A new Mexican grocery store planned for downtown Oakley has cleared its final major regulatory hurdle, but only after agreeing to cut off alcohol sales two hours before closing each night to satisfy elderly neighbors living right above the store. La Colmena Market, set to occupy a 5,600-square-foot space at 2603 Main St., is now working through its final hiring process ahead of a possible late-September opening, according to owner Wajdan Mohamed.
The market sits on the ground floor of the Twin Oaks Senior Residence, a 130-unit affordable senior housing complex approved back in October 2019, according to Contra Costa News. City planners originally required ground-floor commercial space as a condition of making that senior housing development viable, meaning La Colmena is filling a spot the city itself mandated years before the grocery store existed. On July 7, the Oakley Planning Commission unanimously approved a Conditional Use Permit allowing the market to sell distilled spirits, beer, and wine under a Type 21 off-sale license, following a May meeting where commissioners delayed their decision to study potential neighborhood impacts.
Seniors Upstairs Raised Alarms Over Noise and Parking
During public hearings in May and July, several residents of the adjacent Twin Oaks apartments opposed the liquor license application, citing concerns about loitering, noise, traffic congestion, and parking shortages, according to the same Contra Costa News report. Some residents argued that shoppers could simply buy alcohol at nearby established stores like Lucky's instead of adding another off-sale outlet to the neighborhood. The debate placed city officials in the position of balancing a struggling ground-floor commercial space against the everyday concerns of the seniors living directly above it.
To address that opposition, Mohamed submitted a formal commitment to voluntarily halt alcohol sales at 8:00 PM daily, two hours ahead of the supermarket's planned 10:00 PM closing time. Under that plan, alcohol products will be secured in a restricted area once the cutoff hits each night. Store representatives told city officials that alcohol sales are projected to account for just 5% of total revenue, but that securing the permit was still considered vital to prevent grocery shoppers from taking their business to full-service competitors, per the Contra Costa News report.
Cameras, Signage and Police Input Shaped Security Plan
As part of its security policies filed with the city, La Colmena Market agreed to operate high-definition CCTV cameras, post prominent anti-loitering signage, and avoid exterior alcohol promotional advertising. Those measures were coordinated alongside input from the Oakley Police Department, according to the city's filings. The concessions appear designed to reassure both commissioners and the senior residents next door that the new alcohol sales wouldn't bring the disruptions they feared.
Beyond the liquor license fight, the store itself is shaping up as a full-service Mexican grocery. Plans call for a seven-aisle layout carrying everyday staples like bread and milk alongside a carnicería meat department offering premium cuts and fresh meat. The market will also include La Colmena Panadería, a bakery preparing fresh Mexican pastries daily using traditional recipes, including sweet breads and filled pastries, per promotional material cited by WhatNow.
Chipotle-Style Restaurant and Dessert Bar Round Out the Concept
An interior restaurant will serve Mexican-inspired food using a format similar to Chipotle, letting customers choose ingredients from displayed options, though the full menu is still being finalized. A dessert and beverage area will round out the store with ice cream, smoothies, and coffee. The retail concept aligns with Oakley's demographics: U.S. Census Bureau estimates from 2024 show that 34.7% of the city's population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, making it the second-largest demographic group in the city.
La Colmena Supermarket kicked off its public promotional campaign on social media on August 1, telling local residents that preparations for the opening were underway. With hiring nearly complete and the liquor permit now secured, Mohamed has said the store could open its doors as soon as late September.
