By Mike Hazlip—
Consolidated Communications’ ongoing roll-out of high-speed fiber internet service in parts of Citrus Heights isn’t fast enough for some residents.
The company has been building the infrastructure for the service, called Fidium, throughout the region since 2021, according to Consolidated Communications Senior Manager of Public Relations and Media, Nichole Elton. The most recent construction was completed in March, she said.
The service is currently available to more than 9,000 homes and small businesses in Citrus Heights, and a map of the coverage area published by Consolidated Communications shows the service is available in areas on both sides of I-80 near Antelope Road. The map extends as far north as Whyte Avenue and as far south as Misty Wood Way in the Twin Creeks neighborhood.
One resident who contacted The Sentinel said he’s been on the wait list for more than a year and has pre-ordered the service “several times” after receiving his first email notice. He expressed frustration “with the lack of quality internet service alternative to Comcast/Xfinity.”
Elton said Consolidated Communications does not have any additional construction planned for the remainder of 2023, and has not yet released its build plan for 2024.
The service boasts internet speeds up to two gigabits per second, depending on the service plan. All plans include a WiFi gateway, Whole-home Attune app, network monitoring, and free installation, according to the company’s website. Prices range from $55 to $75 per month, for the first two years.
File photo, 2019. A pile of bricks and concrete are seen following the demolition of a long-vacant commercial building at 7210 Greenback Ln., which had a history of code enforcement issues.
By Mike Hazlip—
A vacant lot that was once home to a blighted commercial building is on the market for $300,000, according to a listing by commercial real estate site LoopNet.
The listing describes the .64 acre commercial property at 7210 Greenback Ln. as a “great location” at the corner of Greenback Lane and Shupe Drive with “great frontage and visibility from Greenback.” Probate sale conditions apply to the property, according to the listing.
A small commercial building at the site was demolished in late 2019 after a lengthy legal battle with owner George Petker, according to a previous report by The Sentinel. Citrus Heights City Council voted 4-0 to assess a $105,000 lien against the property to recover costs related to nuisance abatement and demolition of the vacant building, The Sentinel reported.
In a May 14, 2020 hearing, the city’s chief building official, Greg Anderson, testified the building had been vacant since 2011. Anderson said Petker refused to cooperate with the city’s efforts to inspect the property.
City documents show a history of code violations and blight complaints at the property. Anderson said the electrical panel in the building had been vandalized, and power was shut off. The building was declared a public nuisance May 21, 2019.
The city’s municipal code gives authority to abate a public nuisance if the property owner does not bring the property into compliance. The city gave Petker an abatement notice on June 10, 2019, and a fire at the site the following month caused severe damage to the building, with Metro Fire crews finding evidence that the building was being inhabited by transients.
An abatement warrant was executed over several weeks in November and December of 2019, which included the building’s demolition. Anderson testified the debris was treated as hazardous waste after hypodermic needles were found at the site.
Kely’s Crepes and Burgers is located at 8000 Auburn Blvd., in Citrus Heights. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip—
Diners and drivers traveling along the 8000 block of Auburn Boulevard have likely noticed some rebranding at the popular Crepes & Burgers restaurant in Citrus Heights.
Crepes & Burgers, located at 8000 Auburn Blvd., is now Kely’s Crepes and Burgers, with a distinctive new logo now displayed outside the restaurant. An employee at the restaurant said the business is still under the same ownership, and the owner is adding his daughter’s name to the establishment.
In a Sept. 5 announcement online, the business said the Auburn Boulevard location and an associated establishment at 6720 Madison Ave. in Fair Oaks are becoming “two different brands now. Both with distinct visions.”
“Our goal is to be unique, but continue to deliver an exceptional dining experience with delicious food and excellent service,” the business said. “Thank you for your continuous support!”
The restaurant opened in 2017, according to a previous report by The Sentinel, serving its namesake entrees along with salads, sandwiches, and a kids menu. Beer, wine, and coffee selections are also available.
The Sentinel previously reported business owner Martin Garcia and his business partner, Jose Garcia, previously met when Jose was a manager at Sacramento’s popular Crepeville restaurant and hired Martin as a cook. Several years later, the two Garcias (no relation) went into business together, taking over an East Sacramento crepe restaurant.
After a suspicious arson fire burned through their eatery in 2014, the pair began searching for a new location and settled on the location across from the Grand Oaks Shopping Center on Auburn Boulevard. The site had previously been operating as Charlie’s Cafe, but the cafe moved to the Grand Oaks shopping center across the street, leaving the 3,700-square-foot building open for a new tenant.
An apartment building at 7524 Pratt Ave., near Auburn Boulevard, was damaged in a fire last year. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip—
Work is nearing completion more than a year after a Citrus Heights apartment building near Auburn Boulevard was heavily damaged in a fire.
Temporary fencing remains set up, and new siding can be seen on the building at 7524 Pratt Ave. A worker at the site this week said the owner hopes to reopen soon.
The small building housed five families, all of whom were displaced in the August 2022 incident. The Sentinel previously reported that three units sustained major damage, with the other two sustaining moderate damage. No injuries were reported.
The fire started just before 5 p.m. on Aug. 23 and traveled along a space between the roof and ceiling for the entire length of the single-story, five unit building, Metro Fire said at the time.
Nearby business owner Guy Peres, of The Service Department automotive repair shop, told The Sentinel there were frequent arguments between residents at the building prompting police and fire to respond to the location on a weekly basis. Another resident said there had been an ongoing dispute between residents in two separate units at the apartments.
Photo from Metro Fire showing the office ceiling near the origin of a fire at the Safeway store at 7301 Greenback Ln., on Oct. 2, 2023.
By Mike Hazlip—
The Safeway store on Greenback Lane near San Juan Avenue was evacuated Monday after an electrical fire in the manager’s office caused the supermarket to close for several hours.
Crews responded to the Oct. 2 fire at about 8:30 a.m. and were at the scene for just over an hour, according to call logs. Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn told The Sentinel the fire’s origin appears to be a battery charging unit, something he said is “definitely becoming more common.”
“Good stop by sprinklers and crews to limit damage,” Wilbourn said. “Good coordination and fast response by the City of Citrus Heights.”
Wilbourn said removing batteries from chargers overnight and storing them away from the charger can help prevent fires related to battery chargers.
Wendy Gutshall, a spokesperson for the Northern California Division of Safeway confirmed with The Sentinel on Monday that there was a fire in the manager’s office. She said there were no injuries and the store re-opened after “a brief period.”
Once Upon a Child is located at 7937 Greenback Ln., in Citrus Heights. // Josiah Otterstad
Updated Sept. 30, 10:35 a.m.–
By Lily Tu– The Once Upon a Child store in Citrus Heights is up for sale, according to an announcement by the owner in a July Facebook video, followed by a similar post sent out early September.
According to Franchise Resales, the store has been in operation under its current owner since 2019 and is listed for $275,000. The store first opened in 2000. Other franchise locations for sale across the country range in price from as low as $50,000 to nearly $1 million, depending on location. One store in Ontario, Canada is listed for $2.1 million.
The local franchise owner said in her Facebook video that she is selling the business so her parents can retire.
“My parents actually do a ton of the back work,” she said. “We’ve been doing it for five years, and I want my parents to enjoy their retirement.”
Once Upon a Child is a franchise that buys and sells lightly used items for children. It is the largest national franchise that specializes in reselling children’s used gear, with over 400 store locations across the U.S. and Canada. Unlike consignment shops, Once Upon a Child offers cash on the spot for accepted items, buying all season with no appointment necessary.
Environmental sustainability drives the franchise’s mission, reducing waste by reselling children’s gear in good condition. The company’s website says recycling saves resources and cuts down on toxic emissions caused by the production of new clothes and toys.
The Once Upon a Child store in Citrus Heights is located at 7937 Greenback Ln., in the Citrus Town Center, offering an established location and customer base for people interested in owning the business. The owner said on Facebook that the location is “ready to change hands and ignite the entrepreneurial fire within you.”
According to the company’s franchise website, potential franchisees begin the ownership process by filling out a qualification form. Parent company Winmark oversees the franchising process, reviewing applicants’ financial ability and answering any initial questions about the company. Required finances include $400,000 in net worth and $75,000 to $105,000 in liquid assets.
After financial eligibility is confirmed, candidates meet with existing Once Upon a Child store owners to familiarize themselves with the industry. These visits occur in person or over the phone, allowing candidates to learn about the expectations, branding, and routines of operating a store.
Following these visits, Winmark invites candidates to an informational Discovery Day, where they learn about the store training and support provided by Winmark. Once both sides commit to the franchise partnership, all franchisees enroll in a Winmark training course before opening their stores.
Franchisees then continue to receive operational and marketing support from Winmark during the entire franchise relationship.
Buyers interested in the Citrus Heights location are asked to the Winmark’s Franchise Development team at 1-866-595-0053.
*Correction: An initial version of this story cited data from FranchiseResales indicating the store opened in 2019. The owner has since clarified that the store opened in 2000, and she acquired the store in 2019.
A home for sale on Twin Oaks Avenue can be seen with partially completed repairs, after being damaged in winter storms. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip—
A Citrus Heights home with partially completed repairs after being damaged in a series of storms in January is on the market for $429,000, according to a listing from residential real estate website Zillow.
The home at 7591 Twin Oaks Ave. was damaged in January 2023, when a tree from a neighboring property fell across the garage. Sentinel photos from the time show the garage destroyed, with debris piles in the driveway.
The current listing shows framing for the garage is up, but an incomplete roof. A description for the listing says work on the garage has begun, but needs to be finished. The interior is described as being “in live in ready condition,” according to the listing.
Built in 1964, the 1,465 square-foot home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and sits on a quarter-acre lot, the listing shows. The home was last sold in 2019, for $365,000.
The listing says buyers must come with “cash or hard money,” meaning buyers with conventional loans cannot buy the property.
A prior report from The Sentinel shows the home was one of the most heavily damaged properties in Citrus Heights after a series of storms struck California in the first weeks of 2023. The Black Angus restaurant along Greenback Lane was also damaged when a tree fell on Jan. 10, and downed trees were reported throughout the city as crews worked to remove debris and clear roadways.
Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney gave the City Council a report in mid-January saying the city’s General Services Department fielded more than 400 service requests during two weeks of storms. The call volume was about three times higher than normal, he said.
File photo, JJ’s Kids Fun Center at Sunrise Mall. // CH Sentinel
By Mike Hazlip—
Two stores have recently ceased operations at Sunrise Mall, while a Halloween store has temporarily set up in the vacant Sears store.
JJ’s Fun Center, a small arcade near Macy’s South is no longer in business, according to a statement from the owner. The Sentinel could not confirm the closing date, but the business was operating on reduced hours in June and shuttered completely in the months following.
The arcade had first opened in 2018 and offered a variety of electronic games, rides and prizes.
Another retailer that has vacated its suite is Custom Designs, an apparel printing shop that operated from a suite in the center section of the mall. The suite is now vacant, and a source at the mall said merchandise was being moved out on Sept. 9.
The Spencer’s-owned seasonal retailer Spirit Halloween opened a temporary store in the vacant building formerly occupied by Sears, the only business added to the mall’s tenant list in recent months.
Outside the mall, commercial real estate investor Ethan Conrad has re-surfaced much of the parking areas in the former Sears properties at the mall’s southern end. All three Sears buildings also have a new coat of paint.
Improvements to the landscaping along Greenback Lane is also evident and now features new bark, plants, and trees.
Exterior work can be seen at the former Tokyo Buffet restaurant on Greenback Lane. // CH Sentinel
By Mike Hazlip—
Drivers traveling along Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights have long passed by the vacant, former Tokyo Buffet restaurant which in recent months has seen significant exterior work under way.
City Spokeswoman Marissa Brown said a permit filed with the city by Yummy Buffet also includes new interior work. She said a permit issued Aug. 8 includes window replacement and new stucco finishes, along with interior improvements such as new appliances and equipment for cooking and buffet. Some mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work is also approved for the site, Brown said.
The building has been vacant since the closure of Tokyo Buffet in August of 2019. The Sentinel previously reported the business closed after a kitchen fire damaged the restaurant. Metro Fire Capt. Chris Vestal told The Sentinel at the time the likely cause of that fire was a general failure of the restaurant’s kitchen hood fire extinguishing system. The system was inoperable at the time of the fire, he said.
Another fire damaged the vacant building in May of 2022. Owner Ling Lin told The Sentinel at the time through an interpreter that he was waiting on permits when the incident happened. In a May, 2022 statement to The Sentinel, interpreter Judie Xue said the electricity was shut off at the time of the incident, and she did not know what could have caused the fire. The sprinkler system came on, limiting damage to the kitchen area.
An opening date for the new buffet was not able to be confirmed by The Sentinel.
The red brick exterior of a building slated to become an event center at 7942 Arcadia Drive was recently repainted. // CH Sentinel
Sentinel staff report–
Citrus Heights Planning Commissioners on Wednesday night unanimously approved plans to issue a use permit for an event center to take up a former night club building on Arcadia Drive.
No members of the public spoke during a public hearing held prior to the vote, and commissioners only had brief comments during the 10-minute portion of the meeting that addressed the event center proposal.
The 6,000-square-foot event center building, located at 7942 Arcadia Drive, has been vacant since 2018 and was previously home to a string of nightclubs including Alley Katz, Paradise Beach and Sand Bar. The center’s owner, Sam Hameed, plans to use the site for events such as weddings, birthdays, baby showers, graduations, conferences, and seminars.
Commissioner Marcelle Flowers asked whether there are any categories of events that would be restricted from using the facility, and Senior Planner Alison Bermudez confirmed that concerts and other events could be held, as long as they are in compliance with noise restrictions and a 400-attendee cap.
The approved use permit specifies a 10 p.m. cutoff for music and patio use at the event center. Additionally, in order to minimize noise, no music or organized events will be allowed in the patio area, and no doors may be propped open during an event. The conditions were added due to the close proximity of homes along Arcadia Drive within 200 feet of the site.
No structural changes have been proposed for the existing building, but a new coat of paint was recently seen applied to the exterior of the building. Plans indicate the interior is expected to be updated with refinished walls and floors, new interior designs, and changes to a food preparation area.
