Back then, Macy’s anchored the west end-faithful since 1963-and shoppers flocked from every corner. Stores came and went in a lively parade: Weinstock's nestled in by 1979, followed by Liberty House in 1981, and then luxury retailer I. Magnin after Liberty House checked out in ‘84. The plaza blossomed, growing a second story and a buzzing food court in ‘93, as if Sacramento wanted diners to experience double-decker satisfaction. At that time, United Artists landed here with a seven-screen movie theater-a big deal before Netflix invaded our couches. The upstairs nightlife boomed too, with America Live! turning the old I. Magnin spot into a playground for bars, nightclubs, and some questionable dance moves.
The 90s threw in more plot twists than a soap opera. The Hard Rock Cafe brought rockstar energy to the east end in ‘97, dishing out burgers and memorabilia until 2010. Copeland’s Sports tried its luck above America Live!, but eventually, even sneakers couldn’t keep pace. Ownership changed faster than mall-walkers on a Monday morning-the Westfield era dawned in 1998, tagging on “Shoppingtown” (try saying that five times fast during a sale) before scrapping it by 2005. As mega-malls popped up and online shopping lured crowds into pajama-mode, occupancy rates here plummeted. By 2012, half the mall’s shop spaces were empty-a retail ghost town, haunted by dreams of Targets that never materialized.
Just when things looked bleak, JMA Ventures swooped in, buying the property in 2012 and giving it a new lease on life. But this next chapter came with big changes. The city needed a new home for its beloved NBA team, the Sacramento Kings. A deal was struck, the eastern chunk of the mall-spanning from 5th to 7th Streets-was demolished beginning in 2014, and Golden 1 Center started to rise. Imagine the clamorous chorus of machinery and hammers as walls fell and Sacramento’s sports dreams took shape.
This wasn’t just about basketball. The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel went up right next to the arena in 2017, ready to offer luxury beds to everyone from visiting fans to business tycoons. Restaurants, shops, and a revamped theater with cushy seats and extra screens joined in, turning DOCO into a humming entertainment and retail wonderland. But not everything could stick around: after a whopping 62 years, Macy’s closed its doors here in 2025, ending the era of holiday window displays and last-minute suit shopping. The building caught the eye of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, purchased for a cool $15 million-future plans a delicious mystery.
Today, you’re strolling through an urban oasis that mixes old innovation with new energy. DOCO is more than just a shopping center. It’s where history, basketball fever, movies, eats, and city pride all jostle for your attention. So grab a coffee, spot a Kings jersey, or do a victory lap in front of Sauced BBQ-remember, you’re part of the next chapter of this ever-chair swiveling story.
