6 vanished Sacramento landmarks reshape the city’s memory
Sacramento’s cityscape has shifted as famed sites like the original Tower Records building make way for modern developments such as new five-story apartment complexes with retail space. The beloved Capital Athletic Club downtown now hums to fresh life as the Capital YMCA, offering renovated facilities and attracting former and new members alike.
Grand movie theaters like the Alhambra and Fox Senator once drew crowds but have largely vanished, replaced by office towers and housing, while only a few, like the Tower Theatre and Crest Theatre, continue to operate. The closure of downtown staples such as the Macy’s department store and the uncertain future of landmarks like the Renaissance Tower and the Sacramento Zoo’s relocation plans reveal ongoing debates about how Sacramento balances its historic legacy with changing economic demands and community needs. Each vanished landmark leaves memories and influences decisions about what the city will become next.
NO. 1: YMCA IS TRANSFORMING WHAT WAS ONCE SACRAMENTO’S CAPITAL ATHLETIC CLUB. HERE’S WHAT’S CHANGING
The YMCA is in the early stages of its renovation before its grand opening early in 2025. | Published September 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Chris Biderman
NO. 2: AS RENAISSANCE TOWER AUCTION APPROACHES, BUSINESS LEADERS RETHINK SACRAMENTO’S DOWNTOWN
It was the city’s tallest building for a time. | Published October 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Annika Merrilees
NO. 3: DOZENS OF 20TH CENTURY MOVIE THEATERS DISAPPEARED FROM SACRAMENTO. WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?
In 1973, a decades-old cinema was demolished in favor of a Safeway grocery store. | Published November 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Graham Womack
NO. 4: SEE AERIAL VIEW OF FIVE-STORY HOUSING PROJECT GOING UP WHERE TOWER RECORDS ONCE STOOD
A new residential future on Broadway is taking shape – and it has some scale. | Published November 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Caraccio
NO. 5: WHY IS DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO MACY’S CLOSING? WHAT’S NEXT FOR BUILDING? EXPERTS WEIGH IN
What’s next for Sacramento’s downtown Macy’s building? | Published January 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Annika Merrilees
NO. 6: SACRAMENTO ZOO SCRAPS ELK GROVE RELOCATION PLANS, CITES RISING COSTS
“We truly believe that ending the Elk Grove project is the most responsible choice for the long-term sustainability and success of the zoo,” the CEO said. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Darrell Smith Marcus D. Smith…