Most of the original 9,000-square-foot Club Pheasant restaurant will be incorporated into the new development designs, retaining a piece of West Sacramento history. Graphic courtesy of City of West Sacramento/196 Architects.

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – A piece of West Sacramento history is about to experience a rebirth in a new, expanded version of its old self.

Voting 4-0 at its April 30 meeting, City Council approved a purchase and sale development agreement with Ram Cor Dev LLC for development and use of the former Club Pheasant Restaurant property at 2525 Jefferson Blvd. in the Southport neighborhood, corner of Jefferson and Lake Washington Boulevard. The city purchased the property for $3.3 million in 2022 from the former owners, the Palamidessi family, when they retired and closed the West Sacramento landmark after 87 years of operation.

The proposal agreed to with Ram Cor Dev LLC will redevelop 21,500 square feet of the 2.15-acre site into a full-service restaurant and retail space. Economic Development and Housing Department Director Traci Michel told the council that development features 19,900 square feet of indoor space in three buildings, along with 10,500-plus square feet of outdoor space to “accommodate dining, gathering and other programming.”

“This project will provide more than double the amount of square footage than the original Club Pheasant restaurant,” Michel said.

 

Club Pheasant stores will also include parking and patio space for use by the public for a variety of events and activities. Graphic courtesy of City of West Sacramento/196 Architects

Most of the original two-story Club Pheasant building will remain, preserving its “footprint, features, façade, rooflines, signage and monument wall.” According to the restaurant’s website, the restaurant was originally built in 1912 and used by the University of Davis as a soil testing facility. The building and land were purchased by Luisa and George Palamidessi, who farmed nearby, in 1935, beginning restaurant life as the Hideaway Café before becoming Club Pheasant.

Ram Cor Dev LLC development team member Henry De Vere White told the council that it is their intent, following the city’s vision, to honor the area’s agricultural roots when developing the property. They want to tell the story of the Palamidessi family and the early patrons of Club Pheasant.

“The overlying is a sense of place and a sense of hospitality,” De Vere White said.

West Sacramento City Councilwoman Norma Alcala said during council comments, “We have to have a sense of community here, of history.”

Buildings on the property will include seven storefronts, with four businesses, Jack’s Urban Eats, Italian Bistro, Temple Coffee Roasters and Club Pheasant already committed to leases. The development will include a “City Storefront Space,” a 1,200-square-foot space dedicated as a “new business incubator site to help local entrepreneurs bring their unique business concepts to storefronts.”

The development agreement sells the property to Ram Cor Dev LLC for $1.5 million, about 45% of what the city purchased the site for in 2022. Including other one-time costs such as site maintenance, property marketing/negotiations and City Storefront master lease, West Sacramento has incurred an expense at Club Pheasant of $3.62 million, putting it $2.12 million in the hole so far.

The agreement requires the property “be used for public commercial business purposes” and includes a city buy-back provision at cost plus $100,000 reimbursement of development team costs in the event of default.

 

The proposed Club Pheasant development could eventually be home to seven retail/food-oriented public businesses along with a business incubator for local startups. Graphic courtesy of City of West Sacramento/196 Architects

Michel said that the city expects a significant return on that investment. Estimates based on sales tax, property tax and other sources put annual revenue at $600,000, against annual expenses of $95,000. Over 10 years, while the costs will come to $4.47 million, revenues could exceed $7.325 million.

“So it’s 100% return on investment in the 10-year timeframe,” Michel added.

Not everyone was convinced of the project revenue estimates. During public comments, West Sacramento resident Gay Reinhardt, who said she had “fond memories” of Club Pheasant,” asked if councilmembers “really think this is going to even out.”

Council and staff expressed confidence that the project will be a financial win for the city. They cited not only tax revenue from Club Pheasant businesses but also the potential for 200 new jobs, not including construction, that the project will produce as well as revenue windfalls to other area existing businesses that will benefit from more customers.

“The return on investment takes time,” Alcala said. “It doesn’t happen overnight.”

Council members and other public commenters noted the amount of enthusiasm already expressed from West Sacramento residents about the coming project, which could begin construction by early summer 2026.

“People are pumped,” Mayor Pro Tem Verna Suplizio Hull said.