The Forge, a popular pizzeria at Oakland’s Jack London Square, has closed after 12 years of business. The restaurant shut its doors on Thursday, located at 66 Franklin St., according to a social media post.
“However, this is not the end. It’s just the beginning of an exciting new chapter,” the post said.
Owner Michael Karp confirmed that The Forge will open two new locations in the East Bay. A new spot will open at the Oakland International Airport in January, and a second location will take over the former Beer Baron space in Rockridge, at 5900 College Ave., in early 2025. The lease for the Rockridge location has not yet been finalized, Karp said in an email to the Chronicle.
The Forge was known for its sourdough pizza, cooked in a wood-fired oven, and snacks like fried cheese curds. It was the first venture from Les Bon Temps Restaurants, a partnership between Karp (who owns Barbacoa and Table 24 in Orinda) and Bob Burke (of Pat Kuleto Restaurant Group and Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.). Jeff Krupman, who later founded the popular San Francisco pizzeria PizzaHacker, was once the director of pizza R&D at The Forge. The restaurant also opened a location in Napa, which remains open.
Karp also announced plans to open a new restaurant at the Deer Ridge Country Club in Brentwood by spring.
When it first opened in 2013, The Forge was seen as a symbol of Jack London Square’s revitalization. Its closure comes amid a series of restaurant closures in the area, including the departure of the large waterfront French restaurant Left Bank in November.
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