Los Nogales Mexican Restaurant is located at 7150 Auburn Blvd. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– Whether you’re craving classic Mexican food, Asian cuisine, or something entirely new, we’ve rounded up five new spots that deserve a place on your must-try list.
Caravan Uzbek Cuisine: Located at 7084 Auburn Blvd., #160, the Uzbekistan-inspired cuisine officially celebrated its grand opening at a new, larger location at Sylvan Corners on May 21. Previously located at the corner of Antelope Road and Sunrise Boulevard, Caravan Uzbek had been featured as one of Assemblyman Josh Hoover’s Small Business of the Month. Caravan’s menu features traditional foods from Uzbekistan, with influence from various regions of the country, including Samarkand, Tashkent, and Bukhara.
Los Nogales: The new Mexican restaurant is located at 7150 Auburn Blvd., across from the Whatsupstairs thrift shop. Previously, the site was home to Gilberto’s Tacos, which closed last year.
Teriyaki Madness: Teriyaki Madness now takes up the space of a former Starbucks adjacent to Barnes & Noble, which closed in October 2021. A wall now separates the bookstore from the restaurant, with several tables stretching toward the back of the restaurant.
The fast-casual restaurant menu features “build your bowl” options, where customers can build a teriyaki bowl out of a selection of ingredients, including a variety of meats and bases such as white rice, fried rice, or noodles. Appetizers, sides, and drinks are also available. Teriyaki Madness is located at 6121 Sunrise Blvd.
Yummy Buffet Grill and Sushi: The new buffet officially opened in mid-December 2024 in the same shopping center as Sam’s Club, offering a variety of Japanese, Chinese, and American cuisine choices, according to staff, including salad bars and a full buffet line of various types of sushi rolls. Yummy Buffet is located at 7217 Greenback Lane.
West Coast Sourdough: The sandwich shop’s menu items include sandwiches, soups, and salads, along with kids’ meal options, the company’s website shows. The website advertises its sourdough bread as being “completely natural & 100% free of preservatives,” with ingredients listed as “just flour, water, & salt.” West Coast Sourdough opened after Thanksgiving and is located at 6920 Auburn Blvd., Suite 150.
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights Community Marching Band is inviting the public to a special 20th anniversary concert celebration on Wednesday, June 25, at Rusch Community Park. The event will take place at 7 p.m. at the future site of a memorial amphitheater planned in honor of the band’s late founder, Kathy Cook.
Cook, who passed away in 2021, founded the all-ages marching band two decades ago and led it for many years, as an effort to help foster music education and community pride throughout the city.
The proposed amphitheater, which was first pitched to the Sunrise Recreation and Park District in 2022, is intended to serve as a lasting tribute to her legacy. While construction has not yet begun, a dedicated location within the park has been selected.
To raise funds, the band is selling commemorative, personalized bricks that start at $100 each. Bricks can be purchased through the band’s webpage, chcmb.org/stage.
Sunrise Recreation and Park District Recreation Coordinator Tori Thorpe said Friday that the district is excited for the opportunity to utilize the amphitheater but is still waiting on the green light to begin planning events that make use of the future space.
The proposed amphitheater cost estimate for construction is between $300,000 and $500,000, and all funding is planned to come from community donations, according to the band’s website.
Once fully approved, construction is estimated to take four to eight weeks, the band said, adding that construction plans do include resurfacing and re-striping the existing parking lot on the west end of the park.
Rusch Park is located at 7801 Auburn Blvd., but the concert will be held on the west end of the park and residents should use either the entrance off Antelope Road, located between Lauppe Lane and Poplar Avenue, or the park entrance located off of Rosswood Drive.
Fireworks booth at Fair Oaks Blvd. and Woodmore Oaks Drive. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– Citrus Heights has several fireworks booths registered this year representing multiple nonprofit organizations and schools.
Sales of “safe and sane” fireworks are often one of the biggest annual fundraisers for various nonprofits, with sales legally allowed to begin June 28 at noon and continue through July 4.
The following is a list of licensed locations and the name of the organization in charge of the stand, as provided by the City Clerk’s office:
Bella Vista High Band Boosters: 6177 Sunrise Blvd.
Church of the Harvest: 2 locations
5425 Sunrise Blvd.
7951 Auburn Blvd
Citrus Heights Little League: 7548 Old Auburn Rd.
First Apostolic Church: 7400 Greenback Ln.
Friends Church: 7070 Woodmore Oaks Drive
Foundation Christian Church: 7800 Wonder St.
Job’s Daughters Bethel: 8421 Auburn Blvd.
Jesus Name Lighthouse: 2 locations
7412 Van Maren Ln.
7963 Auburn Blvd.
Knights of Columbus: 7817 Old Auburn Rd.
North Valley Sports Booster Club/Citrus Heights Little League: McDonald Field, 8001 Old Auburn Rd.
Romanian Christian Fellowship: 7920 Old Auburn Rd. (benefiting Cornerstone Christian School)
Royal Stage Visual & Performing Arts: 2 locations
6400 Antelope Rd.
7147 Greenback Ln.
Sunrise Little League: 7601 Sunrise Blvd.
SOAR Neighborhood Assoc: 7901 Greenback Ln.
Tabernacle Baptist Church: 6425 Antelope Rd.
Additionally, Cambridge Heights Elementary has a location just outside the border of Citrus Heights at the Safeway store located at 5450 Dewey Drive, Fair Oaks, CA.
An ordinance made permanent by the Citrus Heights City Council in 2022 prohibits setting off fireworks after 11 p.m., including those labeled “safe and sane.” The ordinance also allows authorities to cite landlords and those deemed “social hosts,” if illegal fireworks were discharged on the property.
The City Council in April 2025, unanimously approved updates to the fireworks ordinance that increased fines and tightened enforcement capabilities for the police department.
Construction continues on Auburn Blvd., which is on track to be complete in the fall of 2026. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– More than $50 million is anticipated to be spent in the next two years on 18 infrastructure projects in Citrus Heights, according to the city’s Five-Year-Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which was approved this month.
The various projects outlined in the program aim to improve both the safety and functionality of the city’s infrastructure, the city said. Some projects are already underway, such as the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets Project, while others are newer efforts made possible by recently secured grants and funding partnerships.
General Services Director Regina Cave outlined several of the upcoming projects in a presentation to the City Council in both May and June. The capital improvement projects, and their estimated costs for the next two years are listed below. Additional projects are also listed out in the CIP, totaling $123 million through 2030.
Bridges: Several bridges throughout the city require repairs or enhancements. The estimated cost is $360,000 in the first year and $630,000 in the second year.
Complete streets projects: Millions of dollars in funding are estimated to go toward several complete street projects in the next two years. Completing the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project will cost $14 million alone over the next fiscal year. As well, $2 million is estimated to go toward Phase 1 of the Old Auburn Complete Streets project, and almost $4 million is expected to go toward the San Juan Complete Streets Project Phase 1B over the next two years.
Facilities and information technology: Facilities enhancements and information technology investments are expected to cost the city $1.4 million over the next two years.
Pavement preservation program: Pavement preservation projects, including multiple resurfacing and restriping projects, are planned throughout the city, aligning with the city’s Three-Year-Pavement-Preservation plan. Cave said resurfacing is planned for major roadways and some minor arterials. $8 million is expected to go toward pavement preservation each year for the next five years.
Stormwater Improvements: Several stormwater and storm drain improvements are planned for areas throughout the city, with an anticipated cost of $680,000 over the next two years.
Traffic and pedestrian safety: Several roadway and traffic infrastructure projects are slated for the next two years, including signal operation enhancements and traffic management, the Gateway Activation Project, and safety improvements at Roseville Road and Butternut Drive. The total cost for traffic and safety improvements is estimated to be $4 million over the next two years.
Trails: The city is anticipating the construction of two extensions to the newly completed Arcade Cripple Creek trail project, including a Mariposa Avenue extension and a Sylvan Road and Stock Ranch Plaza extension. The extension projects are in the design phases. Projects involving trails are expected to cost almost $3 million over the next two years.
The Capital Improvement Program does not allocate funds, the city said, but is used as a planning tool and is dynamic, evolving over time. The city evaluates the list of upcoming projects every two years and presents the Capital Improvement Program report to both the City Council and Planning Commission, according to Cave.
Some projects still require more grant funding to move forward. The full Capital Improvement Program can be reviewed on page 99 of the June 11 agenda packet.
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Black Sails Coffee is coming to the Marketplace at Birdcage. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A new coffee roasting company has plans to open a coffee lounge in the Marketplace at Birdcage shopping center in Citrus Heights.
Locally based mobile coffee roasters Black Sails Coffee Roasters plans to open a permanent coffee lounge location soon, Sunrise Marketplace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter confirmed. The business is expected to open in late June in a 2,300-square-foot space at 5925 Birdcage Centre Ln., Suite 102, just behind and across from Jamba Juice.
On a visit to the site of the new shop, Sentinel staff found the interior filled with tables and chairs with a “Coming Soon” sign on the window.
Co-owner Sean McCullough told Sacramento Business Journal that the location will specialize in espresso drinks, cold brew, hot coffee, and tea, in addition to pastries. Currently, the company sells specialty coffee beans online and at local markets throughout the Sacramento region.
McCullough, 38, recently suffered a house fire last month that saw him lose his personal belongings, roasting equipment, and coffee inventory, according to the company’s Facebook page. The destruction of equipment temporarily delayed coffee bean orders.
McCullough and his partner, who also roasts coffee for Mast Coffee Co., lost everything in the fire, including his home and around $15,000 worth of equipment and product.
Five weeks after the fire, McCullough reported that he’s already sourced a new roaster through networking connections made in the local coffee community.
The new coffee shop has been working through the permitting and renovation process since January. McCullough said the design for the Citrus Heights space will see it function as both a lounge and coworking space with hopes of hosting regular live music events and gaming tournaments.
Black Sales Coffee Roasters is the second local coffee roasting company planning to open a permanent location in Citrus Heights, with Station Coffee Roasters announcing plans to open a location in April 2024 on their Instagram account. Station Coffee Roasters’ eventual new location will be the corner of Mariposa Avenue and Antelope Road.
The city confirmed that the project has encountered some “structural challenges,” but city planners and inspectors and Station Coffee Roasters are working toward a solution, and progress is continuing on the remodel of the site.
A mural painted by “MAMMXTH.” on the wall of DarkHeart Brewing, Monday, June 16, 2025. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– Two new murals have been added to Sylvan Corners in an unveiling of a new local arts district.
Local muralist Amie Nowell spent last week and over the weekend painting a large-scale mural on the wall of Ciro’s Pizza, officially unveiling the new “CH40 Arts District”, an arts initiative spearheaded by Citrus Heights Arts founder GiGi Rayford.
“Now we get to show the world how awesome we are,” Nowell told a local news station while finishing up the final touches on the mural.
A second mural was added by an artist who goes by “MAMMXTH”, pronounced Mammoth, painted on the wall of DarkHeart Brewing over the weekend. The smaller mural showcases in bright colors what the corner of Sylvan Road and Auburn Boulevard could have looked like in the past when Highway 40 was still operational. Mammoth told local news outlets he tries to add historic or unique elements to all his pieces and spent time researching by looking at past photographs.
Monday morning, Rayford, Nowell, Mammoth, and councilmember Porsche Middleton spoke with local news outlets about the new district, saying that the new murals give viewers a chance to connect with and learn about Highway 40, also known as Lincoln Highway, a trans-continental highway which follows Auburn Boulevard. The new arts district is modeled after the 40 West Arts District in Denver, Colorado, which is also located on the Highway 40 route.
Mammoth’s and Nowell’s murals are two of 11 planned murals for Auburn Boulevard, according to Rayford, who said she anticipates the murals to be completed by October. Rayford said Nowell will paint another, but the location was not yet available.
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By Sara Beth Williams– A 27-year-old man was arrested early Tuesday morning in connection with a felony vandalism incident that caused an estimated $3,000 in property damage.
According to the Citrus Heights Police Department, officers responded to the area of Rush Drive and Bay Oak Avenue just before 6 a.m. after receiving reports of a man vandalizing a vehicle. The suspect, identified as Joseph H. Rolon, is accused of damaging a vehicle at a private residence. Police say the suspect and victim were related.
Sgt. Dave Jones said medics were requested to the scene to evaluate Rolon, who reportedly suffers from mental health issues. It was not immediately known whether he sustained any injuries during the incident.
Rolon was taken into custody on the morning of June 17 and booked on felony vandalism charges due to the extent of the property damage. Sacramento County Jail records show Rolon was released the same day.
A pie chart shared by the city shows Citrus Heights Police Department receiving 57 percent of general funds. // City of Citrus Heights
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights City Council adopted its biennial budget on Wednesday, which details the city’s planned spending and anticipated revenues for the next two years.
The budget aligns with multiple Strategic goals and prioritizes core services, capital improvements, and long-term stability, according to the city’s staff report, with a strong focus on infrastructure and improvements.
For the upcoming fiscal year, the city anticipates $99.7 million in total revenues and $98 million in expenditures. In the second year of the budget cycle revenues are projected to total $88 million, with expenditures slightly lower at $87 million.
$8 million from the General Fund is allocated to go towards improving roadways over the next two years, the city confirmed, adding that more than $3 million in additional funding from grants and other revenues is also projected for allocation toward roads and infrastructure through the Capital Improvement Program. Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney said Citrus Heights is one of the few municipalities to allocate general funds specifically towards improving roads.
Also of note, the city is also requesting additional positions. Position requests include two beautification team members, a construction inspector, traffic light technician, and a custodian and limited term senior facility attendant for the Event Center. Additionally, one police officer will be transferring to a POP sergeant position, at an anticipated $37,000 expense.
A new addition to this year’s budget cycle includes a vacancy factor of $1.5 million each year, which the city said represents about five percent. A vacancy factor represents an estimated savings in overall costs that result from unfilled staff positions during the fiscal year.
The city has divided the distribution of funds into distinct categories, including general fund for daily operations, revenue funds for restricted uses only such as grant funding or gas tax funding, enterprise funds for utility-style services like sewer or refuse, capital improvement funds for infrastructure upgrades and major projects, and internal service funds for citywide services like fleet maintenance and technology upgrades.
In a breakdown of funding allocated to the police department shared on June 11, the city said the police department will receive about $28 million per year in funds from both general funds, and special funds which are specific and restricted. The funding covers operations, including patrol and communications, and special services, which includes IMPACT and POP detectives, traffic, code enforcement, and animal services.
Of the remaining budget, 23 percent of the funds are being allocated toward administrative services, eight percent to General Services, three percent to the City Manager’s office, and the rest of the funds will go toward economic development and community engagement, community development, and transfers to non-general fund reserves.
The City Council also voted separately and unanimously approved the Five-Year Capital Improvement Program. Required by state law, the report identifies long-term infrastructure investments and is reviewed alongside the two-year budget to ensure adequate funding for critical projects.
The General Fund, which supports core operations, including public safety, administration, and community services, is expected to receive $46 million in revenues with $44.6 million in anticipated expenditures this fiscal year. In the following year, those numbers are projected to grow to $46.9 million in revenues and $45.7 million in expenditures. It is also anticipated that General Fund reserves will increase by over $1 million, according to the report.
Sales and Use Tax represents the largest individual revenue source for the city, with property taxes coming in as the second largest revenue source, the city said. $14 million in revenue is expected this year, an increase of $398,000 from last year.
“This rise is attributed to steady consumer spending, a resilient local economy, and inflationary impacts on taxable goods,” the city wrote in its staff report, adding that estimates are supported by “continued economic recovery, stable retail activity, and modest population growth.”
The projected growth continues into the following year, with sales tax revenue expected to reach $14.38 million, up $353,000.
While sales, property, charges for services, and intergovernmental revenue such as motor-vehicle-in-lieu fees are expected to increase, other sources of revenue are expected to decrease, including investment revenue, miscellaneous revenues, and licenses and permits revenue.
Revenue from licenses and permits shows a projected decrease of $185,000 from the last year, primarily due to a reduction in Building Permits and Plan Check revenues, which are expected to decline following lower development activity, the city said.
Talwar explained that due to the unknowns regarding market and interest rates, the city took a “conservative” approach for License and Permits, and Use of Money revenue projections.
City Council members praised city staff for presenting and maintaining a “prudent” budget that reflects the priorities and values of both the City Council and the community. The biennial budget and Five-Year Capital Improvement Program can be read in full in the city’s latest agenda packet.
Sweet Music Studio Cafe is coming to 8040 Greenback Ln. // CH Sentinel
By Sara Beth Williams– A wave of new food, drink, and specialty businesses are expected to open in Citrus Heights in the second half of 2025, with several new tenants announced for shopping centers along Sunrise Boulevard.
Black Sails Coffee Roasters: A new local coffee roasting company is expected to debut soon at the Marketplace at Birdcage, initially opening as a pop-up location inside Ulta Beauty, according to Sunrise Marketplace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter. A permanent storefront is planned, although the final address has not yet been confirmed.
Pinkberry: Popular frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry is slated to open in the Sunrise Village Shopping Center this June, according to an update from Tiffany Clement with property management firm Merlone Geier. Pinkberry’s website indicates the eatery is “Coming Soon” to 5437 Sunrise Blvd.
Juice Time: An international juice and dessert shop known as Juice Time is also expected to open in Sunrise Village later this year. The business specializes in fruit smoothies, ice cream, and drinks made with natural ingredients. Clement confirmed that Juice Time is expected to open in a suite between Starbucks and Firehouse Subs.
Must Be Cow: A new Korean BBQ and sushi restaurant called Must Be Cow is expected to open later this year in the former Boston Pizza and Sports Bar space Carpenter confirmed. The restaurant will offer both Korean barbeque and all-you-can-eat sushi. The location will open at 5511 Sunrise Blvd.
Sweet Music Studio Café: A unique new café combining live music, food and drinks, and music education is also expected to open in late summer according to Sacramento Business Journal. Sweet Music Studio Café will be located at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fair Oaks Boulevard.
More updates on grand openings and are expected to be released later in the year.
A new Juice and dessert shop is planning to open at Sunrise Village in Citrus Heights later in 2025. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A juice and ice cream shop focused on natural and healthy fruit juice and sweet treat options is expected to come to the Sunrise Village, Sunrise Marketplace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter confirmed.
International fruit-juice shop Juice Time is expected to move in as a tenant in between Starbucks and Firehouse Subs on the southern end of Sunrise Village, Carpenter said. As of Wednesday, the suite’s window shows a “Coming Soon” sign with Juice Time’s logo beneath.
Juice Time, which goes by Aseer Time internationally, focuses on offering customers healthy fruit juice drinks, sweet treats, and ice cream with natural fruit ingredients, according to its website.
Originating in Kuwait in 2011, Aseer Time has grown into a global franchise with over 470 branches across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Their offerings include juices, ice creams, and desserts, and they operate under the Aseer Time Group, which encompasses multiple brands such as Papa Kanafa and Burgerat.
Tiffany Clement with MerloneGeier Partners said the smoothie shop is expected to open at the end of 2025.
The Sunrise Village has seen several businesses come and go in recent years, including the departure of fabric giant JOANN as the company shuttered hundreds of stores across the nation following bankruptcy.
In spite of the closure of JOANN, several other new tenants are expected to come to Sunrise Village, including Pinkberry, which is expected to open this summer, and Nothing Bundt Cakes, which is expected to open in 2026, according to an update from Clement.
Grocery Outlet also has plans to open in the building that formerly held Rite Aid, but no anticipated date of opening was immediately available.
