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April 2022 by Marina
It's like getting into a treasure room. Jocelyn's (the owner) goal is and always was to have a free store, but she needs to pay the store's rent so she does plant sales. I don't know anybody more knowledgeable about plants than her, I got mine from her ages ago and they're thriving. Free UP is open only on Sundays now from 12pm to 3pm. Definitely one of my favorite places.
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March 2022 by Langdon Tower
Had a couple bad interactions with the owner of this place. She sold us a succulent that died shortly after we brought it home, after following her directions for care. She was very rude and arrogant when we tried to return the succulent. The "fund raiser" she advertises constantly is to support her own store. Shady AF.
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March 2022 by N. R.
This store is a treasure of independence. Beautiful plants of all sizes are for sale on Sundays, many in unusual containers. The owner knows her plants and the plants glow with love and attention. If you are unfamiliar with a plant she will tell you how care for it. Outside are tables of donated household items that are free for the taking. A different approach to our consumer culture.
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March 2022 by Heather Ross
I’ve been to the free market and plant sale several times and had a good experience (brought a few things to donate, took a few free things, bought a piece of art, recommended it to friends) - until I actually bought a plant from the woman who runs Free Oakland Up. I had been looking for a specific type of air plant and she had several for $25 each. A little bit steep, but I wanted to support her and the market. The one I picked looked a little paler than the others, with a few black speckles forming on inner leaves, but I figured maybe it was older than the others? She said it was healthy. She told me “It’s a desert plant - don’t water it. Just occasionally bring it in the bathroom when you shower to give it a little extra humidity.” So I followed her instructions to the letter - never watering it except for one trip to the bathroom when it sat on the sink during my shower. Within two weeks it was completely dead from mold. Curiously, two other free air plants I got from Free Oakland Up also died from mold in the same period… I brought the $25 plant back to the woman in charge and explained what had happened. She pulled the plant apart in front of me, told me it was moldy and that I must have overwatered it. I asked if there was any way I could have another, healthy one since this one more than likely had mold when I bought it. She handed me a $5 air plant of a different species instead and said dismissively “This one’s from the jungle. It’ll be easier for you to take care of.” I just went back to my car and cried. Why humiliate a customer like that? I’ve taken care of many air plants - none have died of mold with a few days except for those from Free Oakland Up. So just a word of advice to any other customers - please check that your plants are healthy before you buy them, or consider finding your houseplants elsewhere ?.
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December 2021 by Phyllis
Operated by a nice ladyGreat plant selectionFound some items I needed too
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October 2021 by JoAnn SkyWatcher
This is a very different kind of store. The first item is free. They are open on Sundays: noon to three. I went there yesterday and the items available to take were on the outside of the building. There were plants on sale inside the building. Jocelyn, the owner, said I could go in and in tothe plant area. There was a nice display of plants. I ended up getting a bouquet/cluster of air plants. She had some that were flowering, and her assistant showed me where my plant was getting ready to flower, and how to take care of it.This is a fun place to check out. I will definitely come here again.
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March 2021 by JoAnn SkyWatcher, EFT
This is a very different kind of store. The first item is free. They are open on Sundays: noon to three. I went there yesterday and the items available to take were on the outside of the building. There were plants on sale inside the building. Jocelyn, the owner, said I could go in and in tothe plant area. There was a nice display of plants. I ended up getting a bouquet/cluster of air plants. She had some that were flowering, and her assistant showed me where my plant was getting ready to flower, and how to take care of it.This is a fun place to check out. I will definitely come here again.
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March 2021 by Anh-Dao T.
I can't believe I've never heard of this place before. Their monthly plant sale fundraisers seem legendary, based on the large crowd I found waiting to get in last weekend. I first heard of Free Oakland UP because I came across their upcoming Sunday sale, which helps to fund their rent and other expenses. If you aren't familiar with their concept, they are a community store that truly helps the people. Every single person is allowed one free item per day. Imagine that! Of course you can get more items by purchasing them but I love the welcoming offer to the entire community. I can't think of a better place to support. The plant sale itself was a lot of fun. I am a plant newbie so I can't tell you the names but the entire front of the store was filled with plants and trees of all kinds. I was looking for an airplant or something else to hang, but when I came across two mini palms, I fell in love. They can fit in the palm of my hands but as someone who loves everything island life, I could not resist. Each palm was $10, which was very reasonable. My only tip would be to go EARLY. The sale began at 12 noon and I showed up at 12:45PM. It took about an hour before I was allowed in, since they were distancing and only letting in 20 people at a time. Please please please support them if you are a plant lover. Every second Sunday - mark your calendars!
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March 2020 by Nelli G.
Such a great concept. I came in for a plant and realized that this was not your usual thrift store. I walked away with a great cactus that helped pay rent and an awesome treasure, a picnic basket that I got to pick out for free :)
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February 2020 by Jordan H.
What an incredibly cool space. Free Oakland UP is a community store where you are allowed to take one item per day FOR FREE. Yes, for free. Just find something you like and walk out. Like those fancy new Amazon stores. Except this experience is truly free and so much more rewarding. My girlfriend and I came on a Sunday afternoon and there were a few other customers inside. The owner greeted us (and offered us homemade shortbread cookies!). After looking around, we were about to walk out without taking anything (we were just window shopping), and the owner stopped us and said "you can't leave without taking something - it's the rule." : ) My girlfriend ending up finding an awesome antique tea set and I found a hardcover copy of Phil Knight's memoir. They also have monthly plant fundraisers where they sell plants to help pay the rent. We will be back for their next fundraiser. They share a small shopping plaza with Loard's Ice Cream, so there is plenty of parking. FYI it isn't in the best neighborhood in the world, but I wouldn't worry. Oakland!
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January 2020 by caroline v.
I had read about Free Oakland UP but it took a while to finally visit the space. My mission was to find mid-century stools and lo and behold, it was there waiting for me. I also found wonderful items for my altar, which I convinced my kids they needed for FREE. Jocelyn was really good natured about it. I plan to come back for the beautiful live plant arrangements. This art/thrift/free space is an Oakland treasure.
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December 2019 by Owen L.
I love this place, both for finding new awesome items and crafting ideas, and for getting rid of stuff I'm no longer using. We always give them our best and most arty stuff, before bringing the rest of our detritus to goodwill. Newsflash: goodwill is not a great organization anymore, if it ever was. But this place is the real deal and a great way to give back to the local community. They always have records and books and something unexpected that you didn't know you were needing but you suddenly do.
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December 2019 by Jay S.
I drove by Free Oakland UP multiple times a week for about four years before giving in to curiosity and pulling into the parking lot for a look-see. Why didn't I do it sooner? You just have to love the generous spirit of this place--a funky little thrift store in which most items are free (one "treasure" per person per day). In the year or so that I've been visiting, I've picked up books, a few Mason jars, three Christmas cookie tins, many handfuls of matchbooks, a vintage alarm clock (so comfortingly analog in a digital world), several of those nice wooden clothes hangers that don't ruin the shoulders of shirts and jackets, a 9" tart tin, and today, I was delighted to come away with a cast-iron cornstick pan. So great! Visiting this fun little shop always lifts my spirits. Now I give all suitable donate-ables to Free Oakland UP. A deep bow to proprietress Jocelyn for giving items non-landfill homes and for the generous gift of her own time and energy toward this venture.
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November 2019 by Ruth Villasenor
Great concept, amazing treasures
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October 2019 by virginia a.
This little store is a spot of sunshine. If you come in and peruse the curiosities and thrift items, you'll be rewarded. Plus there's art to gaze at and plants for sale on Sundays (and I think plants are sold any day). Great little thrift store and the lady who runs it is a good neighbor and community builder.
