DeLauer's newsstand in downtown Oakland has new owners

OAKLAND - It's a done deal. Charlie De Lauer, the 92-year-oldowner of the historic DeLauer's Super Newsstand in downtown Oaklandhas sold the store to his clerk, Fasil Lemma, and Lemma's businesspartner, Abdo Shrooh, owner of an East Oakland market.

The new owners said they intend to convert the newsstand at 1310Broadway into a coffee cafe. "We'll have Internet wireless, thewhole thing," Lemma said.

Standing in their new store this morning, Lemma and Shrooh werebubbling with excitement and praise for De Lauer and his wife,Natalie, 87, who sold them the business for an undisclosed price andassumption of the store's considerable debt.

They added that the support of the City of Oakland and thestore's many fans and longtime customers have given them a bigboost.

They have plans for the 101-year-old institution and they havebig problems, they said.

Lemma said that after they reach agreement with the building'slandlord, they intend to convert part of the store into a cafeserving coffee and other items.

Customers can count on good coffee, Lemma added. Both new ownersare Ethiopian natives, a country where good coffee is understood andhighly valued. "We have made arrangements with a coffee company withthe machines. We have an appointment for them to come next Mondayand see the place," he said.

The biggest change will be to end DeLauer's 24-hour operation. "Iused to work graveyard and downtown Oakland is very tough aftermidnight," Lemma said. "We think that closing from midnight to 5a.m. will reduce the crime problem."

The newsstand business is very tough, Lemma said. "You just makepennies and my God, the out-of-town newspapers just stay on theshelf and books don't sell. That's why a lot of bookstores inBerkeley have closed."

But DeLauer's is like a library, an institution, he said. It'sgoing to stay. They plan to talk to the building landlord aboutchanges to make room for their cafe and for security.

Lemma and Shrooh said they're counting on help from the City ofOakland. So far, the city has been great, Lemma said. The newpartners are hoping for a small business grant from the city, theysaid.

They said that unfortunately when word of the city's support waspublicized, at least one vendor rescinded an agreement to discountthe debt the store owes.

"We're working with all the vendors," Shrooh said.

They had special thanks for DeLauer's accountant Joe Churchwardand Regine Serrano. "Without these two people helping us, the salewould have been impossible," Shrooh said.

The new owners said they have long list of people to thank aswell, including community members David Glover, Keria Williams andPaul Cobb. Oakland's deputy director of economic development hasbeen a frequent visitor and supporter, they said.

And most of all, Lemma said, he wants to say thanks to theDeLauers. "Two weeks ago at a meeting with the city and Charlie, andmy business partner, who came with the money, Charley said hewouldn't sell without my involvement.

"They put me as 50 percent owner," Lemma said. "I don't know whatto say. Charlie and Natalie changed my life. They are my family."

Contact Staff Writer William Brand at (510) 208-6454.