made with or without tea, snow is creamy and slush is icy. You can then add the standard large tapioca balls, the small tapioca balls or include other items from the "Add to drink" list. There are two categories -- jelly juice, small cubes of lemon flavored gelatin in the fruit flavored base of your choice, and pudding you drink with a straw that melts in your mouth.
For a month, I had been exploring the extensive menu in search of a favorite, but without success. While there are plenty of Asian-influenced foods on the menu, there are also American standards. That’s where the Abad-Yeung family’s experience in the world of franchises comes in handy. Ms. Abad grew up working in her dad’s Foster’s Freeze. She knows her way around a deep fryer and a grill.
For an inexpensive quick meal, the grilled chicken sandwich with grilled onions & cheese or the grilled ham & cheese sandwich dressed the same as the chicken are solid choices. Abad also has a few dinners on the menu. Try the fried chicken with a basic iceberg lettuce salad and fries. As if several score of regular items weren’t enough, there’s a changing menu of specials next to the register.
What really removed any remaining concerns for me has been witnessing the support Abad is getting from family and friends to run the place seven days a week until 10pm. Her staff tends to be other family members and gives the shop a homey touch beyond the orange colored façade dictated from corporate headquarters in Taiwan. It’s a franchise, but independently owned and operated. Inside Quickly it’s all Oakland. The menu is eclectic. The customers are diverse. It’s a scene that would make the Yamagatas happy.
Quickly
517 8th St
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 663-2233
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RECOMMEND
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OAKLAND
FOOD & BOOZE
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