Retail closures affect Sacramento area

Welcome to another Friday, LinkedIn community. Store closures announced this week by two major retailers will impact the Sacramento area, Jacob Abbott reports.

Macy's released a list of 66 "underproductive stores" planned for closure, which includes locations in Downtown Sacramento and Citrus Heights. Read more

Also, department store chain Kohl's  announced it will be closing more than two dozen stores across the country by this spring, including one of its local sites. Read more

That's in addition to other big-box retail closures that have extended to the Sacramento region.

Party City recently put leases for its six Sacramento-area stores up for sale. And Big Lots has closed its eight stores in the area.

Here's what else you need to know this week.

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Local tribe buys 43 acres near its casino

Wilton Rancheria continues to expand its footprint in Elk Grove, with another recent purchase of land near its Sky River Casino on the city's southeastern edge.

Records show the tribe, also based in the City of Elk Grove , paid $45.97 million for about 43 acres directly southwest of the casino and northwest of where Lent Ranch Parkway meets Kammerer Road.

Learn more in this article by Senior Reporter Ben van der Meer .

Watch these startups in 2025

Once again, Inno Reporter Mark Anderson has profiled a series of local companies that may be poised to make big moves in the new year.

All the articles in that project, called Startups to Watch, are now online. Access them here.

Cheers to the 10 companies featured this year: Azimuth AI , EpiSense , IGH Naturals , Elve, Inc. , Norfolk Healthy Produce , OnSight Technology , Scout , TrackLight , ELEVAI Labs Inc. and Plum Identity .

Italian restaurant nears opening in Historic Folsom

A new Italian restaurant planned for the former J. Wild's space in Historic Folsom is expected to open its doors soon.

The business, called Fiori Italian Pizzeria, will fill 3,300 square feet at 614 Sutter St. The incoming restaurant is being opened by restaurateurs Bulent Ozel and Serkan Bikim, who are partners on Rose Park Bistro in Roseville.

"Fiori Italian Pizzeria will specialize in traditional Neapolitan-style pizza," Ozel said. "All of our 12-inch pizzas will be wood-fired. We will also offer homemade pastas and raviolis and a couple of other dishes like branzino, steaks and chicken." Read more

New owners change strategy on former Rite Aid building

After an all-cash deal enabled two investors to buy a former Rite Aid property on Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento, they quickly pivoted on their future strategy for the property.

Faraz Saeed said his original plan with partner Yasir Majeed was to use the building at 5610 Stockton Blvd. as a warehouse for their nearby business, East West Tire Distributors. Then prospective tenants started reaching out to them, he said. Read more

Midtown motel property could become housing

A former hospitality property in Midtown Sacramento is likely to become housing, after a nonprofit group based in Oakland bought it recently.

According to property records, Bay Area Community Services (BACS) Housing Corp. bought the former Travelodge at 623 16th St. in December for $4.5 million.

BACS' website states it provides transitional housing in the Bay Area for people who are without housing or at risk of losing housing. The group's model works to help people find permanent housing as well. Read more

Folsom sports bar changing ownership

A sports bar that has operated near the Folsom Premium Outlets since 2022 is in the process of being sold, and the incoming operator has a new concept in the works for the space.

The owners of Iron Bulldog Sports Bar & Grill, located at 303 Iron Point Road in Folsom, announced Jan. 5 that they have accepted an offer to sell the bar and restaurant, pending the close of escrow.

The Iron Bulldog's liquor license through the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is in the process of being transferred to incoming operator Syana LLC, which will see the business changed into Silk Bar. Read more

Thanks for reading our Weekly Edition, which was compiled by Managing Editor Sonya Sorich. Send feedback and news tips to ssorich@bizjournals.com.