Oakland Coffee Shop Co-Owner Amy Hillyard Missing, Considered At-Risk

Missing posters with Amy Hillyard's photo lined Grand Avenue in downtown Oakland and hung in the window of Farley's East coffee shop as the Oakland Police Department searched for the 52-year-old co-owner of the Farley's coffee chain. Hillyard was last seen around 2 p.m. Wednesday on the 500 block of Radnor Road in the Cleveland Heights neighborhood, near Lake Merritt, and police designated her at-risk due to undisclosed medical conditions.

A neighbor told KTVU they saw Hillyard walking her dog shortly before she disappeared. Her husband, who co-owns Farley's with her, told police she had left her cell phone at home. Hillyard was described as 5-foot-4, roughly 120 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes, and was last wearing a tan outfit.

The mother of two daughters co-owned Farley's East in downtown Oakland and the Farley's location in San Francisco's Potrero Hill neighborhood with her husband. The chain carries a family legacy dating back to founder Roger Hillyard, who passed the business to his son Chris; Chris and Amy later expanded the brand to the East Bay and to airport concessions at SFO and Oakland International.

Those close to Hillyard described her absence as jarring. Nora Haron, who previously served as director of culinary for the cafés, spoke about the community's worry.

"So this is shocking. I don't know what's happening," Haron said. "We want her home. She loves her family, especially her two girls. She loves her business, her employees, she's very passionate in everything she does."

Farley's had previously been the subject of public controversy over antisemitism allegations tied to the business. Multiple workers were fired following that incident, and the shop publicly distanced itself from the behavior.

The cafés had long been a gathering hub for Oakland regulars, including one who recalled writing their second novel in the upstairs balcony at Farley's East alongside the Shut Up & Write group. Friends, customers, and investigators were all searching for answers as Oakland police urged anyone with information to come forward.