Seven Entrepreneurs Selected as Finalists in Annual Calling All Dreamers Retail Competition
Public asked to help select top concept in retail competition for downtown storefront.
(October 7, 2021) – Downtown Sacramento Foundation today announced the seven business concepts selected to continue to the final phase of the 2021 Calling All Dreamers Competition: Gone Grazey, Gusto Gaucho, Plantura, River City Wine, Sweet Tooth Factory, The Jazzy Bird and The Urban Shaman. One of these seven entrepreneurs will be chosen to win $20,000 cash and a start-up package valued at $120,000 with in-kind services and resources to help launch their small business dreams into a reality with a downtown Sacramento storefront.
“Being selected as a finalist provides support to refine, curate and develop these incredible business ideas so that at the end of the competition, all seven will be ready to open a storefront in downtown Sacramento,” said Michael Ault, Executive Director of Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “We’re eager to see how they further develop their concepts and excited to invite the public to vote for their favorite competitor.”
The public can help to determine the winner by voting online at CallingAllDreamers.org by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 1, 2021. Ballots can also be cast in-person at 2019 Calling All Dreamers winner Nash & Proper’s storefront at 1023 K Street during operating hours, Wednesday – Friday: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, finalists will continue working with their Capital Corridor SCORE mentors to refine their business concepts and prepare for the final pitch to the selection committee composed of downtown property owners, prominent business owners and Downtown Sacramento Foundation board members. The committee will review each concept for viability, resources, operating practices, investment, public votes and more, with the winner announced at the Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s annual State of Downtown program presented by Kaiser Permanente at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center on February 22, 2022.
About the 2021 Calling All Dreamers Finalists:
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.
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 Kings 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 downtown’s 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.
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. Learn more about the finalists, watch their video pitch, see complete prize package details at CallingAllDreamers.org.
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, 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, 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 with finalists and program leads available upon request.
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