Sacramento, California Local News
Businesses, customers concerned about homelessness and crime at Sacramento’s Downtown Commons
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Businesses and customers in Sacramento’s Downtown Commons area said they have major concerns about homelessness and crime – and their worries are only growing.The Starbucks near 7th and K streets at DOCO permanently closed on May 20, according to a spokesperson. While the company would not give a specific reason why the store shut down, it sent KCRA 3 the following statement:“As a standard course of business, we continually evaluate our store portfolio, using various criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers. We do not take the decision to close stores lightly. Our relationship with our customers is deeply personal, and we are honored to have been their Third Place.”Frequent customers Daniele Barker and Richard Clutter, who both live in Sacramento, were shocked to see a sign on the Starbucks door Friday that said, “Sorry we missed you,” followed by, “This store is permanently closed. We look forward to welcoming you at another location.”“We were trying to come and get an iced coffee because this is a great location for us when we’re down here,” Barker said. “We come down here at least twice, maybe three times a week… I’m sad to see them close.While the specific cause of the closure is still a mystery, Clutter said he has an idea why it shut down. Clutter said he was unhoused at one point, but he added that what he has seen the unhoused do in the DOCO area likely affected Starbucks and still impacts other businesses in the area. DOCO businesses did not want to go on camera, but several of them told KCRA 3 that homelessness at DOCO is getting worse. The businesses said that the unhoused people coming onto their properties, asking for money and food, and leaving a mess are driving customers away.Residents, including Sacramento resident Kendall Banks, said security at DOCO is a concern too. While security guards and Sacramento Police Department officers are seen in the area, many say it is not enough.KCRA 3 Investigates looked at where violent crimes happened downtown in 2023. Most were reported near DOCO.In response to KCRA 3’s inquires about police enforcement of the unhoused in the DOCO area, a spokesperson for the Sacramento Police Department responded by saying that “DOCO has their own security team that handles the property and calls PD if needed.”Police also said the city’s Incident Management Team responds to calls regarding the unhoused.“It’s definitely sad to see in the city that businesses feel like they have to close down due to their surrounding circumstances, for sure. You hate to see it,” Banks said. “You can only do so much. I know that nobody wants to close doors.”A Starbucks spokesperson said the company is working with Worked United to “collaborate on next steps, including transfer options, for the 7 partners (employees)” who worked at the DOCO Starbucks.KCRA 3 reached out to DOCO staff, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Visit Sacramento, the City of Sacramento’s Nighttime Economy Manager, District 4 City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela and the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce to ask about the concerns brought up by DOCO businesses and customers. As of Friday evening, we have not received direct comment. While the City of Sacramento would not comment specifically about the Starbucks closure or the issues at DOCO, a spokesperson sent KCRA 3 the following statement:“The City of Sacramento encourages investments of all types and looks forward to the launch of any new business that provides community benefit and contributes to the overall vibrancy of the area.”
Businesses and customers in Sacramento’s Downtown Commons area said they have major concerns about homelessness and crime – and their worries are only growing.
The Starbucks near 7th and K streets at DOCO permanently closed on May 20, according to a spokesperson. While the company would not give a specific reason why the store shut down, it sent KCRA 3 the following statement:
“As a standard course of business, we continually evaluate our store portfolio, using various criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers. We do not take the decision to close stores lightly. Our relationship with our customers is deeply personal, and we are honored to have been their Third Place.”
Frequent customers Daniele Barker and Richard Clutter, who both live in Sacramento, were shocked to see a sign on the Starbucks door Friday that said, “Sorry we missed you,” followed by, “This store is permanently closed. We look forward to welcoming you at another location.”
“We were trying to come and get an iced coffee because this is a great location for us when we’re down here,” Barker said. “We come down here at least twice, maybe three times a week… I’m sad to see them close.
While the specific cause of the closure is still a mystery, Clutter said he has an idea why it shut down.
Clutter said he was unhoused at one point, but he added that what he has seen the unhoused do in the DOCO area likely affected Starbucks and still impacts other businesses in the area.
DOCO businesses did not want to go on camera, but several of them told KCRA 3 that homelessness at DOCO is getting worse.
The businesses said that the unhoused people coming onto their properties, asking for money and food, and leaving a mess are driving customers away.
Residents, including Sacramento resident Kendall Banks, said security at DOCO is a concern too. While security guards and Sacramento Police Department officers are seen in the area, many say it is not enough.
KCRA 3 Investigates looked at where violent crimes happened downtown in 2023. Most were reported near DOCO.
In response to KCRA 3’s inquires about police enforcement of the unhoused in the DOCO area, a spokesperson for the Sacramento Police Department responded by saying that “DOCO has their own security team that handles the property and calls PD if needed.”
Police also said the city’s Incident Management Team responds to calls regarding the unhoused.
“It’s definitely sad to see in the city that businesses feel like they have to close down due to their surrounding circumstances, for sure. You hate to see it,” Banks said. “You can only do so much. I know that nobody wants to close doors.”
A Starbucks spokesperson said the company is working with Worked United to “collaborate on next steps, including transfer options, for the 7 partners (employees)” who worked at the DOCO Starbucks.
KCRA 3 reached out to DOCO staff, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Visit Sacramento, the City of Sacramento’s Nighttime Economy Manager, District 4 City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela and the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce to ask about the concerns brought up by DOCO businesses and customers.
As of Friday evening, we have not received direct comment.
While the City of Sacramento would not comment specifically about the Starbucks closure or the issues at DOCO, a spokesperson sent KCRA 3 the following statement:
“The City of Sacramento encourages investments of all types and looks forward to the launch of any new business that provides community benefit and contributes to the overall vibrancy of the area.”
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