Business Journal: Apple Expands In Elk Grove, Med Tech Growing In Sacramento, Fizz And Costanza's Opening Soon

Apple Expands Its Presence In Elk Grove

Technology giant Apple is expanding in Elk Grove. The company recently bought an office building near its existing campus in the city off of Laguna Boulevard, near Harbour Point Drive. The building used to be the site of a DeVry University. The Sacramento Business Journal's Digital Editor Sonya Sorich says the newly-purchased building is zoned for office use.

"It covers more than 24,000 square feet and at that size, it could house more than 100 office jobs," says Sorich. "It's also worth noting that while Apple leases many of its buildings around the world, it actually owns its buildings in Elk Grove."

In 2011, Apple had 1,200 workers in Elk Grove. By last year, that number topped 5,000. The company's Elk Grove campus has always been a logistics, warehouse and distribution site. Many of the jobs involve logistics or re-manufacturing.

Med Tech Growing In Sacramento

Sacramento's med-tech industry is expanding. Since 2011, the number of medical technology companies in the region has increased from 104 to 151, a growth of 45 percent. The numbers come from MedStart, a local collaborative of med-tech companies. Sorich says there are several reasons for the growth.

"It's largely a result of programs at UC Davis to launch startup businesses," says Sorich. "A program at the university puts at least a quarter of a million dollars into medical technology startups each year. And health care providers might also be driving growth in the industry."

And there are projects like MedZone which is an effort to develop Stockton Boulevard in Oak Park as a health startup hub. However, there are possible barriers to growth for the industry, including a lack of venture capital in the Sacramento region.

Fizz And Costanza's Opening Soon

Fizz, the locally owned Champagne bar in Downtown Commons, officially opens on October 19.

And Costanza's, the locally owned business that's replacing The Distillery in midtown Sacramento, could also welcome customers by the end of the month. The business will include elements such as a self-serve beer wall.

The owner won't say if the name is a reference to the 1990s sitcom "Seinfeld." But the bar's website includes a well-known quote from George Costanza, a character on the show.