"These were neighborhood establishments, places where people could 'feel free to hang out all day' and bring their kids, said Tay Kennedy, who, along with Peter Gutowski, took over Small Change earlier this year and relaunched it as Ace Seafood in February. Kennedy and Gutowski, who know other restaurant owners on the block and enjoy the camaraderie among the neighborhood establishments, said that's the goal for the revamped oyster bar and seafood-focused restaurant."
"Branden Nichols, who developed the Small Change concept and opened the restaurant in July 2024 with business partners Matt and Tiffany Lipelt, agreed that the model wasn't working and some big changes were in order. Nichols turned the day-to-day operations over to partners Gutowski and Kennedy, who are the new operating partners, and they have rebranded and revamped the seafood-plus restaurant into Ace Seafood."
"The shared goal for Ace, they agreed, was to create a more casual experience for neighbors who found the prior menu too pricey. 'Our friends couldn't afford to eat here,' Kennedy said."
Temescal's Cattaneo Block, a historic Oakland landmark stretching along Telegraph Avenue, has housed Italian-owned businesses since the early 1900s, including Genova Delicatessen and Buon Gusto Bakery. Ace Seafood, located at 5000 Telegraph, recently replaced Small Change after the original concept proved unsustainable. New operating partners Tay Kennedy and Peter Gutowski, both experienced restaurant professionals, took over and rebranded the establishment to create a more accessible, neighborhood-focused dining destination. Their vision emphasizes affordability and community gathering, drawing inspiration from the block's historic character as a welcoming neighborhood hub where locals could spend time freely.
#oakland-temescal-neighborhood #restaurant-rebranding #community-dining #historic-telegraph-avenue #affordable-seafood-restaurant
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