Action for Eli's: An Oakland Institution
The Issue
We, the undersigned patrons and supporters of Eli's Mile High Club, urge Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and our Oakland City Council representatives to intervene in the prolonged permitting and compliance issues that threaten the survival of this beloved establishment. Eli's has served the Oakland community for over 50 years, providing an oasis in a neighborhood that too often goes overlooked. Despite the current owners continued efforts to achieve compliance, the permitting process has dragged on for years without resolution. We ask that our city leadership personally review why a workable plan has taken so long to reach and take immediate action to ensure that this historic Oakland institution can continue to serve its community.
Eli’s Mile High Club was founded by Elijah “Mile High” Thornton, opening its doors at 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland in 1974. Through the years, Eli’s has changed hands many times, but following Eli’s tragic passing, the name of the club has never changed — a testament to the legacy he started. Many legends have graced this stage, including James Brown, Etta James, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and B.B. King, among many others, earning Eli’s its reputation as the “Home of the West Coast Blues.” The club’s renown reached so far that even The Rolling Stones would visit whenever they were in the Bay Area, drawn by the California blues experience.
For the past ten years, Eli’s has welcomed artists of all genres of music and regularly donated its stage to fundraisers for local and international nonprofits. Its iconic patio has become an oasis where patrons enjoy food, drinks, play pool, gather with friends, attend vintage clothing fairs, art markets, or simply a quiet place to read a book.
Please read and sign this petition for this vital Oakland institution and its beloved space. We need your help getting the proper authorities at Oakland City Hall to look at our case, understand Eli’s importance to the arts and culture of Oakland, and resolve the road blocks standing in the way of Eli's survival.
1,409
The Issue
We, the undersigned patrons and supporters of Eli's Mile High Club, urge Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and our Oakland City Council representatives to intervene in the prolonged permitting and compliance issues that threaten the survival of this beloved establishment. Eli's has served the Oakland community for over 50 years, providing an oasis in a neighborhood that too often goes overlooked. Despite the current owners continued efforts to achieve compliance, the permitting process has dragged on for years without resolution. We ask that our city leadership personally review why a workable plan has taken so long to reach and take immediate action to ensure that this historic Oakland institution can continue to serve its community.
Eli’s Mile High Club was founded by Elijah “Mile High” Thornton, opening its doors at 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland in 1974. Through the years, Eli’s has changed hands many times, but following Eli’s tragic passing, the name of the club has never changed — a testament to the legacy he started. Many legends have graced this stage, including James Brown, Etta James, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and B.B. King, among many others, earning Eli’s its reputation as the “Home of the West Coast Blues.” The club’s renown reached so far that even The Rolling Stones would visit whenever they were in the Bay Area, drawn by the California blues experience.
For the past ten years, Eli’s has welcomed artists of all genres of music and regularly donated its stage to fundraisers for local and international nonprofits. Its iconic patio has become an oasis where patrons enjoy food, drinks, play pool, gather with friends, attend vintage clothing fairs, art markets, or simply a quiet place to read a book.
Please read and sign this petition for this vital Oakland institution and its beloved space. We need your help getting the proper authorities at Oakland City Hall to look at our case, understand Eli’s importance to the arts and culture of Oakland, and resolve the road blocks standing in the way of Eli's survival.
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Petition created on October 9, 2026