The Big Lots store at 8525 Auburn Blvd. has closed. // S. Williams
By Sara Beth Williams–
Following several weeks of liquidation sales, the Big Lots store in Citrus Heights has closed — part of a round of closures for 2023 that included seven stores nationwide.
As of Monday, signage from the building had been removed and signs posted on several of the windows read “This location is closed.” The signs on the windows point to the next nearest Big Lots location, which is 10251 Fairway Drive in Roseville.
Several nearby businesses confirmed the store had closed sometime last week.
The local Big Lots store was among seven locations the company announced would be closing in January, with the company’s CEO in December citing the impact of high inflation on low-income consumers, which has caused many to hold off on buying non-essential items, according to a Jan. 12 report from Business Insider. Four other stores were slated to close by Jan. 15 in Colorado, along with two other locations in California.
The local discount retail store closed after almost four years of operating on the northern outskirts of Citrus Heights, at 8525 Auburn Blvd. The store opened its doors in April 2019, the same month that a Smart & Final store at the same shopping center closed. Big Lots occupied a portion of the 90,000-square-foot building that housed K-Mart until 2016.
ABC 10 first reported last month about the store’s impending closure, citing a statement from Big Lots spokesperson Josh Chaney who said the company reviews its stores on a routine basis “and sometimes decide, for a variety of business reasons, to close or relocate.”
ABC said there had been assertions about high crime and theft contributing to the closure, but the news outlet reported a police commander said the location had not seen “an unusually high amount of theft” over the past year.
A new tenant for the Big Lots site has not been announced, and the most current leasing brochure for the location shows the space as being available.
In 2021, three new businesses joined the Citrus Grove shopping center, including a new nail salon, cafe and a discount wholesaler. The future of the former Studio Grill site next door to Big Lots remains unconfirmed, although a leasing brochure dated Sept. 22, 2022 shows plans for a theater and does not list that space as available.
Red Mountain Group did not return attempts for comment before press time on Thursday.
File photo, the former site of Dimple Records at 7830 Macy Plaza Drive, near Birdcage Street, is slated to become a blood plasma donation center. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip—
Following the opening of dozens of new businesses in town last year, several new businesses have already announced plans to open in Citrus Heights later this year.
Sunrise Marketplace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter said the redevelopment project at Sunrise Village, at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue, is nearing completion with the property owner expected to turn over a 36,152-square-foot space to City Sports for further interior development.
The gym is likely to open in late 2023 or early 2024, Carpenter said.
Additionally, a new micro food hall called Local Kitchens, is slated for a 2023 opening in the same center. The kitchen will occupy a 2,030-square-foot suite in the same building as Little Caesar’s and will offer dishes from multiple local restaurants all on one tab, which customers can pick up or have delivered.
Next to Sunrise Village, See’s Candies is also planning to open a new corporate office and flagship store in the former Patelco Credit Union building.
Asked about businesses that have filed plans with the city, Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber noted in an email last week that planning entitlements have been submitted for a Starbucks at Auburn Boulevard and Whyte Avenue, as well as plans indicating a potential new hotel at Sunrise Mall. Both developments are in review, according to city records.
Two medical offices have also submitted building permits, one at 7551 Madison Ave., and another at 7803 Madison Ave., Huber said.
The Sentinel previously reported that a plasma donation center will also be opening in the former Dimple Records building on Macy Plaza Drive. Sentinel staff recently observed exterior work on the new facility has been completed, with furniture being moved in the interior.
The long-awaited opening of a California Burrito on Lichen Drive, near Raley’s, could also happen in 2023, but multiple attempts by The Sentinel to reach representatives of the restaurant have been unsuccessful. In June last year, a city spokesman said the project was “still in the development approvals process.”
Plans have also been announced for a new Sushi Habachi restaurant to take up the former Tokyo Buffet on Greenback Lane, but those plans appear to have been delayed following a second fire at the site in last year. A new theater next to Big Lots is also listed as “coming soon” in a leasing brochure, but additional details have not been confirmed by the property owner.
A fallen tree can be seen laying next to the Black Angus restaurant at 7925 Greenback Ln. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. // M. Hazlip
Sentinel staff report–
The Black Angus restaurant on Greenback Lane near Sunrise Boulevard was closed Tuesday, after a large tree fell next to the building amid a series of winter storms that have brought high winds and heavy rain to the region.
The tree appeared to have narrowly missed the main portion of the building, but damage to the side of the building was observed.
A sign posted on the front door of the restaurant said “Due to storm damage, we will be closed on Tuesday, January 10th.” It is unclear when the restaurant will reopen.
An employee at the restaurant on Tuesday referred all questions to Black Angus corporate office. A voicemail left with their Los Angeles based office was not immediately returned by press time Tuesday.
File photo, a portion of Sunrise Mall’s parking areas is shown dark, after what the mall’s general manager said was vandalism from homeless individuals attempting to tap into the mall’s electricity to charge devices. // M. Hazlip
As Citrus Heights emerged from the pandemic in 2022, the city saw new development projects and business openings, along with changes in the housing market, and more.
Below are the top local stories that drew the most interest from readers in 2022:
Real estate. The housing market continued to be a top-trending subject of interest, with a price drop on a million-dollar listing in Citrus Heights drawing attention from readers in May. The home eventually dropped in price again, down to $895,500, before being removed from the market in November, apparently without being sold. In August, the city also broke a record with a residential property selling for $1.25 million.
Commercial real estate news also drew reader attention, with the sale of the Raley’s-anchored retail center at Lichen Drive and Antelope Road being announced in January. The property was sold for $16.75 million to buyer Ethan Conrad, who later bought the former Sears building at Sunrise Mall the same year.
Construction. Development news and construction drew reader eyes in March, with controversy over an 8-unit townhouse development on a small lot on Auburn Boulevard, next to Walmart. Neighbors complained of a fence being removed that caused privacy concerns, but action was quickly taken to install temporary privacy screening while crews worked to build a masonry wall.
Also drawing significant reader interest was a proposal filed in April to demolish a coffee kiosk and liquor store along the Roseville border in order to build another Starbucks. The proposal is still under review by the City of Citrus Heights, according to an update last month.
Business. The opening of new stores in the Sunrise Village shopping center at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue drew readers eyes in February and March. Renovation continues at the center, but Firehouse Subs, Starbucks and Joann Fabrics are among the first businesses to have opened.
Sunrise Mall. News about the mall continued to draw reader interest, with a top-read story in December about a portion of the parking lot being unlit at night. Temporary lighting was quickly set up following the story being published, and the mall’s manager said repairs were slated to take place before the end of the year to provide a permanent solution.
Auburn Boulevard.A story in April about the city modifying plans for Auburn Boulevard improvements drew attention from readers, after The Sentinel reported earlier that business owners had raised concerns that planned changes with a center divide on the street would negatively impact access to businesses. Plans were modified to address the concerns, with one vocal business owner calling the city’s response a “positive experience.”
According to the city’s latest update, construction on the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard project is now expected to begin in 2024. Plans include roadway repaving, undergrounding of overhead utility lines, installation of bike lanes and wider sidewalks, upgrading signals, adding decorative street lighting, planting of new landscaping and trees, enhancing transit stops and adding a new signalized gateway sign over the boulevard.
Follow the latest local news in Citrus Heights in 2023 with a full-access subscription to The Sentinel: click here to see subscription options, or click here to sign up for our free Weekend Edition.
A home at 7508 Mariposa Ave. was listed in December for $795,000. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip—
The highest priced single-family home on the market in Citrus Heights is currently listed at $795,000, as the city sees a cooling housing market amid rising mortgage rates.
The 2,990-square-foot home at 7508 Mariposa Ave. went on the market Dec. 27 at $266 per square foot. It last sold in 2016 for $502,000, records show.
The home offers four bedrooms and three baths. Originally custom built in 1992, the home sits on a three-quarter-acre lot that fronts Mariposa Avenue. The back of the property borders a green space, and the listing says a variety of citrus trees are on the property.
What’s the housing market like right now?
Real estate appraisal expert Ryan Lundquist told The Sentinel on Thursday that home prices throughout the region are seeing a significant decline — a drop three times sharper than the typical seasonal decline the market sees this time of year.
“Citrus Heights is reflecting what we are seeing in the surrounding county with lower volume, fewer pending contracts, and slightly more listings compared to last year at the same time,” said Lundquist. “Last month properties on average sold about 5% below their original list price, and it’s been taking closer to 40 days to get into contract on average.”
The median price in the region has dropped about 15 percent since May of 2022, Lundquist said, noting some areas where changes in the market are more obvious.
Despite the downturn, some properties are still selling above list price, and many homes still have multiple offers.
“This shows even though the market has changed drastically, the market isn’t dead,” he said. “However, overpricing is a quick way to sit instead of sell, so if a property is not priced correctly, it’s going to really struggle in today’s market.”
One way sellers are compensating for the changing market is by offering credit to close the sale. In recent months, 62 percent of sales included some form of credit, Lundquist said. Sellers are offering to help buyers with sticking points such as closing costs, repairs, or buying down the mortgage rate.
With the market feeling the “pain of higher mortgage rates,” Lundquist still expects to see increased activity this spring.
“Buyers are hungry for quality listings, and there is growing attention for the spring season,” he said. “During the spring, even during a declining market, it’s normal to see an uptick in sales (even though the number of sales is still way down).”
Owner Rob Marvin stands inside Ciro’s Pizza Cafe on Old Auburn Road, with a Ciro’s logo behind him. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip— Ciro’s Pizza Cafe on Old Auburn Road has been a fixture in Citrus Heights for decades, but its distinctive logo dates back to the 1950s with a famous nightclub in Hollywood once frequented by celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, and others.
Ciro’s owner Rob Marvin told The Sentinel in an interview last month that he co-founded the restaurant at 7521 Old Auburn Rd. with his brother, Jim, in 1989. His introduction to the restaurant business began before that, however.
How it all began
When he was 14 years old, Marvin said the pizzeria where his brother worked in the Bay Area needed a dishwasher, and he showed up for the job.
“I came down during summer break and I just fell in love with it,” Marvin said. “And so I decided right then and there that I wanted to do pizza, make pizzas for a living. I realized I had sauce in my veins, so to speak.”
Pizzerias are a place where people come to celebrate special occasions and have a good time, Marvin says, something that inspired him to create an environment where people can do just that.
Marvin and his brother saved their money as teenagers working odd jobs living in the Bay Area. He says he stayed after hours to learn the pizza business on the promise he wouldn’t start a competing restaurant.
The duo used envelopes to save $1,000 at a time until they accumulated 100 envelopes on the wall, Marvin said.
Wanting to honor his promise to the restaurant owners, Marvin started looking for a location outside the Bay Area when he discovered a Sacramento-based pizza restaurant chain named Rico’s. The business had about 100 locations, but was going downhill, he said, with the owner looking to retire.
In an effort to move away from the Rico’s franchise, Marvin said the original owner changed the name of the first location to Ciro’s after his mother’s name. Soon after, Marvin approached him to buy the business and at just 19 he became co-owner of Ciro’s pizza.
“Obviously, being young, not having a lot of money, it couldn’t have been a big place,” Marvin said. “We didn’t have a lot of capital. We didn’t borrow any money, we bought the business and then we changed the recipes, and it grew.”
After taking over the business, the Marvin brothers not only changed the recipes, but also the business philosophy. They then acquired the Ciro’s name and logo rights from a famous nightclub that operated on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood from 1940 to 1957, known for being a popular spot for celebrities.
“We just basically found out about the original Ciro’s down in Hollywood and kind of adapted it for our place,” Marvin said. “And so we own the logo now because it was abandoned with Ciro’s name.”
Marvin has dedicated an entire wall to photographs of famous stars seen at the Hollywood nightclub, with the Ciro’s logo back-lit with neon on another wall.
Starting with just two employees, the business grew quickly through the 1990s, he said. With both brothers just in their 20s, Marvin said many of their employees were in the same age bracket as the business owners.
“So what made it work was being a hands-on owner, being in the kitchen, serving the customers,” Marvin said. “ We were working with a lot of people that were our age, so it was… a fun atmosphere.”
Incorporation
The Citrus Heights incorporation project was in full swing by the latter part of the 1990s, and Marvin said he supported the effort.
“Obviously being unincorporated, an unincorporated part of Sacramento County, it was kind of like the outskirts,” Marvin said. “There was a sheriff as opposed to a city police, and so the level of service wasn’t obviously as good as it is now.”
Although their location at Sylvan Corners was once considered the outskirts of the county, the location is now the geographic center of the city of Citrus Heights, something Marvin says has helped the business thrive.
“We’ve seen it in 30 years, we’ve seen that corner, they have completely changed that corner and it’s more vibrant now. And I really think that’s really helped with our success,” said Marvin. “Because we’ve got this little pizzeria, this little hole in the wall, it’s not a very big place, but the volume that it does is amazing, and it’s because of the infrastructure there.”
Through the years
Now, more than three decades after taking over the business, Marvin says some of their employees are the children of former employees.
“There’s a lot of people who, you know, 30 years ago worked for us and now they’re parents and have got children of their own that are working for us and that’s been very rewarding,” Marvin said. “I mean, it’s just great. We’ve got several where the parents met at Ciro’s, it was their first job and then they got married, had a child, and now their child works for us as a young adult.”
Owner Rob Marvin stands outside his self-described “hole in the wall” pizza cafe on Old Auburn Road. // M. Hazlip
In the decades since the Marvin brothers have owned the business, they have only opened one additional location. Their Folsom restaurant opened in August of 1991. Marvin said the previous owner cautioned them against opening too many locations.
“The original founder of Rico’s, in the early nineties when he saw that we were doing the volume that we were doing at the original Ciro’s, the original Rico’s, in Citrus Heights, he came to us and he said, Don’t make the same mistake I did. We opened up over 100 Rico’s and lost control,’ and he said, ‘Keep it small, you enjoy what you do, the money will come later’,” Marvin said.
That advice has served them well, with the business recently celebrating their 33rd anniversary in November 2022. Keeping Ciro’s to just two locations also helps Marvin maintain the quality, a key ingredient that he says helps make the restaurant popular with locals.
“We do our best to make a good a good pie, so it’s high quality,” he said. “And then, of course, the residents of Citrus Heights appreciate that it’s a small business, and we’re present.”
Today, Ciro’s pizza continues to serve customers at the original Citrus Heights location as well as one at 1300 East Bidwell St. in Folsom. Marvin says he intends to keep the business small, heeding the advice he received from the original Rico’s owner.
“You know, there’s two of us, myself and my brother, but we don’t want to grow much bigger than that,” Marvin said. “And so we’ve been doing it for now, 33 years doing it, and we’re working owners. But we enjoy it, we really do.”
File photo, Alonzo’s Pizza Depot abruptly closed in February with the owner citing a rent increase coupled with a disagreement over rent forgiveness during COVID as reasons for the move. // M. Hazlip
Updated 6:13 p.m., Jan. 5th– Sentinel staff report– Citrus Heights welcomed many new businesses in 2022, but also saw several notable departures of restaurants and other businesses during the same year.
Below are six businesses in Citrus Heights that closed in 2022. The list is not intended to be exhaustive:
Alonzo’s Pizza Depot. The year kicked off with closure of a popular pizza shop in the Copperwood Square shopping plaza on Sunrise Boulevard. The shop’s owner cited a rent increase and disagreement with the landlord over rent forgiveness during the pandemic as reasons for the closure. Related: Popular Citrus Heights pizza shop abruptly closes
BeanHeads coffee. A coffee house that opened at 6001 San Juan Ave. in 2021 called it quits a year later, beginning with irregular hours around October 2022. The owner confirmed in November that the location had permanently closed, but did not cite reasons. Related: Owner confirms permanent closure of Citrus Heights coffee shop
Java Detour. A coffee drive-thru on Auburn Boulevard closed its doors in the final quarter of 2022, with a public notice at the site listing more than $13,000 due in back rent. The kiosk closed amid a proposal to bring a new Starbucks to the site. Related: Citrus Heights coffee drive-thru closes amid plans for new Starbucks
Elliott’s Fine Nutrition. A popular natural foods store on Greenback Lane closed its doors on Nov. 30, following the tragic death of Charles Starzynski, who owned Elliott’s Fine Nutrition stores along with his wife. Related: Natural food store closes in Citrus Heights after owner’s tragic death
Additional departures included Sunglasses Hut and Little Violet’s floral shop inside Sunrise Mall, along with Pioneer Baptist Church, which moved to another location outside the city limits. Big Lots also announced it would be closing its Citrus Heights store, with the actual close date expected in January 2023.
File photo, Folsom Palace opened in 2022 at 5450 Sunrise Blvd., in Citrus Heights. // S.B. Williams
Sentinel staff report–
Citrus Heights welcomed many new businesses over the past year, including new restaurants, retailers, service shops and fitness centers.
Below is a list of 22 businesses that opened in Citrus Heights in 2022, which The Sentinel covered stories on during the year. The list is not intended to be comprehensive.
More businesses have already announced plans to open in Citrus Heights in 2023. To follow local business news, sign up for The Sentinel’s free weekly email editions.
Buckets were set up in various aisles of the Walmart Supercenter in Citrus Heights to collect water leaking from the roof during rains on Dec. 31, 2022. // S. Williams
By Sara Beth Williams–
During heavy weekend rains, the Walmart Supercenter in Citrus Heights could be seen littered with buckets and tubs to collect water from leaks in the store’s roof.
On Saturday, Dec. 31, multiple 5-gallon buckets, smaller buckets, and plastic tubs large and small could be seen in the aisles of the Walmart store at 7010 Auburn Blvd. Sentinel staff observed water leaking from the ceiling into one group of large plastic tubs. At least one aisle in the grocery section of the store was blocked off with rope.
Janet Henner, a shopper at Walmart on Saturday said the leaks were “horrible” and that she has observed the leaks happening for years when she shops.
“It’s dangerous for the people shopping,” Henner said during an interview with The Sentinel. “[Walmart] should be very afraid of lawsuits.”
A front-end store manager, who did not wish to be identified, confirmed the leaks have been going on for years and said rain is leaking through cracks in the metal roofing because so many screws are loose.
“Honestly I haven’t seen it this bad,” the manager said, adding that Walmart staff continually circulate the store mopping up small puddles that occur to keep people from slipping.
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Java Detour on Auburn Boulevard has closed. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip—
The Java Detour coffee drive-thru on Auburn Boulevard near Interstate 80 has shuttered its doors, as plans for a new Starbucks to be built on the site await review.
In a statement to The Sentinel, city economics development and communications manager Meghan Huber said a hearing date for the project has yet to be scheduled.
“Additional time is needed in this project’s review to ensure coordination with the city’s Auburn Blvd Street improvement project (Complete Streets),” Huber said. “Additionally, staff is working closely with the City of Roseville since the project site is intersected by both jurisdictions.”
The site borders the county line between Sacramento and Placer counties, involving both jurisdictions. A portion of the site also appears to be within Roseville city limits, according to a Sentinel review of county assessor data.
Nearby businesses confirmed to The Sentinel that the coffee kiosk closed several months ago. A sign posted in the window reads “Sorry Java Customers! We are moving locations! the store will be closed for the next few weeks. We are going to keep all of you updated on the new locations address. Thank you for all of your understanding. We will be back very soon! Thanks again!” The note is signed “Java Girls.”
A public notice posted to the business says the business owner owes more than $13,000 in back rent from May through October of 2022. The company’s website still lists the Citrus Heights location at 8540 Auburn Blvd., with the next closest locations being in Marysville and Yuba City.
The Sentinel previously reported plans to build a Starbucks at the site include a 2,241-square-foot building with a 400-square-foot patio.The site also includes a double drive-thru with room for about 17 vehicles and 38 parking spots.
The future of an existing building on the property that is currently home to Sam’s Liquor and Food, Waggin’ Tails Doggie Day Care, and Tea It remains in question. Although plans show the building will remain, except for the liquor store, one tenant told The Sentinel the landlord has only offered a month-to-month lease with no long-term lease options.
