Geoffrey Pete is the founder of Geoffrey's Inner Circle, a club which was "the go-to spot for people of color in the late 70s and 80s" 1. Pete has "been described as a power broker, kingmaker and city boss" but Pete says those are "urban legends." 1

A comment on the Oakland Local article 1 suggests he may have been a high school basketball star at Bishop O'Dowd.

Pete is a member of the Oakland Black Caucus, and a supporter of Rebecca Kaplan.

The Club

Geoffrey's Inner Circle has been in the Athenian-Nile Club building at 14th and Franklin since 1993.

The club closed for a time in 2009 after Sergeant Kyle Thomas made up a story about an alleged shooting and drug dealing in the nearby Downtown Merchants Garage. The garage then cancelled the club's parking lease and the club closed down. The OPD later said it had no record of a shooting in the garage. 1,2 The club re-opened in 2012. 3

Links and References

  1. Talking to Geoffrey Pete is hearing Oakland’s history in microcosm Oakland Local March 2, 2014
  2. Cops Charging Overtime to Clubs East Bay Express March 2, 2011
  3. Geoffrey's Inner Circle to Reopen in Its Original Location East Bay Express July 6, 20​12
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