Business Journal: Despite Pandemic, Large Sports Bar Plans To Open In Sacramento’s Downtown Commons This Fall

A big sports bar announced plans this week to open a location near Golden 1 Center. 

It marks a sign of optimism for downtown Sacramento after a year of pandemic-related challenges.

Called Tom’s Watch Bar, the Denver-based business is known for its viewing rooms: 360-degree spaces with stadium seating and wall-to-wall TV screens. Sacramento will be its seventh location.

Though bars have been hit hard by pandemic-related restrictions, one of the bar’s co-founders says he thinks people are eager to resume social outings. 

Sacramento Business Journal Digital Editor Sonya Sorich spoke with CapRadio’s Mike Hagerty about the planned opening. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Interview Highlights

On why the new addition to Downtown Commons is significant

For starters, it suggests that businesses haven't lost faith in Downtown Commons. That's the area surrounding Golden 1 Center. People had worried about that area's future with arena events on hold and many downtown workers telecommuting. It's also worth noting that Tom's Watch Bar will fill a fairly large space in Downtown Commons, about 6,300 square feet. This is interesting because while many small restaurant spaces have been filled during the pandemic, we haven't written a lot about new food and drink tenants coming to bigger spaces.  

On details about the bar

Its locations serve food and drinks and are known for their viewing rooms, 360-degree spaces with stadium seating and wall-to-wall TV screens. Those locations also incorporate indoor and outdoor spaces. The local site will be below Polanco Cantina in Downtown Commons. 

On the operators’ outlook on the future given the pandemic

One of the co-founders of Tom's Watch Bar told us he thinks people want to get back to social situations. Operators would like the bars opening to coincide with the Sacramento Kings season this fall. But of course, that situation is still very fluid. And you're right, things do remain difficult for many businesses similar to Tom's Watch Bar. Punch Bowl Social, which is located near the planned bar in Downtown Commons, has been temporarily closed since last March. That company, known for its food, drinks and games, filed for bankruptcy in December.