Oakland gift guide: Where to shop in Fruitvale

"Fruitvale got its name during the late 19th century, when it was home to apricot and cherry orchards, and it was later home to waves of German, Portuguese and Irish immigrants. During the 1950s and 1960s, at the height of "urban renewal," many Latino and Black families displaced from West Oakland settled here. Today it remains one of Oakland's most immigrant communities, shaped by the traditions its residents brought from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and beyond."

"Fruitvale is known for its yearly Día de Los Muertos festival, one of Oakland's largest, which has been greeting visitors with food stalls, music and dance performances, and elaborate altars for the past two decades. Local businesses have been hurting, thanks to the threat of enforcement actions under the current administration, so it's a great time to spend your holiday shopping dollars here."

Fruitvale originated as apricot and cherry orchards in the late 19th century and later hosted waves of German, Portuguese, and Irish immigrants. Mid-20th-century urban renewal brought displaced Latino and Black families from West Oakland. The neighborhood's commercial strip runs along International Boulevard and is accessible from the Fruitvale BART station, which features a mural tribute to Oscar Grant. Fruitvale hosts one of Oakland's largest Día de Los Muertos festivals with food, music, dance, and elaborate altars. Local businesses face enforcement-related pressures, while new specialty shops like Chiles Secos y Semillas offer unique spices such as Mexican oregano.

Read at The Oaklandside