New look, same great taste. Four well-loved Sacramento businesses have recently undergone ownership changes, ranging from arguably the oldest business in the area to one that is just over two years old.

If Willy Wonka opened a sandwich shop, his menu might look a lot like the one at Timmy’s Brown Bag in Placerville.

You don’t need to fly all the way to Munich to get an authentic Oktoberfest experience, even after October draws to a close. Whether indoors or outdoors, in Sacramento, Rocklin or Elk Grove, this area has many biergartens and other German-style spots to choose from.

If you’re in the Capital Region, there are plenty of interesting options — and not only at Sacramento International Airport, which is set to have a major refresh of its dining program by 2025. Whether you’re flying a jumbo jet or a crop duster, you’ll find something to nosh on when you land in and around Sacramento. 

For three days in May, the floor of the Memorial Auditorium was transformed into a global foodways classroom where one could sample coffee from Honduras, eat a cookie made from Bolivian quinoa and spin an oversized wheel that directed you to pithy sayings by food journalist Michael Pollan.

The alley entrance of a warehouse behind the Broadway Taco Bell on a recent Saturday was a portal to another world. A world of drama, where fans chanted and booed lustily, the air redolent of masculine funk.

These nomadic eateries, which surged in popularity around the Great Recession, came in vogue again during the COVID-19 pandemic, often as the only option for cooks in lockdown.

Your experience of social media may be as a fun time-waster, an angst-producing FOMO (fear of missing out) machine or the reason you know your Uncle Dennis believes in ancient aliens. But to many restaurant owners, social media is a necessity.

Feeling good lately? Does the country, the world, seem good? With a divided electorate, a multiply indicted candidate, the dregs of a pandemic swirling through our psyches, and the hottest summer on record, sometimes it’s hard to find the good.

Chris Gibase, president and chief operating officer of Sky River Casino in Elk Grove, goes so far as to assert that Sky River “is a place for foodies.” And the new casino, which opened in August 2022 and is owned by the Wilton Rancheria tribe, isn’t the only local gambling spot that’s placing its bets on food service.

COVID-19 exposed the stark realities of the precarious economic state of the theater industry, but even regular theatergoers may not look past the glamour and drama of live theater to the grit, sweat and dollars that go into it. 

As superintendent and CEO of Gateway Community Charters, Dr. Cindy Petersen has grown Gateway Community Charters from a single school in 2003 to nine today, which serve over 5,000 children and employ 700 staff. 

As chief growth officer of PRIDE Industries, Leah Burdick connects people with disabilities with resources and ultimately jobs. 

After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the resignations of two prime ministers and the rapid plummet of the pound, the British economy is more volatile than it’s been in decades. Has the ripple effect reached British businesses on this side of the pond?

Mexican restaurants in the greater Sacramento area span Mexico’s map, going way beyond typical Cali-Mex standards to represent the country’s regional cuisines.

Ryan Campagna is a long-time climber, a home brewer and now, the founder of Touchstone Brewing Company.

As founder and CEO of Eco-Alpha Environmental and Engineering Services, Melanie Okoro is focused on being a leader in her field. Her business streamlines environmental permitting processes and maintains electrical systems for large companies in the Capital Region.

With a background in communications, an approachable demeanor and a passion for equity and education, Latoya Jackson-Lainez has found her calling as director of diversity, EEO and Title IX for Sierra College.

For these chefs, cult followings are built through next-level broth, experimentation and a healthy dose of nostalgia.

We explore the lonely outposts formerly part of a family of franchises. Although they have no corporate parent to provide updated decor or menus, these idiosyncratic restaurants are still well loved by many Sacramentans.

Here are three Capital Region businesses that teamed up with other creators to build truly local collaborations. 

Many Californians know Sacramento-based personal injury lawyer Anh Phoong for her catchy slogan, “Something wrong? Call Anh Phoong!” We gave her a call.