The City of Sacramento is seeking proposals from qualified restaurateurs and entrepreneurs to operate a walk-up café in the historic Steamers Building, a prime location along the newly renovated Embarcadero boardwalk in Old Sacramento.
The City envisions a fast-casual or quick-service café concept with outdoor patio dining and scenic views of the Sacramento River. The café will serve residents and tourists, including more than 4 million annual visitors to the Old Sacramento Waterfront.
“This is a rare opportunity to bring fresh energy to a high-visibility waterfront location and help transform the next phase of Old Sacramento,” said Valerie Mamone, Project Manager with the City’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development. “We’re looking for a tenant who understands the area’s historic and social value and can deliver quality food, drinks and hospitality.”
The Steamers Building is a two-and-a-half-story replica of the 19th-century California Steam Navigation Company office and offers approximately 750 square feet of interior café space. It also includes a fenced 1,550-square-foot outdoor patio along the Embarcadero. The café must operate as a walk-up service with dedicated order and pick-up windows. Seating will be available outdoors, and restrooms for patrons are nearby at the North Public Market and Waterfront Park.
Responses are due by August 29, through the City’s online bid portal. More details are available online.
Broader waterfront improvements underway
The café opportunity is one piece of a larger revitalization effort along the Old Sacramento Waterfront. This summer, the City will begin construction of a $1.3 million children’s play area. The new play space, developed with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and Wilton Rancheria, will celebrate the region’s Indigenous heritage and include natural elements like tule boats and climbing structures that reflect the local environment.
Construction is also scheduled for a complete replacement of the wooden deck at the waterfront restaurant at 1110 Front Street, the former location of Rio City Café’s outdoor dining area. The project is supported by a $4.6 million grant from the State of California. The new deck will use structural timber and steel to improve safety and enhance riverfront access. The City plans to release a solicitation for a new operator for the waterfront restaurant by the end of June.
These improvements are part of the City’s Waterfront Reinvestment Program, a multi-phase effort to modernize infrastructure, enhance public space and increase tourism. Additional plans include market building renovations, dock and barge repairs, and new opportunities for community events and cultural engagement.
