.Nomad Cafe Changing Owners

“It’s official: nomad is changing owners.”was the report on twitter


The coffee shop on Shattuck Ave. in the Ashby BART neighborhood has been a pillar of the community. Caffeine and Pastries. Live music. Local Art Gallery. Meeting space for knitters. Unofficial wifi office for many nearby residents. Oh yeah, and they’re green, oh so green.


Also according the Nomad’s twitter feed, the new owners take over August 3rd and already own Orchard Valley Coffee in Campbell, Coffee to the People in the Haight, and Thinkers Cafe in Potrero.


Current owner Christopher Waters, who lives on the same block as the cafe, sent the following email to the Express:


I founded the Nomad Cafe six years ago and am proud of what I, my staff and our community have done together.  Over the past year and a half, my other work and family obligations became much more pronounced, and I did not want to see Nomad’s committed focus on community, art and sustainability compromised.  My greatest concerns were to ensure that my staff would not be displaced, that the Nomad venue, name and philosophy would live on to continue benefiting Oakland, Berkeley and beyond, and that the business would remain to inspire others like it, both in the Nomad neighborhood and elsewhere.


I am delighted that the incoming owners not only share our philosophy, but have the experience and inspiration necessary to live up to our reputation without living in our shadow.  Nomad’s accomplishments under the new ownership will continue to bring me a sense of personal pride, and I will enjoy watching it grow and thrive.



I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has ever supported Nomad Cafe with their business,  loyalty, and friendship.  I’m honored to have been a part of building this institution and I’m thrilled that the transition is not a goodbye.  Nomad is my neighborhood cafe and I look forward to continuing to be a part of the Nomad Community.



Christopher Waters



— Eric
Klein