Center Junction - Oakland

2025 CC SA-BY Our Oakland

Center Junction is the flatiron building at the intersection of Center Street, Peralta Street, and 17th Street. It was built in 1879 for William Walsh, who had a business there listed in the 1880-1881 directory and for many years after. It had commercial spaces on the ground floor, and residential spaces above. A 1901 ad says he established the business in 1877. ¹

1898 ²1901 ad ¹

An article in the Oakland Heritage Alliance News says Walsh purchased the land in 1877, and the building was built in 1879, designed by Charles Mau. ³ Mau also designed an addition in 1892.

Having frontage on both Center and Peralta, it has addresses on both, and like many addresses in Oakland, those addresses were renumbered in the 1912 renumbering. But given its unusual position, it was sometimes referred to by "the junction of Peralta and Center" without a number.

1902 Sanborn excerpt1912 Sanborn excerpt1951 Sanborn excerpt

Walsh's Cash Grocery

A 1901 ad says he established the business in 1877. ¹

The 1880-1881 directory lists William Wash (no 'l') having a retail wine and liquor business at the junction of Peralta and Center. An 1882 mention in the Tribune says: "William Walsh, of the junction house, arrived home from San Jose Thursday evening, with his newly-made wife. The house was thrown open to his many friends for the night." So presumably the directory refers to William Walsh, but the entries were misspelled.

The 1884-1885 directory lists Center Junction Saloon and Grocery, William Walsh proprietor.

1884-1885 directory

There are near-daily ads in 1885 and 1886 Tribune for Walsh's Cash Grocery.

1886 ad

By the 1898 directory, Walsh had a partner, Austin O'Brien, who had previously worked as a clerk. They branched out from groceries and wine to also sell cigars, house furnishing goods, hay, feed, and grain. It was listed under both Center Junction Cash Grocery Store and Walsh & O'Brien. As the store did in later years, they sponsored a baseball team.

1900 directory

In 1901, William Walsh bought out Austin O'Brien's share.

Employees in 1900 included Michael O'Dea, bookkeeper, and David Boyle, clerk. They join the listing in the 1903 directory at what was now called Walsh & Co.

1903 directory

In 1904, William Walsh sold his interest to O'Dea and Boyle, and retired from the grocery business.

Post-Walsh

After William Walsh left, the main business was still a grocery store for many years.

In the 1906 directory, the store is listed both under Junction Cash Grocery Store and O'Dea & Boyle.

By the 1911 directory, it was Boyle-Lawlor, with David Boyle and Gerald Lawlor. Like a lot of businesses around that time, they sponsored a baseball team. They played their home games at nearby Bay View Park, which is now better known as Raimondi Park.

After that, the store continued to change hands and names. In 1916, 1615 Center Street was listed as J.C. Boscacci & Co. as a grocery. Besides John C. Boscacci, James and Stephen Vallerga were also associated with the store.

A familiar-sounding name appears on the store in 1918, G. Ratto & Co. Except it's not Giovanni B. Ratto of Ratto's Market and Deli on Washington Street, it's Giociamo Ratto, along with Peter Celesia. Oddly enough, the 1921 directory states that G.B. Ratto & Co. operated stores at both 601 Washington and 1619 Center, but this listing of both stores under the same name is likely an error, as the main 1921 listing gives Giociamo at 1619, and Giovanni on Washington.

[a business identified as Cabiria Cafe is listed at 1624 Peralta in the 1928 directory, but newspaper references are for cafe in SF ]

A 1928 notice says Anthony Greco and Giociamo Ratto purchased the business at 1617 Center.

In 1938, Anthony Greco ran a grocery at 1618 Peralta.

[ can't find anything at the addresses in the early 1940s ]

Post-Grocery Store

By 1948, the Three Point Liquor Store was at 1624 Peralta. Unfortunately it seems to have been a target for holdups.

In 1951, the Galilee Church of God in Christ was at 1618 Peralta. Unfortunately, thieves broke in and stole their upright piano.

In 1967, the New Testament Holy Church is listed at 1621 Center, and Church of the Living God at 1618 Peralta. In 1969, the New Testament Church was listed at both addresses.

A 1955 classified lists the building sale, and notes it has 6 units: 2 four room apartments, 1 five room apartment, 1 store, and 2 churches. The building was listed for sale again in 1966, and again in 1969.

Photos from 2007 show painted signs for 3-Point Liquors as well as an ad for Pepsi. Other signage labels it Danny's Liquors, and it is still open at that point in time.

In 2025, it appears to mostly be converted to residential spaces.