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Friday August 15, 2008

Oakland Kosher offers delivery while scrambling to re-open

by andy altman-ohr
staff writer

The Shabbat afternoon fire at Oakland Kosher Foods two weeks ago caused more damage than was initially estimated, co-owner Yuval Atias said this week.

The Oakland Fire Department originally estimated the damage at $30,000, but it’s a great deal higher than that with a lot of repairs in the offing, Atias said.

“We’re trying really hard to finish two weeks before Rosh Hashanah,” Atias said. “So that would put it around Sept. 10 or 15, somewhere in there.” Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Sept. 29.

While repairs are being made, Oakland Kosher Foods is storing meat and other products in a San Leandro warehouse, but also offering delivery.

Some meat-cutting, as well as catering preparation, will be done in the kosher kitchen at Beth Jacob Congregation, which is located about a mile from the damaged store.

Customers can call the store’s regular number at (510) 839-0177 and place any size order, Atias said. “People can order all the way through Monday, and then we’ll deliver by Wednesday,” he added.

“Our congregants are thrilled to know there’s an option for getting meat,” said Kathy Hollander, Beth Jacob administrative assistant.

Two days after the fire, co-owner Gary Freeman described the damage as “basically cosmetic” and “not that bad,” and Beth Jacob sent out an e-mail saying the store probably would be closed for three weeks.

But Atias said this week that the store at 3419 Lakeshore Ave. needs a lot of repair work and new supplies. “We need to change the walls,” he said. “We need to change all the equipment, too, everything we have, butchering equipment, shelving, everything.”

The fire was sparked by an electrical malfunction, according to the Oakland Fire Department, and it caused extensive damage to the back of the store and smoke damage to the entire store.

Atias said that repair work will begin Monday, Aug. 18, or the next day. He said this week was devoted to completing an inventory and finishing the cleanup process. The store had adequate insurance coverage, he said.

On a more emotional level, Atias said he has been warmed by the community’s response.

“We’re getting a lot of phone calls. People say, ‘We’re sorry’ and ‘How can we help?’ But, really, I don’t see what I can ask from people. We’re trying to do everything ourselves. When we get to a wall and can’t climb it, then maybe we’ll seek some outside help.”

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