Gerris Wilkinson grew up in East Oakland and has vivid memories of shopping and socializing at the Bayfair Center mall in his youth. Today, he leads the transformation of that same mall into a dynamic research and development hub, now known as Speedway at Bayfair. As a principal at B3 Investors, Wilkinson is helping repurpose the former retail complex into a cutting-edge business campus that supports startups and high-growth industries.
Purchased in 2022, the property is undergoing a major adaptive reuse. Once filled with department stores and retail shops, the 400,000-square-foot space now includes studio, lab, and production areas, supported by 16 megawatts of heavy power infrastructure. The redevelopment is named in homage to the racetrack that once occupied the site before the mall’s construction.
Wilkinson finds it “pretty wild” to bring people back to the site and watch their surprise at the transformation. The project aligns with San Leandro’s vision for transit-oriented development, situated conveniently next to the Bay Fair BART station. The City has played a key role in expediting permits and supporting the campus’s rapid evolution, which is especially crucial for early-stage companies that need to scale quickly.
Berkeley Yeast: Brewing Innovation with Bioengineering
The first tenant at Speedway at Bayfair was Berkeley Yeast, a fast-growing bioengineering startup founded by Rachel Li, Charles Denby, and Nick Harris. Outgrowing their previous Oakland facility, they moved into a custom-built, 9,500-square-foot space—once a comic book store—now outfitted with offices, R&D labs, and a pilot brewery.
Berkeley Yeast develops advanced yeast strains that help brewers fine-tune the flavor of their beer more precisely and affordably. Since its founding in 2017, the company has expanded to 25 employees and serves clients nationwide. Li praises the supportive role of both B3 Investors and the City of San Leandro, citing an easy permitting process and enthusiastic backing from local officials. The central Bay Area location also means employees avoid long commutes.
Reforge Robotics: Democratizing Metal Manufacturing
Another innovative tenant, Reforge Robotics, is working to lower the cost of precision metal manufacturing. Founded in 2024 by Nosa Edoimioya, the company is developing software that enables robot arms to achieve the same accuracy as expensive CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines—at a fraction of the cost. This breakthrough greatly expands access to high-quality manufacturing tools worldwide.
Reforge Robotics leased 1,000 square feet at Speedway, taking advantage of the building’s thick concrete floors ideal for testing robotic arms. Edoimioya is grateful for the City’s proactive and welcoming approach to business development, which has helped fast-track their setup. The company aims to complete a key demonstration, secure more customers, and raise seed funding, with plans to expand within the Bayfair campus. Edoimioya sees San Leandro as a long-term home, citing its strong manufacturing ecosystem.
Speedway at Bayfair is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of San Leandro’s innovation economy, blending historical roots with a forward-looking vision for local industry, transit access, and startup growth. Learn more about how Speedway at Bayfair is transforming a former mall into a center for innovation.
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