As Singh has had conversations about couchdate’s next moves, though, he’s heard some discouraging reflections from some downtown Oakland business owners. According to Singh, “A lot of them are like, ‘It’s really rough. The city’s showing us no love.’”
One of his more optimistic advisers is Jenn Lui, co-founder of Baba’s House, an event space on 15th and Franklin Streets with a similar community-building mission as couchdate. Lui says Oakland needs more spaces like these to help revitalize downtown. “People are looking for these safe spaces even if they don’t realize it,” Lui says. “couchdate is one of those places, and it definitely needs to be here for the long run.”
Lui relayed concerns she’s heard from other downtown business owners around Broadway and Telegraph, especially about crime. “Hopefully the city will come through and figure out extra security,” Lui says of Singh’s plans to hold some of the pop-ups at 102 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza.
When Singh reflects on some of the factors that led to taking on the now-defunct sublease agreement in the first place, he cites the city’s red tape and the high cost of doing business in Oakland, where commercial rent is notoriously unaffordable — especially for more grassroots, creative projects like couchdate. “It’s unfriendly and so, so difficult to do things ‘the right away’,” Singh says.
But in this next chapter, Singh is hoping to find ways to partner with the City of Oakland. He says he plans to reach out to people like Steve Snider, CEO of Oakland Venue Management, which has a history of coordinating with the city for events.
Ultimately, Singh says the circumstances and subsequent pivot have inspired a new tagline, now seen on couchdate’s Instagram page: lovers come & go but couchdate is forever. “couchdate is a community, it is a culture, it is a vibe,” Singh adds. “It’s not tied to a physical place.”

For couchdate’s latest pop-up location information and calendar of events, visit their Instagram page.