GRIND: A millennials push to make their small business work.

Terrence Bradley Jr. works on artwork at Eight Ball skate shop in Oakland on Tuesday June 4, 2024. As a 33-year-old millennial, Bradley Jr. is a co-owner of the shop and works multiple jobs to financially maintain the business and his life in Oakland. Bradley Jr. said, “everyone out here honestly has to have two to three jobs, especially if you are a business owner. Automatically either you are running your business seven days a week solely with you there, or you’re going to have to have two to three jobs.”

Eight Ball is located along 15th Street where several other small businesses reside including a paint shop and plant store. In addition to running the store front, Bradley Jr. helps out at nearby Memory Plants and works a second job at Blick Art Materials.

Although hard work isn’t foreign to small business owners, the increased price of housing and general cost of living has made daily-life for millennials a financial struggle. To continue the passion of running a small business, millennials sometimes need to work multiple jobs to afford staying open. Bradley Jr. said running a business is “definitely a struggle and a passion so you really have to have that if you’re trying to do it.”

Scott Cleland grips a skateboard he bought from Terrence Bradley Jr. at Eight Ball skate shop in Oakland on Tuesday June 4, 2024. Cleland is recovering from a foot injury and wanted to replace the board he was riding when he got injured.

Terrence Bradley Jr. stocks brushes at his second job at Blick Art Materials in Oakland on Monday June 3, 2024. Bradley Jr. said “everyone out here honestly has to have two to three jobs, especially if you are a business owner. Automatically either you are running your business seven days a week solely with you there, or you’re going to have to have two to three jobs.”

Terrence Bradley Jr. closes metal window shutters at Blick Art Materials in Oakland on Monday June 3, 2024. Bradley Jr. works a second job at the store in addition to being a co-owner of Eight Ball skate shop.

Terrence Bradley Jr. skates to open Eight Ball skate shop in Oakland on Tuesday June 4, 2024. Bradley Jr. ran the shop alone Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m.

Terrence Bradley Jr., left, speaks with Candelario Elizondo Jr. at Eight Ball skate shop in Oakland on Tuesday June 4, 2024. Elizondo Jr. traveled from Stockton with other riders to skate Oakland Tuesday afternoon.

Riders and skaters roll around DeFremery Park in Oakland on Tuesday June 4, 2024.

Terrence Bradley Jr. opens Memory Plants for a customer in Oakland on Tuesday June 4, 2024. Bradley Jr. is a co-owner of Eight Ball skate shop several doors down and helps out at Memory Plants quickly opening and closing the shop for customers.

Terrence Bradley Jr. helps Victor Cairel at Memory Plants in Oakland on Tuesday June 4, 2024. Bradley Jr. is a co-owner of Eight Ball skate shop several doors down and helps out at Memory Plants quickly opening and closing the shop for customers.

Terrence Bradley Jr. commutes home on BART after working his second job at Blick Art Materials in Oakland on Monday June 3, 2024. Bradley Jr. said running a business is “definitely a struggle and a passion so you really have to have that if you’re trying to do it.”

Terrence Bradley Jr. skates back to Eight Ball skate shop after paying rent in Oakland on Tuesday June 4, 2024.