​

EXPLAINS THE PROPOSAL. IT’S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR FOR BUSINESS ON OUR STREET, NICO WINE, BASED IN BOUNTY AND DEVICE BREWING, ALL SHUT THEIR DOORS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. NOW THE REMAINING BUSINESSES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A DROP IN NIGHTTIME FOOT TRAFFIC. IT’S VERY SEASONAL. WHERE PEOPLE GO OUT AND GO TO A SPECIFIC TIMES. THE NIGHTLIFE IN SACRAMENTO IS, I WOULD SAY, IS HURTING A LITTLE BIT. THERE’S NOT MUCH ACTION. A LOT OF RESTAURANTS HAVE CLOSED, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA. FOR JUAN RAMAZZINI, WHOSE PIZZA AND PASTA RESTAURANT JUST CELEBRATED ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY. THESE CLOSURES AREN’T A SETBACK. THEY’RE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW LIFE. WE HAVE A NEW RESTAURANTS COMING IN, AND SOME OF THEM ARE TURNING TO RETAIL, SO THE AREA IS KIND OF. REDEVELOPING. SO CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN GETTING PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOORS, ESPECIALLY ON US, THAT WE’RE IN THE ALLEY. WE’RE NOT ON A MAIN STREET, YOU KNOW. SO THE TRAFFIC, THE FOOT TRAFFIC IS NOT RIGHT HERE. RAMAZZINI IS ABOUT TO GET A BOOST. HE’S BEEN WAITING FOR A FULL LIQUOR LICENSE, AND NOW HE’S PART OF A LOTTERY THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING. EVEN BETTER. SACRAMENTO IS CONSIDERING TWO NEW ENTERTAINMENT ZONES AT 17TH AND R STREET, AND THE HANDEL DISTRICT. THIS COULD DRAW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO EVENTS LIKE THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL AND TERRA MADRE. AMERICA’S PUTTING HIS ALLEYWAY RESTAURANT ON THE MAP. SO WE’RE JUST EXCITED THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE EXPOSURE, WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. THE CITY COUNCIL IS SET TO DISCUSS THESE NEW ENTERTAINMENT ZONES TOMORROW, POTENTIALLY OFFERING RAMAZZINI AND OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS A NEW SOURCE OF BUSINESS.

Sacramento considers new entertainment zones to boost nightlife

Updated: 7:27 PM PDT Oct 13, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ


Maricela De La Cruz


Reporter

Sacramento leaders are considering expanding a program to create new entertainment zones to help boost the city’s nightlife and support businesses during major events and festivals.It’s been a tough year for businesses on R Street, with Nico Wine, Beast and Bounty, and Device Brewing all shutting their doors in the last 12 months, leading to concerns about a drop in nighttime foot traffic. “It’s very seasonal where people go out and at specific times,” said Juanes Ramazzini, whose pizza and pasta restaurant, Bambina’s, just celebrated its first anniversary. “The nightlife in Sacramento is hurting a little bit. There’s not much action. A lot of restaurants have closed, especially in this area.”RELATED | Sacramento’s entertainment zone law debuts at Faces’ Rainbow FestivalFor Ramazzini, these closures are not a setback but an opportunity for new life. “We have new restaurants coming in and some others are turning to retail, so the area is kind of redeveloping, so challenges have been getting people through the doors, especially for us. We’re in the alley, we’re not on the main street, so the foot traffic is not right there,” he said.Ramazzini is about to get a boost as he waits for a full liquor license, participating in a lottery that could change everything. Sacramento is considering two new entertainment zones at 17th and R Street and in the Handle District, which could draw thousands of people to events like the Rainbow Festival and Terra Madre Americas, putting Ramazzini’s alleyway restaurant on the map.”We’re just excited that we’re going to have a lot more exposure, work with the community,” Ramazzini said.The city council is set to discuss these new entertainment zones on Tuesday, potentially offering Ramazzini and others a new source of business.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Sacramento leaders are considering expanding a program to create new entertainment zones to help boost the city’s nightlife and support businesses during major events and festivals.

It’s been a tough year for businesses on R Street, with Nico Wine, Beast and Bounty, and Device Brewing all shutting their doors in the last 12 months, leading to concerns about a drop in nighttime foot traffic.

“It’s very seasonal where people go out and at specific times,” said Juanes Ramazzini, whose pizza and pasta restaurant, Bambina’s, just celebrated its first anniversary. “The nightlife in Sacramento is hurting a little bit. There’s not much action. A lot of restaurants have closed, especially in this area.”

RELATED | Sacramento’s entertainment zone law debuts at Faces’ Rainbow Festival

For Ramazzini, these closures are not a setback but an opportunity for new life.

“We have new restaurants coming in and some others are turning to retail, so the area is kind of redeveloping, so challenges have been getting people through the doors, especially for us. We’re in the alley, we’re not on the main street, so the foot traffic is not right there,” he said.

Ramazzini is about to get a boost as he waits for a full liquor license, participating in a lottery that could change everything.

Sacramento is considering two new entertainment zones at 17th and R Street and in the Handle District, which could draw thousands of people to events like the Rainbow Festival and Terra Madre Americas, putting Ramazzini’s alleyway restaurant on the map.

“We’re just excited that we’re going to have a lot more exposure, work with the community,” Ramazzini said.

The city council is set to discuss these new entertainment zones on Tuesday, potentially offering Ramazzini and others a new source of business.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel