La Penca Azul Is Reopening at Harbor Bay Landing
The Bay Farm Island restaurant says it's coming back after building problems, but hasn't set a date yet.
By The Alameda Pulse
La Penca Azul, the Mexican restaurant at Harbor Bay Landing on Bay Farm Island in Alameda, CA, is reopening after building problems forced it to close. The restaurant announced the news on Instagram this month, and the Oaklandside first reported it on September 22.
- Where: 891-B Island Dr., inside the Harbor Bay Landing shopping center on Bay Farm Island
- What closed it: Building problems at the shopping center; the restaurant hasn't detailed what went wrong
- Announced: Via Instagram, in a post thanking customers for sticking with the restaurant "through the good times and the challenging ones"
- Other location: La Penca Azul also runs a restaurant on Park Street
- Reopening date: Not yet announced
Why did La Penca Azul close on Bay Farm?
The restaurant hasn't said publicly what went wrong with the building, and it didn't lay out a timeline in its announcement. What we do know is where it sits: Harbor Bay Landing, the shopping center at Island Drive and Mecartney Road anchored by Safeway and CVS, a stretch of Bay Farm Island a lot of residents pass through on their way to the golf course or the ferry.
When does La Penca Azul on Bay Farm reopen?
There's no firm date yet. The Instagram post that broke the news didn't include one, and as of this week the restaurant's website listed daily hours again, a signal that a reopening is close but not yet locked in. If you've been craving their tacos and don't want to guess, the safest move is to check La Penca Azul's Instagram or call ahead before you drive over.
What happens next
For now, the Park Street location is still open if you need a fix. Once Bay Farm reopens, expect the same menu of tacos and burritos that's kept it a neighborhood regular for years, this time hopefully without the building headaches.
It's a small thing, but it matters if you live on Bay Farm Island: a closed restaurant in your own shopping center is the kind of change neighbors notice fast, and a reopening notice on Instagram is often the first anyone hears about it. The Pulse will update this story once La Penca Azul sets an actual date. In the meantime, see what else is new at the Pulse's food and restaurant coverage.
