LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Miller gives Mayor's Award of Excellence to Mo Mashoon


Mo Mashoon receives Mayor's Award of Excellence from outgoing mayor Inga Miller. Photo Sora O'Doherty

Mo Mashoon may be the first person to spend significant money improving downtown Orinda in the past 30 years. The owner of Mash Petroleum Inc. has not only completely renovated the gas station at 1 Bryant Way, but has moved his corporate headquarters into the beautifully renovated building at 37 Moraga Way in the Theatre District. From the top floor, Mashoon's offices have beautiful views of the historic Orinda Theatre and the surrounding district. Downstairs, Orinda Cleaners remains, and is joined by two new businesses, Christian Ehrhorn Fine Arts and ShareTea. The new gallery is hosting a New Art and Wine Party on Saturday, Jan. 18 from 6 to 9 p.m., and will be serving some fancy libations and exhibiting new paintings by artist and gallery owner Ehrhorn. ShareTea is a boba tea shop started in Taiwan and now has over 500 stores in 18 countries and is rapidly expanding its franchises in California.

Mashoon is also building a new home in Orinda, as he moves his business operations from Oakland to Orinda. Mashoon and his wife have renovated many historic buildings in downtown Oakland, including one of the oldest, tallest buildings in the city. Built in 1904, the property at 1300-1304 Broadway is 11 stories tall, including one underground. He recently sold the building that had housed Mash Petroleum to Goldman Sachs.

During his career, Mashoon has built 100 gas stations since the 1970s. He has sold many, but now owns 15, including the one in Orinda. Mashoon said that he is very pleased with the renovated gas station, which now boasts a seating area where patrons can wait for their cars to be finished, while enjoying complimentary beverages from the station. He is also proud of the environmental innovations, such as a retention area that captures all rainwater, which is then filtered before going into storm drains.

Mashoon and his wife love restoring historic buildings, and own many properties around the Bay Area, including a mixed-use commercial/residential building in downtown San Rafael, and a shopping center in Dixon. Their son graduated from UCLA before obtaining his MBA from Saint Mary's College in Moraga. He has worked for the family company, but is currently expanding his experience working for an online company.

Mashoon is a former chef. During the interview with the Lamorinda Weekly, he took calls from his wife and business partner, advising on the holiday leg of lamb, and swapped recipes with this reporter.