Business Journal: Track 7, Montano De El Dorado, Icing On The Cupcake

It's been a rough month for Sacramento beer fans. American River Brewing in Rancho Cordova suspended operations on August 1st. And this week, Rubicon Brewing announced that it'll be closing both its West Sacramento tap room and it's midtown brew pub which has been open for nearly 30 years. But there is some good news. The Sacramento Business Journal's Sonya Sorich says more breweries are in the works.

"Track 7 Brewing is thinking about opening a tasting room in the Odd Fellows building in Old Town Roseville," says Sorich. "This is a pretty prominent property that dates to 1878. And Track 7 already has locations in Hollywood Park and North Natomas."

Another existing brewery in Rocklin - Out of Bounds - is expanding with a new location in Folsom. The Sacramento region has more than 50 breweries.

A major retail project in Rocklin is in the works. Rocklin Station will have five buildings on more than six acres at the corner of Sierra College Boulevard and Interstate 80. Although it may seem odd to open up new stores when brick-and-mortar retail is struggling, Sorich says developers hope to attract customers by adding restaurants.

"That Rocklin project has lots of people excited because it would include the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain that's popular in the south but it hasn't opened any locations here yet," says Sorich.

Rocklin's planning commission is considering the project. Meanwhile in El Dorado Hills, the second phase of an existing retail development called Montano De El Dorado is also moving forward. It's expected to include a hotel and amphitheater.

A chain of dessert restaurants in Sacramento has changed hands. Sorich says Icing on the Cupcake has new owners.

"It's now owned by members of the Schnetz family which includes Eric Schnetz, the founder of the local Chicago Fire Pizza chain," says Sorich. "The other owners who will be leading the business are his wife, his daughter and his wife's sister. They hope to expand and enhance the business."

Icing on the Cupcake started in Rocklin 10 years ago and grew quickly. But it filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and closed its four locations in early 2014. The chain was later revived with ownership changes. It reopened as a single location and now has three local sites.