All About The Bank, Downtown Sacramento’s New Culinary Concourse

After careful planning and preparation, the most-anticipated food destination in the city opened in late November 2018. Housed in a 102-year-old bank building, The Bank is a culinary concourse in downtown Sacramento with a handful of eateries, a coffee shop, cocktail bars, a beer “vault” and several event spaces.

Considered the second-oldest bank building west of the Mississippi, this historic 30,000-square-foot building originally housed the D.O. Mills Bank. Most recently, it functioned as the Sacramento Grand Ballroom, a private event space, before it was converted to The Bank in the last couple of years. Much of the original architecture and charming details remain, including the ornate ceilings, marble walls, brass railings, and the downstairs vault (more on that exciting feature later!).

In August 2017, we took a behind-the-scenes look at The Bank, conversing with The Bank’s general manager, Juliet House. Let’s step into the space once again for an updated look at this exciting culinary concept now open to the public.

THE CONCEPT

Photos Courtesy of The Bank

Shortly after finding out that the Golden 1 Center was coming to Sacramento, the owner of the D.O. Mills Bank building started dreaming of what the space could be.

“After traveling the world and seeing the open air food markets that are a staple throughout Europe, [he found that] the many options and sense of community that comes from being able to socialize in a common space are something that we don’t see much of here. Combining that with just as many options for the bar settings just seemed to be a natural fit. I mean any kind of food you want, and just about any kind of bar setting you want (including a taproom with 70 beers on draft) is ideal no matter who you are.” — Juliet House (From Our August 2017 Interview)

This all-in-one “food hall” style has been popular in major cities across the world, as guests can step into one large space to choose from a myriad of options, often picking and choosing a bit of everything. We are thrilled that Sacramento has joined the company of cities across the globe with well-known food hall destinations.

THE EATERIES

Poke Bros

While many of the tenants in The Bank are no stranger to the city, Poke Bros is a brand new eatery. Build your own poke bowls at this casual and modern spot, or opt for a comforting miso soup, spam musubi or a sushi roll.

Zia’s Delicatessen

With a location in downtown Sacramento and Davis, Zia’s is a well-loved sandwich spot in the city. You’ll find fresh ingredients, competitive prices and authentic recipes at this classic sandwich shop.

Conscious Creamery

Conscious Creamery is an exciting and unique addition to The Bank’s roster of tenants. This forward-thinking creamery serves vegan gelato in a diverse array of rotating flavors, including meyer lemon with almond praline, matcha sesame crunch, crystallized ginger with caramel, and more.

Bella Bru

Bella Bru has a number of locations across the region, from Natomas to El Dorado Hills. Their newest location in The Bank serves breakfast pastries, artisan breads, and a variety of sweets.

Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters

And of course, no food hall is complete without a source for coffee. The New Zealand-style Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters roasts in small batches to ensure the freshest possible coffee while maintaining intrinsic flavors within the fruit — and yes, coffee is a fruit!

And More to Come…

In the near future, several more tenants will be opening their “doors” in The Bank.

Preservation & Co.

Preservation & Co. is a sandwich shop that many Bay Area residents (or former residents!) are familiar with. They are known for their iconic Bloody Mary mix and pickles, which you will be able to sample in their delicious sandwiches, in addition to house-cured meats and other fermented eats.

Mama Kim’s

In early 2018, the Southern soul food eatery Mama Kim Cooks closed its doors. But Mama Kim is returning with some more hearty goodness at The Bank!

Station 8

Look for lobster rolls and creative burgers at Station 8, from the same owners of two popular seafood restaurants, Station 16 and Firehouse Crawfish.

Platypus Pizza

The two restaurants at the northern end of The Bank have been somewhat of a mystery, both of which are owned by the same anonymous person. But we do know that one spot will house Platypus Pizza, specializing in thin-crust pizza, and the other will be…

An Anonymous Taqueria

The word on the street is that the not-yet-named restaurant next door will serve street tacos!

THE BARS

Photos Courtesy of The Bank

The Bank has no shortage of drink options to accompany its wide range of eateries.

The main bar has a more laid-back neighborhood bar feel, while the luxe mezzanine bar serves craft cocktails and a curated wine list, featuring more than 60 different wines by the bottle and more than 25 by the glass. There’s also an intimate cocktail lounge on the mezzanine, which offers express bottle service and craft cocktails.

The Bank even has a signature drink, the Goodnight Old Fashioned, made with Charles Goodnight Bourbon, orange oleo-saccharum, and a dash of sarsaparilla-infused bitters.

THE VAULT

Photos Courtesy of The Bank

Perhaps the most unique aspect of The Bank is the underground vault, which was the original vault for this 102-year-old bank building. The circular door is a sight to see in and of itself, as it features several gears and intricate steel and brass fittings.

Upon entering this swanky lounge, you’ll see a wall lined with 68 self-service beer and cider taps, available in 2-ounce, 4-ounce, 8-ounce and 16-ounce pours. This allows you to sample a variety of beers before committing to the full glass, and is a great way to grab a quick drink before you head to dinner or an event downtown.

In the basement vault, you’ll also find two luxurious private rooms, which can be rented out for a special event or large group. 18 TVs line the walls in the vault, ensuring you don’t miss an important game.

THE DETAILS + HOURS

Photo Courtesy of The Bank

The Bank is now open Mondays through Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to midnight, Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to midnight. It is family-friendly each day until 9 p.m., at which point the building is only open to those 21 and over. The Bank is located at 629 J Street in the heart of downtown Sacramento.

Follow The Bank on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest for this ever-evolving culinary concept — including new restaurant openings down the road!