About Hula
Hours: Monday to Saturday:
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The most charming and popular store in Oakland's Montclair neighborhood arrived in l997 after operating for 19 years in Berkeley as Andrea. Andrea, named after founder Andrea Faber, became the social center for the Elmwood neighborhood in Berkeley, a place to share neighborhood tales and word of mouth advice on the many delights and secrets of the pleasures of the City of Berkeley.
More than just a clothing store with a community orientation, Andrea brought to Berkeley the extensive experience Andrea Faber had in importing clothing from India. Open to new sources of designs, the store was an early adopter of quality goods from China. Laughing at her early imports from China, Andrea Faber recalled the cotton trousers and shirts that unzipped into shorts and short-sleeved shirts.
Joined by her youngest daughter, Naomi, early in the history of the business, the two women brought a joyful attitude to their store and customers. For many years the store flourished in the original location on College Avenue; however, with time and the inevitable urban transition, retail activity shifted down the street to the City of Oakland. Recognizing the change and demographic shifts and her growing customer base in the hills of Oakland, a decision was made to move closer to their homes and the emerging customer demand for uniqueness and quality in Montclair village.
A new name, HULA, was adopted and a shift in merchandising was created to please their existing customers and to attract a new clientele. In a genuine village setting with the green hillside of Oakland outside their door, they reestablished themselves as the "go to" store for value, quality and innovation.
Staffed by Andrea and Naomi as well as several well trained associates who are able to help with selections and fitting, HULA now provides unparalleled customer service and a wide but selective choice of clothes for every occasion.
Responding to the requests of customers outside her immediate neighborhood HULA will now make it easier to see what is in stock, and for the hurried and harried customers they can deliver to their homes just the ideal arrangement in today's hectic world.
