The hardware store. photo by mk30
The camping store. photo by mk30
Bonanza was a pair of stores about a block away from each other on International at 36th in Fruitvale (right by the Fruitvale BART). One store (at 3617 International) was a good, cheap hardware store and the other one (at 3545 International) was a good, cheap camping/outdoors/military/construction store. They were owned by the same person (Helen Slape), who was usually at one of the stores, after being founded by Helen and her husband, Jack Slape, who died circa 2009. 1
The hardware store closed in July or August of 1920, after 56 years in operation, following the owner's death in September of 2019. 1 The camping store stayed open for some time after that, but closed circa 2022. [Does anyone have more details on the closure?]
At the camping store. photo by mk30
At the hardware store. photo by mk30
Also, there's a nice mural on the side of the hardware store.
CC SA-BY Our Oakland
The sign first appeared on 3545 International when the building was constructed in 1924. The pelican at the top was added c.1941 for Martsolf Furniture.
Links and References
- A life at Bonanza Hardware The Oaklandside August 3, 2020
- Fruitvale’s Bonanza stores: Half a century of having what you need East Bay Times October 6, 2016
