SACRAMENTO, Calif — Sacramento's ongoing Taco Plaza development has the potential to be a premier destination for residents and tourists in search of the best experiences in the city, according to Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Cathy Rodriguez Aguirre.
Aguirre says nearby businesses and community members are excited for the future economic development and beautification of the Northgate Boulevard commercial corridor.
"We had an activation pop-up event in October called Cervezalandia with Chicano beer and a lot of vendors came out for that," she said. "All the people coming from in and out of the neighborhood showed the potential Taco Plaza could be as a new destination, for tourists as well."
The future Taco Plaza sits on a plot of land owned by the Quintero family, who also run Tacos La Piedad, and now they're helping develop the plaza.
“Northgate Boulevard is an economic, cultural and social corridor located in South Natomas, serving locals and tourists alike. We are so proud to partner with the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber and the Gardenland Northgate Neighborhood Association to invest in this area," said Mayor Pro Tem Karina Talamantes, Councilmember for District 3. "One business owner recently told me a patron came all the way from San Jose to try the tacos."
About $2 million of the $5 million in COVID-19 recovery funding set aside for the Northgate Boulevard commercial corridor is going toward the development of the Taco Plaza, including local small business support. Such support involves:
- Business outreach and case management
- Business consulting and commercial lease assistance
- Business electrification grant program
Taco Plaza designs and renditions developed by architecture firm Atlas Labs.
The business electrification grant program is an upcoming project that aims to pay contractors to help the restaurants in the area, which includes a big Latino population, with adapting from traditional gas energy to electric with the help of SMUD.
Gardenland Northgate Neighborhood Association (GNNA) President Marbella Sala says she hopes Taco Plaza is ready by the end of the year.
"We have the design, it's just a matter of getting permits, lining up all of the different elements," she said. "However, we do have the ability currently to hold events without needing to file for a permit each time because we have a conditional use permit."
Sala says the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is helping educate small businesses on their lease agreements, operations and other administrative assistance not accessible to everyone.
Residents all over the Gardenland and Northgate area want to see the Northgate Boulevard commercial corridor booming, and now they have confidence that it's going to happen.
"We had 300 people show up to the Cervezalandia event, the Taco Plaza is going to make the community more colorful and vibrant," Sala said. "In the next two to three years, we'll be able to see the full effect."
Aguirre says Taco Plaza still requires additional funding to complete all of its phases and the 'Taco Plaza' will be the first installation to go up.
