Downtown Sacramento businesses enter the 2026 holiday season with foot traffic close to pre-pandemic levels, about 30 openings and about 10 closures so far this year, according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.
Downtown Sacramento businesses are heading into the 2026 holiday season with more openings than closures. Andrew LaFrance of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership told CBS Sacramento on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, that about 30 businesses have opened downtown this calendar year, while about 10 have closed. For owners deciding whether to sign a lease, add staff for December or plan holiday promotions, those numbers are a useful read on where the central city stands.
According to the partnership, foot traffic downtown has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels. The mix has changed, though: fewer daytime office workers and more evening visitors drawn by the nighttime economy, including Kings games, restaurants and events. LaFrance said there is so much happening that foot traffic has largely recovered. New businesses have opened in Old Sacramento, at Downtown Commons and across the downtown core.
The closures still matter. CBS Sacramento named Punch Bowl Social and the steakhouse Echo & Rig, the most recent downtown closure, among the businesses that shut their doors this year. Anthony Sadeghi, owner of Karma Brew in Midtown, told the station that people are looking for community as the holidays approach, but he expects a slowdown after New Year’s that could push some businesses to close.
Holiday attractions are already in place to bring people downtown. The Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is open for the season, and Old Sacramento’s 60-foot holiday tree arrived in early November. Visitors who come for skating, a game or a show are the customers that nearby shops, cafes and restaurants can reach in the next seven weeks.
For owners, the lesson is to plan for two seasons at once. Make the most of December traffic with evening hours, event-night specials and gift cards, then build a cash cushion for the quieter weeks of January and February, when the drop-off Sadeghi described tends to arrive.
Key takeaways
- The Downtown Sacramento Partnership counts about 30 openings and about 10 closures downtown so far in 2026.
- Foot traffic is near pre-pandemic levels, with more evening and event visitors and fewer daytime office workers.
- Owners expect a post-New Year’s slowdown, so plan holiday sales and January cash flow together.
Downtown Sacramento Partnership
