While football fans speculated breathlessly about the return of Marshawn Lynch to the Raiders, Beast Mode, the “athleisure” apparel company he founded, celebrated its first anniversary in Oakland.

Initially run out of a two-bedroom apartment, the company now has locations at 811 Broadway and another in Seattle.

When Lynch officially opened his flagship in Old Oakland on February 5, 2016, Mayor Libby Schaaf proclaimed it Beast Mode Day, noting that the store’s opening was “part of a vision” she had for the city.

“To have somebody from Oakland who goes off and accomplishes great things and then brings that love and dedication back to The Town, where he can lift up that unique Oakland flavor, can create jobs and economic vitality that benefit other Oaklanders — that is what we are here to celebrate today,” said Schaaf.

Each piece of clothing and accessory prominently features the brand’s logo, but the in-house created designs also feature quotes from Lynch or provocative statements like “Beast Lives Matter.”

In the early days, when the company operated out of an apartment, each member of the family played a role in bringing products from concept to market, said Darell Reed, a Beast Mode co-founder..

“When an order came through, one of us would make the shirt, another would package it, and someone else would ship it off,” he said. The distinctive “B” represents not just the brand, but also determination. “Beast Mode is inside of me,” said Reed. “We are all Beast Mode.”

The store attracts a wide range of customers: a Seahawks fan in from out of town who’s looking for an Oakland-branded item shops next to a family who dropped in to buy matching T-shirts and hats for a day out. Everyone who walks through the door is welcome, but “we have learned not to just do business with anyone,” Reed added.

In addition to supporting Oakland artists with exhibitions, Beast Mode does in-store events that not only promote the brand, but also give back, like a recent guest barber who also gave 30 free kids’ cuts, or the store’s recent participation in the 1000 Ties for 1000 Guys clothing drive.

Beast Mode also supports The Fam 1st Family Foundation, a charity Lynch co-founded with Giants quarterback Joshua Johnson, also from Oakland. Working in the Bay Area and around the country, the group helps underprivileged kids find self-esteem via academic and athletic achievement.

Lynch’s talent on the field was clear since his days at Oakland Technical High, but Beast Mode’s success catches even Reed by surprise. “It is hard sometimes,” he said, but, “we really doin’ this.”

Beast Mode (811 Broadway) is open from 11 – 6, Monday to Saturday.