Business Journal: Restaurant Closures; Plaza At Blue Oaks; More Natomas Office Space

East Sacramento Pizza Joint Closes

The Neighborhood Pizzeria has shut its doors in East Sacramento after only 10 months of business. The Sacramento Business Journal's Sonya Sorich says the eatery came from the same team as the popular Midtown spot Federalist Public House.

"Apparently its operators just couldn't find the right formula to make The Neighborhood Pizzeria work in East Sacramento,” says Sorich. “The restaurant began by offering square-shaped pizzas and later switched to a different recipe with round pizzas."

An owner of the business says the concept might've worked better in Midtown Sacramento.

Benihana Closing Citrus Heights Location

Benihana, the restaurant chain known for cooking food on hibachi grills in front of customers, is closing its only Sacramento area site. Sorich says the location in the Sunrise Village center in Citrus Heights will have its final day this Sunday.

"In a written statement, Benihana representatives said their Citrus Heights lease expired and the landlord is redeveloping the center,” says Sorich. “They also said they'd like to return to the Sacramento area when they find the right location."

Sunrise Village was built in the 1970s. A redevelopment project at the site is expected to add nearly 18,000 square feet of new space.

Niche Bread Abandons Midtown Café Plans

A Sacramento bakery has called off plans for a Midtown cafe. Sorich says the business was only in the space for 9 months.

"Last year, a local business called Niche Bread and Company announced plans to fill a space at 23rd and K streets, which was previously occupied by Skool Japanese Gastropub. This week, operators of Niche Bread said they won't be filling the space after all."

In a social media announcement, the business attributed the decision to "some unfortunate reasons." Operators of the bakery, which is known for its naturally leavened sourdough bread, say they're figuring out their next step and that the company will continue to exist.

Retail Development Planned For West Roseville

People who live in West Roseville could see a new retail center coming soon. Roseville city planners have begun the process of reviewing a proposed development called The Plaza at Blue Oaks. Sorich says the site is in a fast-growing section of town at Blue Oaks Boulevard and Fiddyment Road.

"The area is surrounded by thousands of planned or existing homes, but right now there appears to be little to no existing retail,” says Sorich. “With the uncertain state of retail, it's common these days to see homes constructed before retail projects. Those homes help ensure there are people to shop in the new retail centers."

The center would be anchored by an unnamed grocery store. And it looks like there would be a convenience store with a gas station. Overall, the project would have about 82,000 square feet of space, which is considered massive in the retail world.

Project Would Add New Office Space In North Natomas

New office space could soon be coming to North Natomas. That part of Sacramento hasn't seen many of those projects in the last decade because of a construction-moratorium spurred by flood-fears. The moratorium was lifted about five-years ago. Sorich says Sacramento developer Pappas Investments is planning a new five-building office project.

"They’re calling it Parkview Business Park, and it would be located along Duckhorn Drive between Arena Boulevard and San Juan Road,” says Sorich. “It would be able to accommodate up to 5,000 workers."

Since the building-moratorium was lifted in North Natomas, there's been slow progress at a couple of office parks: Natomas Pointe Plaza, and to the south of that, a massive campus for insurance firm Centene, where three buildings are expected to be ready for occupancy later this year.