Another notable business on Oakland’s Hegenberger Road is set to close as the Hilton Hotel near the Oakland Airport will shut its doors permanently at the end of August.
In January, it made headlines when In-N-Out announced the closure of their only Oakland location. Shortly after, the Oakland Denny’s on Hegenberger Road also declared it was closing for good. Both restaurants were located on Hegenberger Road, an area known for its crime issues.
Now, the Chronicle reports that the Hilton Oakland Airport hotel will also be closing. Open since 1968, the hotel will have its last day of operation on Wednesday, August 28.
Rumors about the closure had been circulating, but Hilton Hotels had consistently denied them. In March, a Hilton Hotels & Resorts representative told KTVU, “Hilton Oakland Airport remains open and operational. Hilton continues to manage the property under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts flag. We remain dedicated to providing guests with the quality service and hospitality they expect.”
This statement is now obsolete. The news did not come from Hilton directly but from the Port of Oakland, which owns the property at One Hegenberger Road where the hotel is situated.
“We understand that the hospitality sector continues to be adversely affected by broader economic trends post-pandemic,” the Port said in a statement to the Chronicle, noting they will assess “the best use for this property moving forward.”
A Hilton Hotels & Resorts spokesperson confirmed to the Chronicle that the hotel chain had “decided to permanently close Hilton Oakland Airport, effective Aug. 28.” No specific reason was provided.
However, crime in the area could be a significant factor. The photo above is from the hotel’s Yelp page. The Chronicle highlights that “From 2019 to 2023, four businesses along that corridor — the Chevron and Shell gas stations, a now-closed Black Bear Diner, and a building at 8450 Edgewater Drive housing a Wingstop and Subway sandwich shop — reported 2,773 criminal incidents among them.”
There is also speculation about the broader financial health of the Hilton Hotels chain. Last year, the Union Square Hilton surrendered its property to its lender and is now in receivership, looking for a new buyer. Both the Union Square and Oakland Airport Hiltons are owned by Virginia-based Park Hotels & Resorts.
