By Sara Beth Williams–
Stories about the state of Sunrise Mall, local restaurants and businesses, crime, and real estate dominated reader interest throughout the last year. Below are some of the top stories that captured the most interest from readers in 2025.
Sunrise Mall: After a very busy year in 2024 of covering Sunrise Mall potential redevelopment plans, further developments surrounding the mall continued to draw significant readership. The Sentinel’s recap last January of what’s happening with Sunrise Mall landed in the top two most-read stories of the year. The Sentinel’s coverage of two more stores shuttering at Sunrise Mall at the end of October also drew tens of thousands of readers and landed in the top 10 stories of the year.
In June, The Sentinel reported on the City of Citrus Height’s initial inspection of Sunrise Mall property resulting in over $300,000 in fines being issued against the Sunrise Mall majority owner, which drew almost 15,000 readers, landing as the 15th most read story in 2025. The Sentinel’s continued coverage into the majority owner’s accumulation of fines topping $1.7 million within a few months of the inspection also landed in the top 20 stories of the year.
Construction and business: Anticipated projects and the demolition of iconic businesses drew strong interest in 2025. The Citrus Heights Planning Commission’s approval of a quick service drive thru site plan at the former Marie Callender’s parcel landed in the Top 10 most read stories, while the demolition of the former Marie Callender’s building landed in the Top 5 most read stories of 2025.
Restaurants: Stories on new businesses, as well as established businesses, drew strong readership in 2025, with coverage of the opening of a new ARCO gas station and SONIC drive-in at the edge of Citrus Heights drawing the third-highest number of readers in 2025.
Anticipated businesses also drew a large swath of readers, including The Sentinel’s coverage of a new grocery store coming to the former Rite Aid building in the Sunrise Village shopping center, which made it into the Top 10 most-read stories of the year.
Businesses that were struggling for survival amid major construction, such as this Mexican restaurant on Auburn Boulevard, drew strong interest, and inspired the community to visit their establishment.
Business closures also drew significant readership with the sudden closure of Rally’s burger restaurant last January landing in the Top 6 most read stories.
Real Estate: Houses and businesses of local historical significance drew interest from readers throughout the year, including an article on this long vacant 1939 home that sold and was then remodeled, which landed in the Top 20 stories read this year. Other coverage of commercial properties for sale landed among the Top 15, including the iconic Rollerland being listed for sale, and a prominent corner lot with iconic donut shop selling for $1.45 million.
Health inspections. A handful of restaurants that incurred health code violations drew strong reader interest in 2025, including a popular donut shop, and a local Chinese restaurant, which were both forced to close briefly to address health code violations. Both restaurants reopened and remain in business.
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