A local nonprofit will soon take over restaurant operations at Empress Tavern on The Kay through a partnership with Robert Emerick, owner of the historic Crest Theatre, which sits above the restaurant at 1013 K St.
Alchemist Community Development Corporation is reconceptualizing the downtown Sacramento eatery as a “lively, community-focused culinary space that celebrates the iconic history of the location while creating opportunities for economic empowerment, food equity, and community connection to thrive under one roof,” special projects manager Shannin Stein told What Now Sacramento.
Empress Tavern originally opened in 2015 as a bold reimagining of a former underground movie auditorium, with dramatic vaulted brick ceilings, an open kitchen, and a focus on hearty, meat-centric fare by chef-owner Michael Thiemann.
The name pays homage to the original Empress Theatre, an early 20th-century predecessor to the Crest. After a pandemic-related closure, the restaurant returned in 2023 with a bistro-style menu and renewed energy, continuing to draw guests with its dramatic ambiance.
The revamped venue—called Alchemist Events at Empress Tavern—will host a calendar of community events, including cooking classes, ‘Dinner and a Movie’ nights, live music, game nights, and art shows. The culinary lineup will spotlight participants in Alchemist Kitchen programs, farmers and vendors from its farmers’ markets, and collaborations with local chefs and restaurants.
While not currently open for regular restaurant service, Alchemist CDC hopes to eventually introduce lunch specials and regular dine-in service, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Empress Tavern is closed for light touch-ups—including fresh paint, cleaning, and reorganization—and is slated to reopen in mid- to late July 2025. “While the ten-year-old space is still stunning,” said Stein, “it needs a little love.”
