By Mike Hazlip—
After welcoming a dozen new restaurants in 2021, Citrus Heights is slated to get at least a half-dozen more eateries in 2022 — if plans go as expected.
Folsom Palace. After facing delays to open last year, the popular Folsom Palace Asian bistro is now looking at a mid-February kick-off to open its third location at 5450 Sunrise Blvd., next to Dos Coyotes Border Cafe.
Folsom Palace owner Bill Zheng told The Sentinel in a phone call Saturday there have been delays in getting supplies for the restaurant such as coolers and other equipment. “The beverage cooler took 4 or 5 months to build,” Zheng said, adding he didn’t know what caused the delay.
See prior story: Pandemic delays push back opening date for new Asian bistro in Citrus Heights
Falafel Corner. Signage for the new restaurant can be seen next to Round Table Pizza in the shopping center at 7700 Sunrise Blvd., near Antelope Road. Falafel Corner has seven locations in the Sacramento area, offering Mediterranean and Greek foods. Interior renovation can be seen underway, and a construction worker at the site said last month that the restaurant plans to open early this year.
Crumbl Cookie. The cookie company has announced plans to to open at 6920 Auburn Blvd., in a new commercial building in front of Walmart. A media representative wasn’t available for comment Saturday, but a spokeswoman said previously that the eatery was initially planning to open at the “end of June/beginning of July” of last year. That date has come and gone, but “now hiring” and “coming soon” signage for the business can be seen in the windows, along with temporary construction tape on orange posts outside the front door.
Related: 21 businesses Citrus Heights welcomed in 2021
California Burrito. Signage outside a former Goodwill location at 7858 Lichen Drive appeared in August, announcing a new California Burrito location would be coming soon to the site. Construction fencing is still up at the location, but an opening date has not been announced. Employees at two different California Burrito locations contacted by The Sentinel Saturday did not have any information on the Lichen Drive location.
Firehouse Subs. The new sandwich shop is slated to open in a new building under construction at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue, where a Coco’s restaurant once stood until it was demolished as part of the Sunrise Village shopping plaza renovation project. A spokesperson told the Sacramento Business Journal last month that the company is planning for a 2022 opening date, but a specific date is contingent on construction being completed.
Related: Firehouse Subs, Starbucks coming to Citrus Heights shopping center
Starbucks. Also coming to the same building as Firehouse Subs, Starbucks is planning to open a new drive-thru at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue. The building is still under construction, and will house three businesses.
Popeye’s. A new Popeye’s chicken restaurant is planning to open in January or February on the 8000 block of Greenback Lane, next to a newly opened Burger King. A recent report by The Sentinel shows the Burger King opened on Dec. 29 after last minute inspections by Sacramento County Health Department and Citrus Heights Building department, narrowly meeting the franchisee’s end of the year timeline.