Downtown Commons
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedDowntown Commons, or DOCO, is a mixed-use retail, dining, entertainment, and public-event complex in downtown Sacramento, California, centered on Golden 1 Center.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Downtown Commons, commonly abbreviated as DOCO, is a mixed-use urban entertainment and retail complex in central Sacramento, California. The property occupies several blocks along the alignment of K Street, near the California State Capitol, and is bordered by J Street, L Street, 4th Street, and 7th Street. Its current format combines open-air shopping and dining areas with entertainment venues, fitness facilities, a cinema, a boutique hotel, public gathering areas, and Golden 1 Center, the home arena of the Sacramento Kings. The complex began in 1971 as Downtown Plaza, developed by The Hahn Company around a Macy's department store that had opened on the site in 1963. Its original design combined enclosed and open-air elements and allowed pedestrians to move through the center while automobile traffic on 5th Street passed underneath the plaza. The property expanded its department-store and specialty-retail offering during the 1970s and 1980s. Weinstock's moved into the center in 1979, and a Liberty House store opened in 1981. Liberty House later became I. Magnin, while the site also hosted entertainment businesses and restaurants. A major renovation in 1993 added a second level, a food court, upscale retail space, and a seven-screen United Artists movie theater. Century Theatres later assumed control of the cinema. In the 1990s, the former Weinstock's location became a Macy's Men's and Furniture store following Federated Department Stores' acquisition of the Broadway Stores retail group. Westfield America acquired the property in 1998 and renamed it Westfield Shoppingtown Downtown Plaza; the word “Shoppingtown” was removed in 2005. The center subsequently experienced declining occupancy, limited investment, and competition from other Sacramento-area retail destinations. Retail occupancy fell substantially during the 2000s and early 2010s, while office occupancy also weakened. JMA Ventures acquired the property from Westfield in August 2012, after which the Westfield branding was removed and the property was again known as Sacramento Downtown Plaza. The decisive transformation came through the development of Golden 1 Center. The eastern portion of the former mall, between 5th and 7th Streets, was closed and demolished in 2014 to make room for the Sacramento Kings' new arena. The project replaced the Kings' former North Natomas venue and reshaped the property from a conventional shopping mall into a downtown sports, entertainment, hospitality, dining, and retail district. Golden 1 Center opened to the public on September 30, 2016. The redevelopment also produced the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, which opened in October 2017 on part of the former office-site area. The remaining retail section between 4th and 5th Streets was renovated and reopened in 2018. Century Theatres was upgraded from seven to nine screens and reopened in December 2017. The site now includes restaurants, shops, 24 Hour Fitness, the cinema, hotel facilities, and event-oriented public spaces alongside the arena. The complex adopted the Downtown Commons name in September 2015 to signal its new mixed-use identity. In the 2020s, it also established a merchants’ association involving businesses located within or near the property's boundaries, including some businesses occupying separately owned buildings. A long-standing Macy's store at the western end of the complex closed on March 23, 2025, after Macy's announced a nationwide store-closure program. The former Macy's building was purchased in July 2025 by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians for $15 million; the buyer had not announced immediate plans for the property in the referenced material.
History
Downtown Commons originated as Downtown Plaza, a Sacramento urban shopping center developed by The Hahn Company in 1971. The center was built alongside a Macy's department store that had opened in 1963. Its early design was notable for combining enclosed and open-air areas and for maintaining a continuous pedestrian route through the complex while vehicle traffic on 5th Street passed below the plaza. During the late 1970s and 1980s, the property developed a department-store and specialty-retail mix. Weinstock's relocated its downtown store to the center in 1979, followed by the opening of Liberty House in 1981. Liberty House closed in 1984 and its space was later occupied by I. Magnin, which ceased operations there in 1992. A broad renovation in 1993 added a second story, a food court, additional upscale shops, and a seven-screen United Artists theater. The expansion made Downtown Plaza Sacramento's first and only outdoor two-level shopping mall at the time, although Arden Fair was the area's earlier two-level mall. Entertainment uses changed repeatedly. America Live! occupied space formerly associated with I. Magnin and hosted nightclubs and bars. Hard Rock Cafe opened at the eastern end in 1997, replacing the earlier entertainment format, and operated for approximately thirteen years before closing in 2010. The former Weinstock's store became a second Macy's location in 1996 after Federated Department Stores acquired Broadway Stores, the parent of Weinstock's. It was used for Macy's Men's and Furniture operations. Westfield America purchased the property in 1998 and introduced the Westfield Shoppingtown Downtown Plaza name. The “Shoppingtown” portion was removed in 2005. Several proposed redevelopment concepts, including possible new anchor tenants, did not materialize. The center then entered a period of decline, with retail and office occupancy falling sharply between 2004 and 2012. JMA Ventures acquired the mall from Westfield on August 15, 2012, and the property reverted to Sacramento Downtown Plaza branding. The site's future was recast by Sacramento's effort to build a new arena for the Sacramento Kings. The eastern two-thirds, located between 5th and 7th Streets, was vacated and demolished in 2014. The process involved a protracted dispute concerning the Macy's Men's and Furniture property and the use of eminent domain. Retail tenants left the arena footprint by April 30, 2014, and demolition began in August. The building occupied by 24 Hour Fitness survived and continued operating. The remaining section between 4th and 5th Streets was initially expected to remain open during construction, but most tenants eventually vacated so that the area could be integrated into the broader redevelopment. Macy's and Century Theatres continued operating during parts of the transition. On September 16, 2015, the property was renamed Downtown Commons, or DOCO, to communicate its shift away from a conventional mall identity. Golden 1 Center opened on September 30, 2016. The arena became the complex's principal anchor and replaced the Kings' former North Natomas venue. The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel opened on October 10, 2017 on the site of a former low-rise office building. Century Theatres underwent renovation, gaining upgraded seating and two additional screens, and reopened on December 22, 2017 with nine screens. Redevelopment of the remaining retail section was completed in 2018; the 4th-to-5th Street portion retained a two-level format, while the arena-side portion returned to a single-level open-air configuration. The former Liberty House and I. Magnin building later accommodated Sauced BBQ & Spirits and 24 Hour Fitness. The complex also developed a broader set of restaurants, shops, public spaces, hotel functions, and event uses. During the 2020s, Downtown Commons organized a merchants' association that included businesses within the property's boundaries even when those businesses occupied separately owned buildings. Macy's remained a major western anchor for decades but announced in January 2025 that the downtown Sacramento location would close. The store ended operations on March 23, 2025. On July 10, 2025, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians acquired the former Macy's property for $15 million. The referenced material does not identify an immediate plan for the building. Downtown Commons otherwise remains an active Sacramento mixed-use destination centered on Golden 1 Center and supported by retail, dining, entertainment, fitness, cinema, hospitality, and public-event uses.
- 2025
Macy's downtown store closes
[1]The long-standing Macy's store closed on March 23 after being included in the retailer's national closure program.
- 2025
Former Macy's building is sold
[1]The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians purchased the former Macy's property for $15 million on July 10.
- 2018
Remaining retail section redevelopment is completed
[1]The portion between 4th and 5th Streets reopened following redevelopment associated with the arena project.
- 2017
Kimpton Sawyer Hotel opens
[1]The 250-room boutique hotel opened on October 10, adding lodging to the redevelopment.
- 2017
Century Theatres reopens after renovation
[1]The cinema reopened on December 22 with upgraded seating and nine screens.
- 2016
Golden 1 Center opens
[1]The Sacramento Kings' new arena opened to the public on September 30.
- 2015
Property adopts the Downtown Commons name
[1]The renamed complex began presenting itself as a mixed-use retail and entertainment district.
- 2014
Eastern mall section is demolished
[1]The section between 5th and 7th Streets was closed and demolished to make way for Golden 1 Center.
- 2012
JMA Ventures becomes owner
[1]JMA Ventures acquired the property from Westfield amid declining occupancy and redevelopment pressure.
- 1998
Westfield acquires the property
[1]Westfield America purchased the center and introduced the Westfield Shoppingtown Downtown Plaza name.
Products and positioning
A downtown mixed-use destination that combines sports, entertainment, dining, hospitality, retail, and civic-oriented public space rather than operating solely as a traditional shopping mall.
Arena and sports entertainment venue · 2016
Golden 1 Center
Golden 1 Center is the principal anchor of the redeveloped Downtown Commons district and the home arena of the Sacramento Kings. It occupies the eastern portion of the former Downtown Plaza site between 5th and 7th Streets and opened to the public on September 30, 2016, replacing the Kings' former North Natomas arena.
Boutique hotel · 2017
The Sawyer
The Sawyer is a 250-room Kimpton boutique hotel developed as part of the Downtown Commons transformation. It opened on October 10, 2017, on land formerly occupied by a low-rise office building and contributes lodging and hospitality services to the arena-centered district.
Cinema · 1993
Century Theatres
The cinema at Downtown Commons originated as a seven-screen United Artists theater added during the 1993 renovation. Century Theatres assumed ownership in 2000. After a renovation that added upgraded seating and two screens, it reopened in December 2017 with nine screens.
Retail, dining, and entertainment complex · 2015
Downtown Commons retail and dining district
The core DOCO offering consists of open-air and two-level retail areas, restaurants, eateries, public spaces, entertainment uses, and event-oriented destinations surrounding Golden 1 Center. The current format evolved from the former Downtown Plaza shopping mall through phased redevelopment completed during the 2010s.
Fitness facility
24 Hour Fitness
24 Hour Fitness occupies a building retained during the demolition of the eastern mall section. Unlike most of the former mall structures, the building was left intact during the Golden 1 Center construction and continues to provide fitness services within the Downtown Commons area.
Brand decisions
2025
Former Macy's property changes ownershipOtherBackground
Macy's closed its downtown Sacramento store on March 23, 2025 after announcing a nationwide store-closure program.
Action taken
The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians purchased the former Macy's building and property on July 10, 2025.
Aftermath
The referenced material reports no immediate plan for the former department-store site.
Purchase price. $15 million (July 10, 2025)
2017
Century Theatres expands and upgrades its cinemaGeneration changeBackground
The theater was closed for renovation during the Downtown Commons redevelopment.
Action taken
The cinema received upgraded seating and two additional screens, increasing its total from seven to nine.
Aftermath
Century Theatres reopened on December 22, 2017 as part of the completed entertainment offering.
2015
The property is repositioned as Downtown CommonsStrategyBackground
The former shopping mall was being reshaped around an arena, hotel, dining, entertainment, and public-space program.
Action taken
Sacramento Downtown Plaza was renamed Downtown Commons, commonly shortened to DOCO.
Aftermath
The new name established a mixed-use destination identity distinct from the property's earlier mall branding.
2014
Eastern mall section is converted to an arena siteStrategyBackground
The Sacramento Kings required a new downtown venue to replace the aging arena in North Natomas.
Action taken
The section between 5th and 7th Streets was vacated and demolished for construction of Golden 1 Center. The city used eminent domain in a dispute involving the Macy's Men's and Furniture property.
Aftermath
Golden 1 Center opened in 2016 and became the central anchor of the redeveloped complex.
2012
JMA Ventures acquires the shopping centerM&ABackground
Downtown Plaza faced falling retail and office occupancy and had experienced limited investment under its prior ownership.
Action taken
JMA Ventures purchased the property from Westfield America and removed Westfield branding from the property identity.
Aftermath
The acquisition preceded the center's conversion from a conventional mall into the Downtown Commons mixed-use district.
Recent events
Sources3 sources
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