Downtown Businesses Flourish, Flounder As Sacramento Kings Arena Construction Hits Milestone
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — As construction continues on a new Sacramento Kings arena, some downtown businesses in the area are struggling.
CBS13 spoke to Cilantro's owner Hugo Cervantes six months ago when construction began just a stone's throw away from his restaurant. He was worried at the time as sidewalks would be closed, parking would be limited and dust and dirt would fill the air.
Now, six months later, the business celebrating 10 years in its downtown construction is seeing extra cash coming in.
Since the construction began, business is up 15 to 20 percent, and the restaurant just had its best December in years. Cervantes credits his willingness to adapt to the changing business climate.
"One thing is in this business in downtown you cannot be stubborn," he said. "I make changes from one day to the other."
Part of those changes included adding staff to speed up service to accommodate construction crews' half-hour lunch breaks, and offering specials to arena workers.
He's also made one more big adjustment—making the call to open up early.
"We're open every day at 7 a.m.," he said. "Our construction workers, everybody gets their free coffee from 7 to 10 with their breakfast plate. We try to accommodate them as much as we can."
But not every business in the downtown arena construction zone is thriving.
Sandy Tang, the owner of Spinner Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls has seen better days. Business has dropped 40 percent, forcing Tang to consider closing up shop after nearly three decades.
"But we're still surviving right now," she said. "We want to stay until the arena is done, but it looks like it's not gonna happen."
Cervantes is hopeful progress and change will lead to new beginnings.
"I won't hesitate one bit to change my hours," he said. If there's a game, if there's a concert, we're gonna change them. If we have to be open up a little bit later. We're gonna do it."
Adding to his confidence is the recent announcement that Kaiser has purchased a building right across from the arena project. He's already working on making adjustments to his lunch specials.
The arena is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016.
