So I got this idea last Tuesday while scrolling through Oakland neighborhood forums. Saw all these wild rumors about the Hells Angels spot near East 12th Street. Figured instead of reading nonsense, why not actually walk around there myself? Grabbed my notebook, laced up my sneakers, and hopped on the bus towards International Blvd.
First Impressions Down International Blvd
Got off near the AutoZone and started walking east. Sun was beating down hard – should’ve worn sunscreen honestly. First thing I noticed? The area around that big gray building people whisper about is… weirdly normal. Like, directly across the street there’s this little convenience store called Mama Lu’s with dusty windows. Bought a lukewarm soda just to chat with the owner. Dude was just stacking cans, didn’t even blink when I asked about the neighborhood. “We sell chips and lottery tickets, that’s all I know,” he shrugged.
Things Nobody Tells You
- Elementary school playground – Literally one block down from the clubhouse. Heard kids screaming kickball chants at recess.
- That Vietnamese pho place – Smelled amazing, had like 15 plastic chairs inside. Ordered takeout later – legit broth.
- Auto repair shops EVERYWHERE – Counted three within walking distance. Mechanics were elbow-deep in engines, completely ignoring tourists taking photos.
- Random “Hippie Hill” mural – Behind a chicken shack? Somebody painted giant psychedelic mushrooms beside a dumpster.
What Actually Happened
Hung around for two hours pretending to check parking signs. Saw exactly one leather vest guy – he was carrying groceries into a house three streets over. Meanwhile, actual neighborhood stuff happened:
– Old lady watering geraniums in milk jugs
– Uber Eats driver delivering Chinese food
– Construction crew jackhammering concrete
– High school kids vaping behind the liquor store
Took notes near that building around 3 PM. Guy on a Harley revved past – scared the hell out of a pigeon but otherwise? Nothing. Felt silly staring at a parking lot full of normal cars and an empty patio. Security camera above the door was the only mildly interesting thing. Even the graffiti nearby was boring (“Taco 4 Life” with a poorly drawn avocado).
Final Takeaways
Honestly, walked away disappointed in how boring it felt. The mystery evaporated when you realize people are just living their lives around there. Noticed Oakland PD parked down the block – they looked more tired than I felt. Would I go again? Only for that pho place. Real talk: People online make it sound like some action movie set when it’s mostly muffler shops and families struggling with parallel parking.
