Spotlight on Tyranny Allen, Oakland Entrepreneur, Artist, and EBALDC Commercial Tenant 

EBALDC is the largest nonprofit commercial landlord in the East Bay, with our Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Department managing over 300,000 square feet of commercial space for over 100 small businesses and nonprofits at 14 properties in Oakland and Emeryville. But EBALDC’s CRE Department isn’t an arms’-length landlord. EBALDC staff, like Associate Director May Mui, and Commercial Property Administrator Katrina Watts-McFarland, work closely with our small business owners—many of whom are women, immigrants, and/or business owners of color—to help meet their changing business needs.

One of those business owners is Tyranny Allen, one of our longtime business owners at EBALDC-operated Swan’s Market in Old Oakland. We spoke to him recently about his growth as a businessman and his experiences as an EBALDC tenant. [Note: this interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.]

How did you first get involved with EBALDC?

When EBALDC first got Swan’s Market, the space was Lucky AJ’s–a clothing store. And then it went out of business, and I bought the barber shop and renamed it Lucky’s. That was 26-27 years ago. And back in those days, EBALDC was one of the few places around here that gave opportunities to young entrepreneurs, especially of color. I’ve been in business at Swan’s ever since.

Was Lucky’s your first business?

I was an entrepreneur since college. I was 23. My first company was a company called Kickflip – a skateboarding clothing company.

You have many businesses now, 8 active businesses in downtown Oakland alone. Are you still actively involved in Lucky’s Barber Shop?

I still check on Lucky’s every week. This is my second round of barbers now. I had the same barbers for over 22 years. The oldest is my brother, who’s been there that long cutting hair. We kept community in the area going by giving haircuts, you know? When I started out, I wanted to be the first black Supercuts.

Has working with EBALDC staff had an impact on your business and its longevity?

EBALDC is and was a great foundation for a lot of entrepreneurs because they gave discounted rates to minority-owned businesses – even with them being a nonprofit. With May, I’ve been working with her for so long. Without her, I wouldn’t exist—my business [Lucky’s Barber Shop] wouldn’t exist. So many times, I was like “I’m done. I’m out.” Especially with Covid and the pandemic, when I couldn’t open for like a year. [Running businesses] has been hard.

How did working with EBALDC make a difference?

With my team at Lucky’s, we preach consistency in the work we do (haircuts). EBALDC has really pioneered that by helping young black entrepreneurs and giving them a shot to build their brand. Besides Lucky’s, EBALDC has supported my marketing business by having me do the windows and mural for the 100th anniversary of Swan’s Market and also the art on the California Hotel windows. I still do a lot of brand work.

It’s rare to own a business for 27 years. I think I’m the last original member of Swan’s [businesses]. [May]’s always making sure I’m on point, that I know what’s going on with the City and requirements, that I take care of what I need to.

Having a successful business helped me to where I now have 8 active businesses in downtown Oakland [and other businesses outside of Oakland]. In addition to Lucky’s Barber Shop (located at 948 Clay Street), the Oakland businesses include the Tyranny Allen Gallery, which showcases the work of artists of color; a marketing and branding company called Marketing Kings; Cookiebar Creamery, an ice cream company; Torch Oakland, a night club, and a casual restaurant, Winky Dinky Dogs, that serves up one of the best hot dogs in the Bay Area according to the SF Chronicle.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, EBALDC’s Commercial Real Estate team supported our small business owners by helping them brainstorm solutions to funding, infrastructure, and other adjustments to their business plans. Our team worked with our local entrepreneurs by sharing information about funding opportunities and supporting them with payment plans and adjustments as needed. Thanks to funding from JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo Bank that supported CRE’s technical assistance work, to date, 95% of EBALDC’s commercial portfolio is still in operation.

Support EBALDC on Giving Tuesday and our End of Year Campaign so we can continue to go above and beyond for our commercial tenants.