Nabolom Bakery Closes After 50 Years, Citing Political Backlash and High Costs

Nabolom Bakery in Berkeley Closes After Five Decades

Nabolom Bakery & Pizzeria, a well-known establishment in Berkeley’s Elmwood District, closed its doors this past weekend after serving the community for 50 years. The bakery, located on Russell Street, has long been considered a staple among local businesses, offering baked goods and pizzas to generations of customers.

Economic and Operational Challenges

In an announcement made via Facebook, Nabolom’s co-owners Julia Elliott and Sabra Stepak detailed the multitude of factors that led to the decision to close. Among these were the difficulties of sustaining a high-volume business model, a low return on investment, and ongoing concerns over making the business affordable for their workers. The co-owners noted, “We raised prices and the gross stayed flat. Raising prices is more consequential for some customers than others, we didn’t love that.” They also referenced the broader struggles within the food business, including competition for skilled workers and challenges in attracting and retaining customers.

Worker Affordability and Rising Living Costs

Elliott and Stepak drew comparisons to the original Nabolom collective, which dissolved a decade ago. “We find ourselves experiencing many of the problems the original Nabolom collective had in their last years—affordability/living expenses for our workers—they can’t afford to live in Berkeley and work at a bakery—competition for skilled workers and customers, a low ROI for capital investments,” they wrote in their statement.

Political Backlash as a Contributing Factor

Beyond financial pressures, Nabolom Bakery cited political controversies as impacting their business. The co-owners acknowledged that the bakery had been vocal about its political stances, which included a “defund the police” mural and a “Teach Palestine” poster on the premises. According to their statement, the bakery experienced backlash over these displays. “We’ve always been upfront about our political views,” read their post. “It has now threatened our livelihood.”

Additionally, the bakery reported being removed from Instagram after reposting an image of a BART car tagged with an anti-ICE message. This social media ban, they claim, resulted in a 20% decrease in sales. They also mentioned that their opposition to up-zoning drew boycott threats on various platforms like list-serves, Reddit, and WhatsApp.

Looking Back at Five Decades in the Elmwood District

Nabolom Bakery was more than just a food business; it was a long-standing part of Berkeley’s Elmwood District, sharing the neighborhood with other notable locations such as the Elmwood Theater, Ozzie’s soda fountain, and Bill’s Trading Post. Over the decades, Nabolom built deep relationships within the community and served as a gathering place for locals.

Hope for the Bakery’s Future

Despite officially closing, Elliott and Stepak have expressed hope that a “young energetic, experienced food lover” might step in to revive the bakery and continue its legacy. They concluded their message by stating, “We did our very best & have left everything on the field. We’re proud of the relationships we’ve built and the food we made. We’re proud of being part of the Berkeley we have loved for over 50 years.”

Source: kron4.com.