Albany's Commercial Areas

Small and Medium Sized Business

Solano Avenue is a pedestrian-oriented street featuring grocers, florists, and charming retail shops, and is particularly popular for its variety of restaurants. Typical of a small-town “Main Street,” Solano Avenue is a strong regional attraction and is visited by thousands of shoppers and strollers each year.

San Pablo Avenue is a well-traveled boulevard of medium-sized storefronts with high traffic counts and great retail potential. Possibilities for combining properties can be explored here. It is currently typified by low-scale, expansive land uses such as auto-related businesses and strip shopping centers.

Redevelopment Area

Eastshore Highway and Cleveland Avenues provide high visibility locations along Interstates 80 and 580. Larger retail, light manufacturing, warehousing and other industrial land uses are currently accommodated in this area. Excellent opportunity for retail use.

Local Market

With a population of 17,000 and 350,000 people living within a fifteen mile radius, Albany is part of a large regional retail market including Berkeley, Kensington and El Cerrito. Located at the juncture of Interstates 80 and 580, the City is traversed by major surface arteries connecting Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Albany's public transportation access includes regional bus system service and a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station on its northern border. Oakland International Airport is less than a half-hour away.

With a level of taxable sales per resident lower than most East Bay cities, Albany is a prime target for enterprising businesses. The involvement of residents in the development of Solano and San Pablo Avenues indicates strong local interest in better access to shops and services. With high incomes comparable to those found elsewhere in the East Bay, Albany residents comprise a potentially lucrative retail market.

The City of Albany is committed to serving business with lower development fees than surrounding cities and a friendly can-do attitude towards commercial improvement. City staff strive to employ an entrepreneurial spirit when assisting new businesses.