WELCOME TO KOREATOWN NORTHGATE!
YOU’LL FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IN KONO!
The KONO District stands out as a distinctive and captivating neighborhood teeming with diverse communities. It serves as a hub for businesses catering to Korean-American, Somalian, and Eritrean populations, featuring an eclectic mix of mom-and-pop shops, traditional and modern restaurants and bars, and vibrant galleries. Notably, it is home to the Sutter Health Alta Bates-Summit Medical Center and new housing developments like Telegraph Arts, Town 29, and Forma, adding 482 residential units. The new Moxy Hotel, with 172 guest rooms and outdoor terrace space, offers convenient accommodations near Fox and Paramount Theaters. Established as an arts and entertainment district, KONO promises even more housing and businesses, ensuring a dynamic and thriving community.
We’ve recently updated the KONO Business Directory on our website. You’ll find what you’re looking for in KONO! Our directory showcases an array of local businesses, encouraging you to shop local and support the unique charm of our community. Please contact us for any changes or additions. Have an idea for a business you want to see in our district? Let us know!
Support Local Businesses
Discover the vibrant mix of local businesses that make KONO unique. Our district is home to a diverse array of restaurants, boutiques, salons, creative studios, wellness centers, and professional services—many of them small, independently owned, and rooted in the community. Whether you're looking for a quick bite, a thoughtful gift, or a place to recharge, you'll find it here. Explore our business directory and experience the culture, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that define the heart of Oakland. Supporting KONO means supporting local!
District Projects
KONO is more than a cultural district—we’re a community in action. From safety improvements like district-wide security cameras and crime surveys to beautification efforts including murals, street art, and public space upgrades, our projects are designed to uplift and protect our neighborhood. Every initiative reflects our commitment to making KONO a safer, more vibrant, and welcoming place for all who live, work, and visit here.
Security Camera Footage Requests
The KONO District maintains a network of security cameras throughout the district to support community safety efforts.
If you’ve experienced an incident such as a break-in, vandalism, or other safety concern within the KONO District, you may submit a request for available camera footage related to a specific date, time, and location.
Footage requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to availability, privacy considerations, and applicable policies. Submitting a request does not guarantee that footage exists or can be released.
Upcoming Events in KONO
Oakland First Fridays
Oakland First Fridays is Oakland's monthly celebration of arts, culture, food and community. It happens on the first Friday of the month on Telegraph Avenue from West Grand to 27th Street. It draws up to 30,000 people from Oakland and the surrounding area to celebrate our community. Over the years it has served as an incubator for many Oakland artists and small businesses, a driver of economic growth in KONO and the rest of downtown, as documented in this report on its economic impact, and a major factor in Oakland’s resurgence as an arts destination (evidenced by the fact that Oakland is the only North American destination in National Geographic’s Places to Visit 2019 cited for its culture).
Next event: TBD
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: NOVEMBER OAKLAND FIRST FRIDAYS CANCELLED AND DECEMBER IS AT RISK.
With heavy hearts, we announce that Oakland First Fridays will not take place in November due to ongoing funding challenges.
This was not an easy decision. For more than a decade, Oakland First Fridays has served as a gathering place for our community, celebrating Oakland’s creativity, culture, small businesses, artists, and the people who make our city special. Behind every event is a tremendous amount of work, resources, and financial responsibility, and unfortunately, we do not currently have the funding necessary to safely and sustainably produce our November event.
While we are disappointed, we are not giving up on December just yet. We are actively working to raise the funds needed to bring our community back together for one more celebration this year. But we cannot do it alone.
We are asking our community, local businesses, corporate partners, and everyone who believes in the importance of Oakland First Fridays to please consider making a donation. Every dollar counts. Whether you can give $1, $10, $25, or more, your contribution brings us one step closer to keeping this tradition alive.
Our community has shown us time and time again what is possible when Oakland comes together. Now, we need that same community to stand with us.
❤️ HELP US BRING OAKLAND FIRST FRIDAYS BACK IN DECEMBER!
Please donate, share our message, tag a business that may be willing to support us, and help spread the word. If you have ever enjoyed a night on Telegraph, supported a local vendor, discovered a new artist, or experienced the magic of Oakland First Fridays, this is an opportunity to help protect something that means so much to our city.
We are more than an event. We are a platform for small businesses, a space for artists, a source of economic activity, and a celebration of Oakland's identity.
Let's work together to keep this space alive.
Donate today. Every dollar counts. Every share matters. Every supporter makes a difference.
📩 Sponsorship and partnership inquiries: sponsors@oaklandfirstfridays.org
Thank you for standing with Oakland First Fridays. We hope to see you in December.
With gratitude and love for Oakland,
The Oakland First Fridays Team
#OaklandFirstFridays #Oakland #SupportLocal #SaveOaklandFirstFridays #EveryDollarCounts #OaklandCommunity
What’s New in KONO
KONO Is Glowing! Bistro Lights Are Up!
Telegraph Avenue is shining a little brighter! KONO is excited to celebrate the installation of the new Bistro Street Lights, bringing a warm, welcoming glow and fresh nighttime energy to the district.
The project enhances the Telegraph Avenue corridor from 27th Street to West Grand Avenue, with lighting installed along the corridor where reliable power sources are available. Built with long term durability in mind, the lighting system is designed for year-round use with an expected lifespan of approximately 7 to 10 years and minimal ongoing maintenance.
Beyond their visual appeal, the Bistro Lights are an important part of KONO’s ongoing efforts to create a brighter and safer environment throughout the district. Increased lighting helps improve nighttime visibility and creates a more comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for pedestrians, businesses, residents and visitors enjoying Telegraph Avenue after dark. The project was specifically developed with public safety, district ambiance and the pedestrian experience in mind.
Bringing the project to life included site assessment and mapping, coordination with local merchants, property owners, power source planning, vendor coordination, and the installation of guidewires, light strands and bulbs.
The Bistro Lights add another layer of energy to Telegraph Avenue by enhancing the nighttime atmosphere, encouraging pedestrian activity and increasing visibility for our local businesses.
This project represents another investment in a safer, brighter, more vibrant and connected KONO District.
Come take a stroll down Telegraph Avenue and see KONO in a whole new light!
KONO Street Ambassadors
Pictured above is the Streetplus team: James H., Robert V, Bryon
Clean and Safe Streets
KONO contracts with StreetPlus to provide a team of street ambassadors in the district . They work to keep the corridor clean of trash and graffiti, and engage with passersby to ensure a safe district. Our KONO Ambassadors are dedicated to removing blight and pressure washing large block faces throughout the district to ensure the district the side walks are clean. StreetPlus ambassadors are wearing safety gear and focusing on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, engaging with the homeless community and keeping eye on the neighborhood.
