JD's Foreclosure Attracts Potential Buyers, Leasers

Since its has caught the attention of several folks interested in buying or leasing the property, according to county officials.

Alameda County Economic Director Bill Lambert said a couple of interested parties have contacted him so far but couldn't disclose their interest with the location.

However, Angela Gora, a self-taught chef living on the border of Castro Valley and San Leandro, is one of them.

The 57-year-old administrative coordinator for the biotech company Gilead Sciences Inc., recently contacted Castro Valley Patch expressing her strong interest in the restaurant and was more than willing to share her intentions of taking over.

"My whole life has been to really own a restaurant," she said. "Cooking has always been my passion and if I could live in the kitchen, I would."

What attracted her to the unique diner, , was its character she said. And after doing some research online, she was struck with inspiration after reading comments on the restaurant off Yelp.

"There's some old sentiments for many, many people there," she said.

Gora is looking to rehire the former employees who were laid off when the restaurant closed — some of which had worked at the diner for years.

She intends to keep the all-American breakfast and brunch menu items but also add some of her personal dishes to homage to her Zimbabwean roots.

"It would be like bringing the two cultures together," she said.

From stews and goat meat dishes to her moist lemon cake, Gora said she has plenty to offer and isn't scared of taking the risk.

"If I fail, I fail. I know if I put my heart into it with the support of my family, then it ill be a success," she said.

Another one of her passions that she would like to tie in with the restaurant is Africa Wellness Initiative (AWI), a nonprofit organization she founded that works towards raising money for African children affected by HIV and AIDS, rape, abandonment and abuse by family members.

Through catering and bake sale fundraisers, Gora has been able to provide thousands of dollars worth of medicine, education, housing and farms for these children to live self-sustaining lives.

She hopes that once the restaurant is in full swing, she would be able to donate 30 to 45 percent of the income towards AWI.

"I know the economy is hard, but you cannot really go wrong with a food business," she said.