general . In the new normal , more than a few downtown eateries have already become casualties . Those that remain are embracing long-term survival strategies .
“ They ’ re definitely hurting ,” says Sacramento City Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela , whose district includes much of downtown . “ The restaurant industry is unavoidably impacted by the pandemic and lack of meaningful federal assistance to date .”
Many downtown restaurants are getting by with skeleton crews , reduced hours of operation and loans . At least five — Punch Bowl Social , Empress Tavern , Esquire Grill , Ambrosia Cafe and Carolina ’ s Mexican Food — have closed their doors either temporarily or permanently . And while Valenzuela hears from other restaurateurs worried about going under , there isn ’ t that much city government can do . “ We just don ’ t have enough general fund resources to go out and do emergency aid to these businesses and these workers ,” Valenzuela says .
Goldstene won ’ t say how much money Solomon ’ s is losing , only confirming that her business , a tribute to late Tower Records founder Russ Solomon , isn ’ t turning a profit . The strategy for the business is to see this point in history through . “ We ’ re banking on everyone staying safe and getting their vaccine as soon as possible so that we can open up again at full capacity ,” Goldstene says .
From a planning perspective , there ’ s something karmic about the situation downtown restaurants are facing . Sixty years ago , around 200 primarily residential city blocks in the old West End were demolished to make way for waves of brutalist office towers . In normal times , it could mean a robust lunch crowd of workers . But now there simply isn ’ t a neighborhood client base .
A few doors down from Solomon ’ s on this Friday afternoon , Jess Milbourn
Sauced BBQ & Spirits in Downtown Commons began to see an uptick in business in March .
“ If you feel like you can survive , then you got to plan for the future . Because the demand will be high once everybody ’ s allowed to open back .”
Jerry Mitchell , co-owner , Capitol Garage
is marking the second week since a new location for his Devil May Care Ice Cream & Frozen Treats opened on K Street . The Feb . 3 launch for the shop , which also has a location in West Sacramento ’ s Washington District , was months in the making and , at times , seemed like no sure thing .
Late in 2020 , Milbourn even ran a Kickstarter-esque promotion , selling a package that included two-for-one gift cards and hooded sweatshirts to 250 customers , with the first customer paying $ 1 and the last paying $ 250 .
After expenses , he estimates it netted the new location around $ 20,000 . It ’ s money that can go to good use , with Milbourn saying , “ Right now , we ’ re just running the business really lean . … There ’ s the part of you that just goes forward and does it .”
Milbourn is optimistic about the road ahead too . “ I think long term , we ’ re going to be OK ,” he says . “ Long term , the pandemic isn ’ t going to last . … If you ’ re talking long term in business , you ’ re not looking at one or two years . You ’ re looking at five , seven , 10 .”
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