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Category: Business

Community votes online for “Best of Citrus Heights” businesses

Citrus Heights consumers have an opportunity to vote online for which local businesses they think deserve to win a “Best of Citrus Heights” annual award from the Chamber of Commerce.

Note: this story is from last year. See 2016 story here: Voting underway to select ‘Best of Citrus Heights’ businesses

Winners of the latest annual competition earn the right to use this logo in their business promotional material. // Courtesy, Citrus Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Featuring over 200 local businesses in a total of 34 categories this year, the Chamber’s “Best of Citrus Heights” website lets visitors vote on the best business in each category – ranging from choices between just three businesses listed in smaller categories like car washes and catering, to as many as 18 businesses in categories like automotive services.

In 2013, over 5,000 votes were cast to determine winners in 26 categories that year, with winning businesses earning the right to use the “Best of Citrus Heights” logo on their website and marketing material.

The Chamber says the competition “celebrates the best business members in good standing of the Citrus Heights Chamber in certain categories,” adding that not all Chamber categories are included, “because there are not enough members in that category to make it competitive.”

Those wishing to vote in the competition can do so online at www.BestofCitrusHeights.org.

January 6, 2015
Harbor Freight Tools expands to Citrus Heights

Updated 2:20 p.m.–
Citrus Heights welcomed a new discount tool retailer to town this month, with Harbor Freight Tools celebrating its grand opening on Greenback Lane mid-December.

The new Harbor Freight Tools store in Citrus Heights is located next to Big 5 Sporting Goods in the old Aaron Brothers art store.

Setting up shop in the old Aaron Brothers art store across from Toys R Us, the new tool supply store promises “ridiculously low prices” on its shop equipment and array of automotive, power, and hand tools.

Harbor Freight Tools began in California in 1977 with a small shop owned by current CEO Eric Smidt and his father, and now boasts over 500 stores nationwide, according to its website.

<<Related: Citrus Heights to gain 200 jobs with proposed shopping center at old Capital Nursery site on Sunrise Blvd>>

The company’s new store is located next to Big 5 Sporting Goods at 7829 Greenback Ln. in Citrus Heights, with operating hours Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

December 31, 2014
Giving Thanks: Local biz offers free coffee to all in uniform

Hot Java Cafe in Citrus Heights says it’s giving thanks by “giving back” this year, with free coffee for nurses, firefighters, police and any other uniformed profession, through Thanksgiving.

Hot Java Cafe in Citrus Heights.

Located near the corner of Auburn Boulevard and Greenback Lane for the past 17 years, owner Katie Almendariz says the family-owned drive-thru has always sought to give special thanks to those who serve in public safety – but decided to open the offer this year to security guards, nurses and other uniformed professions as well.

Almendariz says the free coffee offer works on trust, without any rigid rules for proving a customer works in a qualifying uniformed profession, and free coffee-seekers don’t have to show up in work clothes.

Other local coffee drive-thru’s have also sought to show support for those in public safety, like Dutch Bros., whose Sacramento-area locations gave a day’s worth of proceeds to families of two slain law enforcement officers last month.

Not without strings, Hot Java’s free coffee is only offered from 4-6 p.m. through November 28, although those seeking a free boost this Saturday and Sunday can get a free coffee all day, as well as on Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to Almendariz. The offer also doesn’t apply for specialty drinks, and she recommends bringing a cup to fill –though not required.

November 22, 2014
Pumpkin Farm closes 40th season Friday; says 10,000 visited

With storm clouds looming overhead, Citrus Heights’ Pumpkin Farm closed out its month-long October season at noon Friday — after selling out of pumpkins and finishing a final school group tour, according to Leonard Shymoniak, who runs the Farm with three of his children.

A young boy looks on as eager goats stretch through a fence to be fed and petted at the Pumpkin Farm, Thursday.

“We had pretty good weather this year,” said the farmer, glad that rains didn’t dampen his Farm’s attractions this season. On the flipside though, he added that the lack of rain caused a little problem with dryness and dust.

Tucked away off Old Auburn Road near Sunrise Boulevard, the Farm celebrated its 40th year of operation this season, and annually attracts about 10,000 visitors, according to the family operators.

The month-long local “farm experience” opens for business each October, and is closed to the public for the remaining months. Far from being dormant the rest of the year however, the Shymoniaks say it takes six months of work each year to prepare for the annual busy season, with corn being planted in late July and other attractions and plantings needing several months to get ready.

Open Tuesday-Sunday each October, the seasonal attraction is described by its operators as “more of a farm experience than a Halloween experience,” complete with mazes through tall corn stalks, tours of farm operations, animal-petting, and picking out a pumpkin from one of the 100 tons of pumpkins grown on the 16-acre property.

The Pumpkin Farm is located at 7736 Old Auburn Rd. in Citrus Heights. More information is available on the Farm’s web site: pumpkinfarm.net

October 31, 2014
Dutch Bros. says $96,597 raised for families of slain officers

Following an outpouring of support from the community during Wednesday’s “Proceeds Day,” Dutch Bros. Coffee said $96,597 was raised during its one-day fundraiser to benefit the families of two Placer and Sacramento County officers who were killed last week, according to the Dutch Bros. Coffee of Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks Facebook page.

Drivers grab coffee during Wednesday’s “Proceeds Day” at Dutch Bros. Coffee in Citrus Heights.

“Thank you to our INCREDIBLE customers!” the company stated on its Facebook page, Thursday. “Such generosity and love and support for our Fallen Heroes! You have truly made a difference!”

Within hours of posting its fundraiser totals, the company had over 600 hundred “likes” and nearly 300 “shares,” along with plenty of supportive comments.

“This is why I love Dutch Bro’s!!” read a comment from Julie Ann Leach. “What an out pouring of love and support for these fallen officer’s families!”

*Editor’s note: Read more about Wednesday’s event in our previous story: “Long lines fuel Dutch Bros. fundraiser for fallen officers”

October 31, 2014
Long lines fuel Dutch Bros. Coffee fundraiser for slain officers

Long lines of cars and pedestrians flooded the Citrus Heights Dutch Bros. Coffee location Wednesday, as the company announced its Sacramento-area locations would participate in “Proceeds Day” to support the families of two fallen officers in Placer and Sacramento County.

Customers wait in long lines outside the Citrus Heights Dutch Bros. Wednesday, eager to show their support for law enforcement by grabbing cup of coffee during “Proceeds Day.”

“The Sheriff’s Department has always had our back. It is our time to have theirs,” said local Dutch Bros. owner Nikol Grubbs in a press release announcing the event. “They are customers, but more importantly they are always looking out for the safety of our staff which means more to us than we can say.”

The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) tweeted a “thank you” to the coffee company early this morning, and told followers, “Don’t forget to stop by @DutchBrosSac today.” The Department also dispatched officers to help keep lines moving quickly, as cars were backed up for several hundred feet in the parking lot.

“We support anyone who’s raising funds for the fallen deputies,” said CHPD Sergeant Jason Baldwin. “Our role is to support Dutch Bros. through talking with community members and traffic calming measures.”

Baldwin said lines were about 15-20 minutes long Wednesday afternoon, but commented “the community is very supportive; they’re willing to wait.”

Citrus Heights is among nine Sacramento-area locations participating in “Proceeds Day,” including Auburn, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Woodland, Davis and Sacramento.

The company says proceeds from all sales today will go to support the families of Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County Sheriff’s Detective Michael David Davis, Jr., who were both killed last week.

October 30, 2014
Walmart Market opens January 7 in Citrus Heights

<<Update: The new Walmart Market opened as scheduled on January 7, and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.>>

A new Walmart Neighborhood Market on Sunrise Boulevard is scheduled to open just after New Year’s, bringing 95 jobs and a 39,000 square feet grocery store to Citrus Heights, according to a construction superintendent in charge of remodeling the location.

Construction on Citrus Heights’ new Walmart market is expected to be “substantially completed” by November 14, according to SD Deacon.

“I’m proud to welcome this new Walmart Neighborhood Market to Citrus Heights,” said Mayor Mel Turner. “The store’s emphasis on quick, convenient grocery shopping is important to our community.”

Neighborhood Markets were launched by Walmart in 1998 as a smaller alternative to their supercenters, typically being about a third the size and focusing on grocery, pharmacy and pet supplies.

Local construction workers with Citrus Heights-based SD Deacon Corp of California are handling the remodel of the new store, as they have for other local businesses like Stein Mart and HD Supply, according to General Superintendent Don Yount. He said they are on schedule to have work “substantially complete” by November 14, with the grand opening planned for January 7, 2015.

The new store is located at 6197 Sunrise Blvd. between Lowe’s and Barnes & Noble bookstore. Those interested in applying for a position at the new location are invited to visit Walmart’s hiring center at 8065 Madison Ave., between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., any day except Sunday.

October 28, 2014
Controversial plastic bag ban stirs up local Walmart shoppers

Updated Oct. 24, 11:20 a.m. —
Drawing signatures of support as well as angry remarks, a paid petition-gatherer set up outside the Citrus Heights Walmart for several hours Thursday, hoping to gather signatures for an effort to overturn a recently passed law that would ban stores from offering plastic bags beginning July 1, 2015 — if opponents don’t gather enough signatures to put the issue before voters.

Citrus Heights residents Kathleen Ring and daughter Randi sign a plastic bag petition outside Walmart, Thursday.

“I need these plastic bags,” said Kathleen Ring as she walked out of Walmart with a cart full of items bagged in plastic. “What else are you gonna pick up dog crap with?”

Others like shopper Tricia Wallen didn’t hold the same view, muttering “I’m not signing it — I want ’em gone,” as she passed by the petition table.

Preferring not to be identified due to privacy concerns, the petition-gatherer said about 90 percent of shoppers didn’t care, but the remainder were split about “50-50” on the issue. Shoppers in support of the ban tended to cite environmental concerns, while those opposed to the ban said they’d miss being able to reuse the bags for things like lining garbage cans or holding dirty diapers.

“I hate ’em,” said shopper and Citrus Heights resident Joel Sirugo as he loaded up his car with reusable Walmart bags. “You seen what they do to the oceans?”

In September, California became the first state to sign a plastic bag ban into law, but opponents with the American Progressive Bag Alliance quickly filed a referendum to overturn the law. The law allows for reusable bags, recycled paper and compostable plastic bags — but requires stores to charge a minimum 10 cent fee per bag.

Opponents of the plastic bag ban need to collect 504,760 valid signatures by December 29 in order to put the issue before voters. If successful, the ban would go on the ballot in 2016, and would legally halt implementation of the ban until voters decide the issue.

The full text of the law, SB 270, can be read here: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB270.

October 24, 2014
HD Supply celebrates grand opening with ‘board-cutting’ ceremony

Updated Oct. 17, 4:02 p.m. –
Highlighting an industry-appropriate deviation from the usual “ribbon-cutting” ceremony, HD Supply Home Improvement Solutions celebrated the grand opening of their 46,000 square feet store in Citrus Heights with an official plywood “board-cutting” just outside the front doors on Greenback Lane, Friday.

Employees and company leaders join for an official “board-cutting” as HD Supply opens in Citrus Heights

“We’re really happy to be in the Citrus Heights community,” said HD District Manager David Lewis, who attended Friday’s grand opening event and said the company prioritizes involvement in the community.

Noting the store’s “cutting-edge technology,” Lewis said their Citrus Heights location is the first to feature QR codes on every product, which can be scanned with a smartphone to provide product information and a video presentation about the item’s features and benefits. The main entry also has a touchscreen kiosk where customers can type in what they’re looking for, and be shown a list of corresponding items and a map of where the item is located in the store.

“It’s pretty nice technology,” said customer Dana Payne of Orangevale, who was being shown the kiosk by Nicole True with HD Supply. “This will really help drastically in the future to find my way around.”

Nicole True with HD Supply shows customer Dana Payne a product video on the store’s touchscreen kiosk.

Although about 40 employees were hired initially to get the store open, 19 employees will operate the new location — three of whom live in Citrus Heights, according to Marketing Director Cate Solomon.

HD Supply Home Improvement Solutions is the home improvement division of HD Supply, which operates around 650 locations in North America.

The new store is located at 7999 Greenback Lane, across from the Sunrise Mall. Store hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

October 17, 2014
HD Supply, Stein Mart Open this Month in Citrus Heights

October marks the opening of two large businesses in Citrus Heights, with Stein Mart opening its doors for the first time today in the Marketplace at Birdcage, and HD Supply scheduled to open the 15th on Greenback Lane near Sunrise Boulevard.

HD Supply is set to open in Citrus Heights on October 15 in the old Circuit City building on Greenback Lane.

Stein Mart’s new location across from Sunrise Mall takes up the 34,000 square feet building once home to Linen ‘N Things, and is one of three new Stein Mart stores scheduled to open this fall in California, according to a news release.

As part of its 2014 expansion, the nationwide discount retailer says it identified the Citrus Heights location as a “key growth market” to bring its selection of clothing, home decor and other accessories.

HD Supply’s Citrus Heights location will be the fourth store to open in northern California and will compete with Lowe’s and Home Depot in providing home improvement and construction supplies to area consumers and contractors.

The location at 7999 Greenback Lane was originally home to Circuit City, but most recently occupied by Wise Buys, which closed its doors in 2012.

October 2, 2014