By Sara Beth Williams–
A family-owned Mexican market and taqueria in Citrus Heights is planning to expand its restaurant space by taking over the neighboring suite, according to the Valencia family.
Valencia’s Carniceria Taqueria, located on Greenback Lane, plans to enlarge its eatery into the adjacent unit formerly occupied by a Subway restaurant, allowing for additional indoor seating and more space for customers.
The expansion will add to the business’s existing combination of taqueria and Mexican market, which has served the Citrus Heights community for more than two decades and has become a well-known destination for fresh meats, groceries, and traditional Mexican food.
The family-owned business traces its roots back to founders Don Gill and Maria Valencia, who first opened a location in Orangevale after immigrating from Michoacán, Mexico in the 1980s and later establishing the Citrus Heights location, The Sentinel previously reported.
Over the years, Valencia’s has built a loyal customer base, drawing residents from Citrus Heights and neighboring communities for prepared foods, specialty items, and fresh-cut meats. Family members previously said the business has remained successful by combining restaurant service with a neighborhood market atmosphere.
Construction was ongoing in the suite next door to the restaurant on a visit Saturday.
The restaurant and market are still open for business as construction next door progresses.
When completed, the additional suite will increase seating capacity inside the restaurant, offering more room during meal rushes. According to a flyer distributed by the family, the restaurant expansion was anticipated to be completed this spring, but the Valencia family said Saturday that the timetable for construction completion has been pushed back until June.
The planned expansion comes as nearby residential and commercial growth nearby promises to bring additional traffic to the area, helping support local businesses.
A couple of doors down, Evelyn Valencia, daughter to restaurant and store owners Don Gill and Maria Valencia, recently opened the new Sweet Music Studio Cafe, bringing live music paired with coffee, wine and beer to the strip mall.
Around the corner, a new set of apartment buildings is under construction.
There were plans for a K-6 charter school to occupy part of the nearby 6060 Sunrise Vista office building around the corner, but those plans have not materialized.
A block down, plans for the construction of a major sports complex at the site of the former Macy’s Men’s building at Sunrise Mall are in the works, with the City of Citrus Heights recently signing an economic development and participation agreement with sports and entertainment venue developers The Mettle Shop.
Valencia’s Mexican market and Taqueria is located at 8040 Greenback Ln.
