It happened on a random Monday in June 2025. No big farewell party. No "last call" weekend to clear out the kegs. Just a short, somber Instagram post and a locked door at 535 Howe Avenue.
The Twin Peaks sports bar Sacramento closure didn't just end a decade-long run in the Arden-Arcade area; it effectively wiped the brand off the map in the entire state of California.
For nearly ten years, this spot was the go-to for 29-degree beer and wall-to-wall football. It replaced an old Fresh Choice—remember those?—and brought a specific kind of high-energy, "lodge" vibe to a busy corner of Sacramento. But now? It’s just another empty shell in a retail landscape that's feeling a bit thin lately. Honestly, if you drove by today, you’d see a building that looks ready for a game that isn't coming back.
The Sudden End of an Era on Howe Avenue
The news hit social media on June 2, 2025. The message from the franchise was brief: “It's with a heavy heart that we must share that Twin Peaks Sacramento is now permanently closed.”
People were legitimately shocked. Usually, when a staple like this goes under, there’s a bit of a "wind-down" period. Not here. One day you could grab a venison chili and a beer, and the next, the "Lumber Jills" were looking for new jobs.
This location was the first of its kind in California when it opened back in July 2016. At the time, the owners, Sandy Mann and CJ Dhaliwal of Elite Sports Bar Group, had massive plans. They talked about opening 17 more locations across Northern California. They wanted to dominate the "breastaurant" niche—a term the industry uses for brands like Hooters and Twin Peaks—but those 17 locations never materialized. Instead, the Sacramento spot became an island.
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When the Sacramento doors shut, the brand’s footprint in the Golden State officially hit zero.
Why did it happen?
The company hasn't given a "smoking gun" reason. No press release detailed a specific financial collapse or a lease dispute. However, you don't have to be a forensic accountant to see the writing on the wall. Sacramento's restaurant scene has been taking some heavy hits lately.
- Device Brewing Company closed three spots in April 2025.
- Track 7 Brewing shuttered locations in Natomas and Curtis Park.
- Hooters, the primary rival, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy just months prior.
Basically, the "big box" sports bar model is getting squeezed. Between rising labor costs in California and a shift in how people spend their Friday nights, a massive 8,100-square-foot lodge is a lot of overhead to maintain.
Is the "Lodge" Concept Dying?
It's a fair question. Some people on Reddit and local forums have been debating whether the concept itself is just outdated. While Twin Peaks as a national brand is actually growing in the South and Midwest, California is a different beast altogether.
Operating a restaurant in Sacramento in 2026 involves navigating high utility costs and a very competitive casual dining market. If you aren't packing the house every Tuesday for mediocre basketball games, the math stops working pretty fast.
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Also, let's talk about the "experience." Twin Peaks sold itself on "scenic views"—a tongue-in-cheek reference to the staff. While that used to be a massive draw, younger diners seem more interested in craft cocktails or unique local food than the corporate lodge aesthetic.
The Real Impact on Arden-Arcade
When Twin Peaks opened, it brought about 135 jobs to the area. That’s a lot of waitstaff, cooks, and bartenders now hitting the pavement.
The Howe Avenue corridor is a weird spot. It has high traffic, but it’s also seen a lot of turnover. Losing a primary "anchor" for sports fans means less foot traffic for the surrounding shops. Honestly, it’s a bummer for the regulars who had their favorite seat for Kings games.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Closure
A lot of folks assume the brand is failing. It isn't. Twin Peaks actually went public in early 2025 and has been aggressively rebranding other restaurant chains, like Smokey Bones, into new Twin Peaks locations in other states.
The Twin Peaks sports bar Sacramento closure seems more like a "California retreat" than a brand-wide collapse. It’s expensive to do business here. When a franchise isn't hitting specific margins, corporate or the franchise group will often cut bait rather than try to fix a sinking ship in a high-cost environment.
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What Happens to the Building Now?
That's the million-dollar question. The building at 535 Howe Ave is huge. It’s got 84 TVs and a massive bar setup.
Some locals are hoping for a return to something more traditional—maybe a local brewery or a different themed grill. Others are jokingly (or maybe seriously) asking for a "Goth IHOP" or another buffet. Given that it was a Fresh Choice before, there’s a history of "big food" at that address.
For now, the site sits quiet.
Moving Forward: Where to Go Instead?
If you were a regular at the Sacramento Twin Peaks and you're wondering where to take your business, you have a few local options that are still standing:
- University of Beer: Good for the craft beer lovers who want a massive selection without the corporate "lodge" feel.
- Public House Downtown: Great for sports viewing, though the vibe is a bit more polished.
- Local Neighborhood Bars: Spots in Midtown or East Sac are picking up the slack as the big chains pull out of the suburbs.
The reality is that Sacramento’s dining landscape is shifting toward smaller, local, and more specialized spots. The era of the 10,000-square-foot national chain sports bar in California might be sunsetting. If you have gift cards or rewards points for Twin Peaks, you might want to check their website to see if they can be used for online merchandise or at out-of-state locations, because the Sacramento ship has officially sailed.
Keep an eye on local zoning permits for 535 Howe Avenue; that's where the next chapter for this property will be written.