Downtown Sacramento’s K Street faces questions about future as businesses close, rebrand

Downtown Sacramento’s K Street has long been viewed as the heart of the city’s entertainment district. But with several businesses now closed or preparing to reopen under new concepts, residents and city leaders say the corridor is at a critical moment.KoJa Kitchen is the latest business to close on K Street. Its owners say they plan to reopen in a few months with a new concept. But the closure adds to a growing list of recent changes nearby.Chando’s Cantina-Zazon Del Mar closed in May. Nightclub Tiger shut down the same month. Brewery Ruhstaller closed last September.For many people who spend time downtown, the empty storefronts are becoming hard to ignore.“Everything is closing down at such an abrupt time. I’m still focused on that. I’m still processing that,” Sacramento resident Jordan Smith said.Another resident, Claudia Robarge, said the area appears especially troubled on one side of the street.“They’re all on that side of the street. So I’m definitely curious as to what’s going on,” Robarge said.Robarge also said weak weekday foot traffic appears to be part of the problem.“There isn’t a lot of foot traffic during Monday through Friday,” she said.Michael Robarge, another Sacramento resident, said safety concerns have changed how he and others use downtown.“We haven’t come down here for any nightlife in a hot minute because it’s just not safe,” Robarge said.Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, who represents downtown, acknowledged the area is under pressure.“You know, we’re struggling, right?” Pluckebaum said.Pluckebaum said downtown is dealing with a combination of affordability issues, public safety concerns and homelessness. He said the city is planning a more focused effort in the coming months to address some of those challenges.“What we’re going to do is a pretty concerted push here over the next few months to provide places for people to be if they’re experiencing homelessness or just having other challenges — that’s not K Street,” Pluckebaum said.He said the city is also working with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership on short-term activations aimed at improving foot traffic and making downtown more inviting.“This summer we’ll be able to do some things, some event activations, some events,” Pluckebaum said. “But the long-term program here for downtown, it’s going to take some years. It took us years to get to this place, and it’s going to take a few more to get away from it.”Even with the recent closures, some residents remain hopeful that K Street can recover.“I’ve always said that Sacramento bounces back. As soon as a business closes down, one comes in, in its place,” Michael Robarge said.Smith said he is open to seeing something different downtown.“I’m up for a new ambiance,” said Smith.Pluckebaum said city leaders will continue working with downtown partners to create more events and activity that draw people back to K Street.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Downtown Sacramento’s K Street has long been viewed as the heart of the city’s entertainment district. But with several businesses now closed or preparing to reopen under new concepts, residents and city leaders say the corridor is at a critical moment.

KoJa Kitchen is the latest business to close on K Street. Its owners say they plan to reopen in a few months with a new concept. But the closure adds to a growing list of recent changes nearby.

Chando’s Cantina-Zazon Del Mar closed in May. Nightclub Tiger shut down the same month. Brewery Ruhstaller closed last September.

For many people who spend time downtown, the empty storefronts are becoming hard to ignore.

“Everything is closing down at such an abrupt time. I’m still focused on that. I’m still processing that,” Sacramento resident Jordan Smith said.

Another resident, Claudia Robarge, said the area appears especially troubled on one side of the street.

“They’re all on that side of the street. So I’m definitely curious as to what’s going on,” Robarge said.

Robarge also said weak weekday foot traffic appears to be part of the problem.

“There isn’t a lot of foot traffic during Monday through Friday,” she said.

Michael Robarge, another Sacramento resident, said safety concerns have changed how he and others use downtown.

“We haven’t come down here for any nightlife in a hot minute because it’s just not safe,” Robarge said.

Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, who represents downtown, acknowledged the area is under pressure.

“You know, we’re struggling, right?” Pluckebaum said.

Pluckebaum said downtown is dealing with a combination of affordability issues, public safety concerns and homelessness. He said the city is planning a more focused effort in the coming months to address some of those challenges.

“What we’re going to do is a pretty concerted push here over the next few months to provide places for people to be if they’re experiencing homelessness or just having other challenges — that’s not K Street,” Pluckebaum said.

He said the city is also working with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership on short-term activations aimed at improving foot traffic and making downtown more inviting.

“This summer we’ll be able to do some things, some event activations, some events,” Pluckebaum said. “But the long-term program here for downtown, it’s going to take some years. It took us years to get to this place, and it’s going to take a few more to get away from it.”

Even with the recent closures, some residents remain hopeful that K Street can recover.

“I’ve always said that Sacramento bounces back. As soon as a business closes down, one comes in, in its place,” Michael Robarge said.

Smith said he is open to seeing something different downtown.

“I’m up for a new ambiance,” said Smith.

Pluckebaum said city leaders will continue working with downtown partners to create more events and activity that draw people back to K Street.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google