Worker Power
Understory is rooted in solidarity:
Understory was founded in 2020 by Lily Fahsi-Haskell, Jenabi Pareja, Nino Serrano, and Florencio Esquivel to address the impact the COVID-19 pandemic was having on workers of color within the restaurant industry.
With diverse backgrounds as chefs, artists, and movement organizers, we dared to create a collaborative restaurant model that centers worker agency, access, inclusion, and radical community care.
Our governance model ensures decisions are made collectively, cultivating trust, accountability, and empowerment.
Understory is organized around a guiding set of political principles:
Empowering and Uplifting Communities of Color
Supporting Environmentally and Racially Just Food Systems
Affirming and Upholding Disability Justice
Acknowledging Our Role in Resisting Gentrification
Practicing Radical Honesty and Critical Self-Reflection
Building Economic Stability for Workers of Color
Disrupting State Violence
The word "Understory" comes from the natural world, referring to the layer of forest that grows beneath the canopy, where diverse plants and life forms grow in harmony while supporting and nourishing the ecosystem as a whole.
This term reflects the power of worker-ownership, where our collective strength is sustained by relying on one another while growing together.
Accessibility at Understory
🚪 Entrance & Seating
Our entrance is step-free, equipped with a ramp.
The front door is manual but light-weight and easy to open.
Our dining area includes tables that are wheelchair accessible (open clearance underneath and spaced for mobility).
🅿️ Parking & Transit
There is street parking with curb cuts near the entrance.
We are located near the bus stop at 34th Avenue & International Blvd and Fruitvale BART Station.
🚻 Restrooms
Our restrooms are ADA-compliant, featuring grab bars in both bathrooms, and each bathroom has an extra-large wheelchair-accessible stall.
All restrooms are gender-neutral and single-stall.
🐾 Service Animals
Service animals are always welcome, per ADA guidelines.
🧘 Sensory-Friendly Info
Our space has ambient music and has bright lighting during the day.
Let us know if you need a quiet space or specific seating—we’ll do our best to accommodate.
📞 Contact Us
If you have questions about accessibility or specific needs before your visit, feel free to reach out:
📧 Email:
☎️ Phone:
We’re always open to feedback and committed to improving access for all.
At Understory, we are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible space for all members of our community. We believe that good food should be enjoyed in a space that supports dignity, comfort, and connection for everyone, including people with disabilities.
🚍 Getting Here by Public Transit
AC Transit – Line 1T (Tempo)
Route: The 1T Tempo Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line runs along International Blvd, connecting Uptown Oakland to San Leandro BART.
Nearest Stop: The closest Tempo station is at 34th Avenue & International Blvd, just steps from our entrance.
Service Hours: Buses operate frequently throughout the day and night, with intervals of 10 minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes in the evening.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
Nearest Station: Fruitvale BART Station is approximately a 10-minute walk (0.5 miles) from our location.
Connecting Bus: From Fruitvale BART, you can take the 1T Tempo bus directly to the 34th Avenue & International Blvd stop.
🚗 Driving & Parking
Street Parking
Availability: Metered street parking is available along International Blvd and adjacent side streets.
Free Parking: Parking is free on Sundays.
Logistic of Visiting Understory