Newberry’s

I grew up in Oakland in the mid 1950’s thru 1975… Newberry’s as a kid had the best toys to play with… also painted turtles in the Pet Department… I rememeber the lunch counter with my mother… they served the BEST Strawberry Shortcake… was to die for!
Oakland started to hit the skids in the mid to late 1960’s, when the Black Panther Party was going up and down streets in the Downtown area… sometimes carrying rifles… after few years Oakland hit a severe DECLINE… only now in last few years (2001 to present,) does Oakland seem to be coming back.
At one time Downtown Oakland was a real Showplace… Capwells, Magnins, Smiths, etc and Newberry’s!
I now live in Monterey… still go to Oakland sometimes… Downtown area seems so rundown and lots of grafetti.