Eleven Entrepreneurs Selected to Move Forward in Calling All Dreamers Retail Competition for Downtown Storefront
(August 25, 2021) – Downtown Sacramento Foundation today announced the 11 business concepts selected to move forward in the 2021 Calling All Dreamers retail business competition. The semi-finalists will continue to compete for a downtown storefront, a $20,000 cash prize and the coveted business start-up package valued at more than $120,000.
“Pairing down to the top 11 semi-finalists was a difficult job for our selection committee, we were blown away by the high caliber of applicants this year,” said Emilie Cameron, District Affairs & Development Director of Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “After such a challenging year, it’s exciting to see so many bright ideas move forward in this competition that will help downtown Sacramento fuel it’s recovery.”
Semi-finalists will next be paired with local SCORE mentors to refine and prepare their business plans for the next evaluation phase in late September where the top concepts will move on to the public voting phase of the competition.
The retailers vying to be downtown’s next signature storefront include:
Anime Flexx – A retail store and hub for everything anime-related. Anime Flexx will provide everything from accessories, clothing, notebooks, keychains, and home décor for anime fans’ favorite shows.
Bubble Cone – Bubble Cone is an existing food truck business with house-made savory and dessert waffles. Bubble Cone combines the tastiness and quality of good food with today’s social media-driven food craze giving you an Instagram-able photo that looks just as good as it tastes!
Gone Grazey – A charcuterie and cheese company where you can stop in and have your platters made to order, or grab a pre-plated platter to go. Gone Grazey allows you to order platters for any occasion, you can choose the types of cheese and charcuterie and Gone Grazey will design it beautifully for you.
Gusto Gaucho – Gusto Gaucho produces hand-crafted empanadas and pastries. They invite customers to relish the Argentine flavor in each bite – from the rich, layered crust of their pastries, to the tangy chimichurri sauce that accompanies the empanadas – within the cozy, relaxing environment of their café.
Plantura – Aiming to bring the magic of a morning in Mexico City to Sacramento through food and flora, Plantura is a contemporary Cali-Mexican bakery and plant café concept where Mexican staples like conchas, galletas, and churros are elevated with the best farm-to-fork ingredients.
River City Wine – This retail center will serve to raise awareness for Sacramento’s unique position in the heart of America’s wine country where residents and visitors to the Capital City have unparalleled access to close proximity to the more than 1,000 wineries of Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Napa, Sonoma, Calaveras, Sacramento, and Yolo counties.
Sloppy 2nds BBQ – More than just a place for delicious California-style barbeque, Sloppy 2nds BBQ is looking to expand their Elk Grove business downtown. Sloppy 2nds BBQ is a place to gather and grab a bite to eat while creating beautiful memories of quality food, amazing atmosphere, and the company of great people.
Streetzlan – This Galt-based restaurant is looking to expand, continuing serving their elevated street food made with the best farm-to-fork ingredients, and adding a full bar with Sacramento’s best mixologists creating great cocktails to add to the experience.
Sweet Tooth Factory – Sweet Tooth Factory will be the dessert lover’s paradise featuring an ice cream scoop shop and “dessertie” offering whimsical modern twists to the desserts they grew up loving as a kid. Whether it is the spot where two lovers meet, grandparents taking the kids out, or a local foodie craving something sweet after a Sacramento King’s game – they aim to be the capital city’s dessert capital.
The Jazzy Bird – The Jazzy Bird is a Peruvian restaurant concept specializing in rotisserie chicken and authentic Peruvian cuisine, with plans for live music. They aim to make guests feel as though their dining experience is a mini vacation from daily life.
Urban Shaman – This retail expansion of Safe Space Bodywork, will be a shop dedicated to providing a relaxing environment paired with self-care goods that give you confidence. Urban Shaman will be home to organic and fair-trade goods from both local Sacramento businesses and businesses around the world.
Learn more about each business concept, watch their video pitch and see complete prize package details at CallingAllDreamers.org and join the conversation on social media using #CallingAllDreamers and #DowntownSac.
More than just a retail competition, Calling All Dreamers has driven economic growth in downtown Sacramento for seven years, helping to open 29 businesses, create more than 100 jobs, and lease more than 26,000 sq. ft.
The 2021 Calling All Dreamers competition is produced by Downtown Sacramento Partnership and made possible by the generous support of the Sacramento Chapter of SCORE and the following program sponsors: Kaiser Permanente, City of Sacramento, Wells Fargo, SMUD, and California Bank of Commerce. The prize package is made possible with the support of sponsors who continue to be champions for the economic growth of the downtown core: Marquee Media, Mering, Uptown Studios, Inc., DesCor Builders, Smith, McDowell & Powell Law Corporation, XSIGHT Productions, Inc., designTECH Interior Design Services, Inc., and many others.
SOCIAL MEDIA TAGS: #DowntownSac, #CallingAllDreamers, #DowntownTogether
PRESS: Download photos and video here. Interviews available upon request.
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