Business Journal: Downtown Sewer Project, Beermann's, Identity Coffees

Sewer Project Hurting Businesses

In downtown Sacramento, the massive sewer upgrade project on 9th Street that was supposed to be done in a couple of weeks now won't be completed until mid-September. That's not making shops and eateries affected by the construction very happy. They say they're losing customers because 9th has been closed between H and L since January.

The Sacramento Business Journal's Digital Editor Sonya Sorich says about a dozen businesses are most affected, including Temple Coffee Roasters, La Cosecha, Andy's Candy, Wayside Noodles and Capitol Mini-Mart.

"So far, they've seen varying impacts from the sewer project," says Sorich. "The owner of Andy's Candy said he's seen a 20 to 25 percent sales decline. Meanwhile, Capitol Mini-Mart has apparently lost nearly 90 percent of business, according to its owner."

Sacramento's Department of Utilities plans to allocate a total of $60,000 to the 12 businesses that are most affected. Each could get $5,000, which comes out to $167 per week of the project.

Changes Ahead For Beermann's In Lincoln

It looks like a restaurant and brewery space in downtown Lincoln is being reinvented...again. The Beermann's building near 5th and F Streets has a long history of unsuccessful operations. Sorich says the building has a new owner who wants to replace the Beermann's name with something else.

"He expects that the Double Barrel Smokehouse will open in the building," says Sorich. "The restaurant currently has a site in Lincoln, which it has apparently outgrown. The restaurant might bring in a brewer to restart the building's brewery operation, or sublease it."

The new owner says he's optimistic about a large customer base for the restaurant because Lincoln city leaders are approving thousands of new homes on the eastern side of the city which will be constructed over the next few years.

East Sac Burger King Making Way For Starbucks

Apparently there's more demand for coffee than for burgers and fries in one East Sacramento neighborhood. Sorich says changes are in progress at 5300 Folsom Boulevard.

"Demolition is underway on a former Burger King restaurant," says Sorich. "We now know the space will become a Starbucks store, which could open in the fall."

And there's more good news for coffee lovers: The former Bean and Barrel coffee shop in West Sacramento is getting a new future. It'll become a new location for locally owned Identity Coffees, which debuted with a midtown Sacramento site in 2016.