Released on = January 6, 2006, 6:58 am

Press Release Author = LA JONES & ASSOCIATES

Industry = Retail

Press Release Summary = Shop and Save in Oakland\'s Heartlands.

Merchant Directory Now Available with
over 200 Merhchant Listings.

Shopping just got a whole lot easier in Central East Oakland thanks to the new
"Oakland Heartland Merchants Directory" produced by Councilperson Desley Brooks and
the District 6 Main Street Project. Councilperson Brooks said the Directory, which
is hot off the press, serves two functions; it helps to market the wealth of
products and services available in the business districts within Central East
Oakland and it provides its users with a comprehensive shopping guide at their
fingertips.

Press Release Body = SHOP AND SAVE IN OAKLAND\'S HEARTLANDS

HEARTLAND'S MERCHANT DIRECTORY NOW AVAILABLE
OVER 200 MERCHANT LISTINGS - GET YOUR COPY TODAY

Oakland, CA (January 3, 2006) - Shopping just got a whole lot easier in Central East
Oakland thanks to the new "Oakland Heartland Merchants Directory" produced by
Councilperson Desley Brooks and the District 6 Main Street Project. Councilperson
Brooks said the Directory, which is hot off the press, serves two functions; it
helps to market the wealth of products and services available in the business
districts within Central East Oakland and it provides its users with a comprehensive
shopping guide at their fingertips.

Central East Oakland has five (5) business districts: Foothill-Seminary,
Havenscourt-Bancroft, Eastmont-MacArthur, International Blvd., and Millsmont. We
call these areas collectively the "Oakland Heartlands". The Heartlands have a
variety of shopping, service and eating opportunities; from national retailers like
Ross, Auto Zone, Athletes Foot and Best Hardware to local home grown experiences
like Heavenly Grounds, Golden Finish Detail, 5 Points Bar-B-Q, and Sudear's Flowers.
The Directory is designed to help Oakland residents discover these special venues
and experience the charm of shopping in the comfort and convenience of these
neighborhood business districts.

"Marketing is always a difficult task for small businesses", said David Macon,
Co-owner of Sudear's Flowers. "Thanks to Councilperson Brooks the businesses in the
Heartlands have an impressive and professional marketing tool". The Directory has
close to 200 merchant listings. It includes retail, fashion, and home furnishing
stores, hair salons, eateries, car service professionals, and many more local
businesses.

Councilperson Brooks has been working with the Central East Oakland business owners
to revitalize the business districts within Central East Oakland. To that end,
Councilperson Brooks established the District 6 Main Street project and has worked
to make infrastructure improvements, add signage, destination mark the areas, and
help build capacity within the business districts. The Directory is yet another
project borne out of these efforts. Oakland Heartlands' Merchant directories may be
found at most of the establishments listed in the Directory, or at Councilperson
Brooks\' Eastmont Town Center or City Hall offices.

You can also download an electronic version of the directory. Here's how:

1. Go to http://www.shopoakland.com/explore.html, where you'll see a list of Oakland
shopping districts.

2. Click on links for *any* of the Heartlands Districts: choose Eastmont,
Havenscourt/Foothill/Bancroft, International Blvd., or Millsmont.

3. Click on the "Shop & Save in Oakland's Heartlands" shopping guide link, which
you'll see on the right hand side. This will download a 750MB pdf file.

###

Media Contact:
LaNiece Jones
510.568.5899
lajpr@aol.com


Web Site = http://www.shopoakland.com

Contact Details = LaNiece Jones
lajones&associates
3871 Piedmont Avenue #53
Oakland, CA 94611
lajpr@aol.com
www.lajonesmedia.com