Home Care In Elk Grove, CA

ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Elk Grove Business Roundup, a column that highlights some of the news in retail, restaurant and nonprofit news around Elk Grove.

If you have any questions or business news to report, please contact City Editor Sean P. Thomas at 916-410-5389 or email [email protected].

Elk Grove Party City to Close

Elk Grove’s Party City at 7440 Laguna Blvd. will shutter its doors after the company officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Dec. 21.

It is unclear when the location will officially close, but according to a voice message relayed by an answering machine for the store, a closing sale will be held to help liquidate inventory. According to an advertisement, everything at the store is on sale with discounts of up to 50%.

Store locations in Roseville, Citrus Heights, Folsom and Sacramento are also closing.

The store is one of more than 850 corporately owned locations closing nationwide. Franchised stores will stay open, according to reporting from CNN.

The news comes nearly a year after the company exited bankruptcy after shedding almost $1 billion in debt. Stiff competition from online retailers and pop-up stores like Spirit Halloween continued to dig into the company’s bottom line.

New Fast Casual Eatery Coming to Laguna Springs Drive

Bohl, a new fast-casual restaurant, will open its doors on Laguna Springs Drive in the coming months.

According to the eatery's Instagram page, the new restaurant comes from the owners of 13 Dutch Bros. locations across the Sacramento region and will feature health-inspired bowls, salads and other customizable items.

“At Bohl, we’re all about options. Tons of them,” the Instagram post read. “From hearty bowls to fresh salads, you can build something healthy, indulgent, or anything in between.”

The owners could not be reached for comment.

Sharif Jewelers to Move into Old Chicago Fire Space

Sharif Jewelers announced plans last month to open a new jewelry showroom in Elk Grove after purchasing the former home of Chicago Fire Pizza at 7101 Laguna Blvd.

It is unclear when the store will open. An employee confirmed the news to the Elk Grove Citizen, but management for Sharif Jewelers did not respond to phone calls seeking comment on the decision.

The plan is to also utilize a portion of the space to open a coffee shop.

The Sacramento Business Journal first reported the news.

Chicago Fire closed the location in July after nearly 8 years in the location due to “rapidly rising costs,” according to Eric Schnetz, CEO of Chicago Fire’s parent company West of Chicago Restaurants Inc.

That same month, Outback Steakhouse and Macaroni Grill also closed in Elk Grove.

Stockton Man Wins $748,000 Jackpot

A Stockton man’s holiday season got a lot better after he took home a nearly $750,000 jackpot at Elk Grove’s Sky River Casino last week.

The man, whose identity has not been revealed, won the $748,000 jackpot while playing the Monopoly Cash Wheel slot machine on Dec. 23, according to a news release from the casino.

The win comes just a week after a Sacramento man won almost $240,000 playing Texas Hold’em at the casino.

Sky River Casino President Michael J. Facenda called the two wins “life-changing,” in a news release.

“It’s truly a magical time of year,” Facenda said in the news release. “We look forward to continuing to celebrate the holiday season with guests near and far who can enjoy our festive and fun promotions, exciting gaming and unparalleled dining experiences.”

What is the best internet provider in Elk Grove?

Xfinity is the best internet provider in Elk Grove, according to our expert research. Xfinity wins the top spot for its high customer satisfaction score and range of plans -- balancing affordability and high speeds. With prices starting at just $20 monthly for 150Mbps, it's one of the most affordable internet options in this Sacramento suburb. Looking for other options? Fidium and Digital Path come close. Finally, you might want to consider Verizon and T-Mobile for some of the lowest prices around if you're an eligible mobile customer.

Xfinity offers the fastest internet plan in Elk Grove, with speeds up to 2,000Mbps. However, Fidium Fiber’s symmetrical gigabit speeds are a strong competitor. The only drawback is Fidium Fiber’s more limited coverage compared to cable.

Best internet in Elk Grove, California

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Elk Grove

Cheap internet options in Elk Grove

The average starting monthly price for service in Elk Grove is about $43. The cheapest internet plan is Xfinity's $20-a-month plan for 150Mbps in download speed. After a year, expect the monthly rate to more than triple to $67. Another great option is Fidium Fiber's $25-a-month plan for 100Mbps; although similar to Xfinity, watch out for a steep price increase after 12 months. To avoid the price hike, a fixed wireless connection from Verizon 5G Home Internet might be for you. Verizon offers a $50-a-month plan for 100Mbps and features lower rates for eligible mobile customers.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Elk Grove

The best internet deals and top promotions in Elk Grove depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Take our quiz

How Fast Should Your Home Internet Be?

Answer 3 easy questions to discover our recommended speed for your household.

Elk Grove internet providers, such as Xfinity and Fidium Fiber, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, such as Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

How fast is Elk Grove broadband?

In the most recent Ookla speed test data, Elk Grove came in with a fixed median download speed of 245Mbps (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.). The nearby city of Stockton fell short of that, coming in at just 271Mbps. Elk Grove also topped other nearby cities like Sacramento (265Mbps) and Roseville (272Mbps).

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Elk Grove

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What's the final word on Elk Grove?

Elk Grove has different broadband options available, however, it will all come down to what's available at your address. Xfinity offers the widest coverage in the area, but if cable is not an option, Fidium Fiber should get you the fast speeds you're looking for. However, I wouldn't stop there, as plenty of fixed wireless providers also offer internet throughout the city.

Michael Hargis plans to revamp the Slow & Low restaurant as Horn Elk Grove via a partnership with Bay Area barbecue champ Matt Horn. Photo by Sean P. Thomas

ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Michael Hargis’ Slow & Low Smokehouse is shifting gears.

The owner recently announced a partnership with Bay Area barbecue heavyweight Matt Horn to revamp the eatery as Horn Elk Grove. The newly dubbed restaurant plans to replace Slow & Low at 9699 Railroad St. in late February, according to the restaurant’s social media accounts. The restaurant closed on Jan. 1 in preparation for the change.

“This partnership was built on faith in the craft,” Horn said through an Instagram post. “Elk Grove deserves more than great barbecue. It deserves a gathering place that fosters connection and belonging.”

“Together, Michael and I are creating that destination,” he added.

According to Horn Elk Grove’s Instagram page, the team promises “an elevated experience with a full bar, live music and appearances from some of the nation’s most celebrated pitmasters and chefs.”

“Literally a dream come true,” Hargis wrote in a comment on the post. “Can’t wait.”

Slow and Low Smokehouse opened last summer in Old Elk Grove with the help of the city of Elk Grove. The city guaranteed a $500,000 loan made to Slow and Low by River City Bank. The guarantee was made via funds the city had deposited at the bank at that time.

Sydney Robertson, communications and marketing specialist for the city of Elk Grove said that “no city funds have been forfeited as the loan continues under the new partnership.”

“We’re saddened by the closure of Slow & Low, but we’re thrilled to see their partnership with Chef Horn to launch a new venture,” Robertson wrote in an email.

Hargis recently announced the closure of Beast + Bounty due to issues renegotiating its lease. It is unclear if he plans to reopen the restaurant in another location. The Sacramento Business Journal reported that two of Hargis’ other restaurants, LowBrau Bier Garden and Beast + Bounty, both in Sacramento, were in default on two bank loans.

Horn has faced his own issues in the Bay Area.

Horn became a Bay Area food superstar in 2020 after the success of his West Oakland-based Horn Barbecue on Mandela Parkway. In 2023, the restaurant was named a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, an accolade that recognizes high culinary standards and hospitality.

The restaurant was forced to close in 2023 after a fire, and Horn was later provided a $100,000 grant from Alameda County and raised $131,262 through a GoFundMe account. Horn said the restaurant was vandalized and stripped of its piping and electric systems the day before the location burned down.

In May, a spokesman for the Oakland Fire Department said the blaze was under investigation as potential arson. No suspects have been identified, according to the Oakland Fire Department.

Horn bounced back last year, opening a new Horn Barbecue location in Oakland, and in December opened another restaurant in Lafayette.

Horn has also faced his own legal challenges. Golden Gate Meat Co. sued Horn for nearly $88,000 in unpaid invoices, plus interest and attorney fees.

Neither Horn nor Hargis could be reached for comment.

The pair promised additional details, including menu, guest chefs and grand opening festivities in the coming weeks.

“Horn Barbecue Elk Grove will honor the legacy of Slow & Low while introducing world-class West Coast-style barbecue to the area,” they said.

When an Elk Grove shopping center lost two major stores — a Sports Chalet and a Toys R Us — one of the remaining businesses took advantage of a clause in its lease agreement that allowed it to pay lower rent when the mall’s occupancy dips.

Such agreements are built into commercial leases across the country. They lend retailers a measure of stability when once-thriving malls lose shops and foot traffic. And owners of large swaths of commercial real estate are often willing to offer such deals to attract tenants.

The shop in question, a Jo-Ann fabric store, had a clause in its lease ensuring that the landlord would keep the shopping center at least 60% occupied, or continuously rent to at least three larger stores, or “anchor” tenants. Otherwise, Jo-Ann could pay lower rent, cutting its normal, $42,292 monthly payments down to $12,000 per month or 3.5% of the store’s gross sales — whichever number was higher.

But in 2019, the landlord — JJD-HOV Elk Grove — sued Jo-Ann. It claimed the store shouldn’t have paid the lower monthly rate. The temporary loss of the anchor tenants hadn’t caused the fabric store any real harm, it argued. And the company pointed to a 2015 case involving a Ross Dress for Less in Porterville in which an appellate court found a similar agreement unenforceable.

The Superior Court found in favor of Jo-Ann. An appellate court upheld the decision. But the landlord appealed to the California Supreme Court, which took up the case.

It’s rare for the state’s highest court to take up a real estate transaction that has been negotiated between sophisticated parties, said Mark McKeen, an attorney with DLA Piper, who represented Jo-Ann in the case.

Indeed, as a general rule, courts tend to enforce contracts as written, said John Sprankling, a professor who focuses on property law at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. But the two appellate court decisions created ambiguity.

In court filings, the landlord cited a law typically used to defend consumers with little bargaining power who sign take-it-or-leave-it contracts. It’s often used, for instance, when renters sign apartment leases that contain exorbitant late fees, Sprankling said.

That law, he said, “is intended, really, to protect the little guy.”

The landlord argued that the vacancy of one of its storefronts was beyond its control because the tenant was in bankruptcy. And, it argued, that the two conflicting opinions, issued by neighboring appellate districts, created a disparity.

“Whether a family-owned mall must forfeit nearly $650,000 despite no harm to a national retail tenant now turns on which side of the street the mall falls. This is neither efficient nor fair,” the company argued in court filings.

Broadly, the firm argued, such commercial real estate owners are under “enormous stress” from online retailers and the COVID-era decline in retail foot traffic.

“Giving national chain stores huge windfalls at the expense of local commercial landlords will have serious, unfortunate consequences for the California real estate market,” the company argued in filings.

The Ohio-based retailer, meanwhile, argued that the landlord was aware of the agreement when it bought the property. And when businesses sign contracts, each one agrees to certain risks.

The court issued a unanimous decision last month in JJD-HOV Elk Grove v. Jo-Ann Stores. It ruled unanimously in favor of the retail chain. The landlord, the judges wrote, knowingly agreed to the terms of the lease.

“It’s a victory for retail stores, and probably also for consumers,” said Sprankling, the property law professor.

In its decision, the court wrote that both the landlord and the store were “sophisticated” parties with access to legal counsel.

“This was a bargained-for clause, it was not thrown in,” Sprankling said. “This is a fully negotiated contract, with counsel on both sides.”

Such agreements — so-called co-tenancy clauses — have become common over the past few years as the pandemic made businesses more anxious about large economic swings, Sprankling said.

Jacob Sarabian, an attorney with Whitney Thompson & Jeffcoach, who represented the landlord in the case, said that with the shift to e-commerce and changing consumer shopping habits, co-tenancy clauses will likely be litigated more often.

The case, Sarabian said, “highlighted the fact that these provisions too frequently operate as penalties that are unmoored to a tenant’s damages.”

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1082

Annika Merrilees is a business reporter for The Sacramento Bee. She previously spent five years covering business and health care for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

One of the United States’ most acclaimed barbecue chefs, Bay Area pitmaster Matt Horn, is coming to Sacramento County.

Michael Hargis, owner of Elk Grove barbecue restaurant Slow & Low Smokehouse, is teaming up with Horn, founder of Horn Barbecue in West Oakland, to open a new eatery in a familiar spot, Hargis told The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday.

The restaurant will replace Slow & Low at 9699 Railroad Street in Old Town Elk Grove next to Dust Bowl Brewing Co.

“The partnership, rooted in faith and a shared passion for culinary excellence, signals the end of Slow & Low Smokehouse and the start of a transformative chapter for local barbecue,” Hargis said in a news release.

Here’s what we know:

Before Horn Barbecue opened its first brick-and-mortar location in West Oakland in September 2020, it was “the most anticipated barbecue restaurant in America,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported at the time.

Lines formed down the block for brisket, beef ribs, smoked turkey and oxtails.

Sides including cornbread, collard greens, potato salad and macaroni and cheese earned rave reviews from customers and critics.

Horn was named one of Food and Wine magazine’s Best New Chefs in 2021, the same year his restaurant received Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition.

Meanwhile, Horn Barbecue was one of five James Beard Award finalists for Best New Restaurant in 2022.

Horn authored a best-selling cookbook, “Horn Barbecue: Recipes and Techniques from a Master of the Art of BBQ,” in 2022.

In May, he published a cookbook featuring recipes from Kowbird, his Oakland fried chicken restaurant.

Horn is also expanding his restaurant empire.

In December, Horn Barbecue opened a second location in Lafayette, CBS Bay Area reported.

“Lafayette embraced us with open arms,” Horn said in the news release. “Now we’re bringing that same energy, quality, and connection to Elk Grove — a community that deserves nothing less.”

By transforming Horn said he and Hargis are creating a place in Elk Grove that fosters connection and belonging.

Their promise is to bring an “elevated experience” to the Sacramento-area city featuring a full bar, live music and appearances from nationally recognized pitmasters and chefs.

“This partnership was built on faith—faith in the craft, in the community, and in each other,” Horn said. “Elk Grove deserves more than great barbecue. It deserves a gathering place that fosters connection and belonging. Together, Michael and I are creating that destination.”

Hargis said the newest Horn Barbecue location is set to open in Elk Grove in late February 2025.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email [email protected].

This story was originally published January 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM.