Cornerstone – the popular restaurant that left the corner of 24th and J streets two years ago – is coming home.
The restaurant will reopen Thursday next door to its former location – now a gun store – in a spot recently vacated when River Rock Tap House shut its doors for good.
“We’re excited to come back to the old neighborhood and see all of the old customers,” said owner Danny Leung.
For the past two years, Cornerstone has been operating out of Headhunters, a bar and nightclub on 20th and K streets. When the business was unable to extend its lease at the former location at 2330 J St. after 14 years being open, the owners looked into moving into an old church.
The church, however, didn’t have the parking requirements the city set for the restaurant, and the idea fizzled. Partnering with Headhunters was a stopgap measure, and Leung said he has been looking for another space to operate independently.
“There have been other openings, but none of them felt like home,” he said. “This feels like home.”
River Rock Tap House closed at the end of summer, plagued by a broken air conditioning system that the business lacked the means to replace. An assortment of swamp coolers didn’t keep pace with the hot Sacramento weather, and customers slipped away until the business eventually went under.
A brand new air conditioning unit is now in place, and Leung said Cornerstone will incorporate a full bar pending approval of a liquor license.
When the restaurant opens on Thursday, hours will be from 6 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. When the liquor license is obtained, Cornerstone will be open from 6 a.m. – midnight.
Leung described the food as traditional American food, with omelets, sandwiches and burgers. About 90 percent of the menu items are priced less than $10, he added.
“We’re coming back,” Leung said. “We belong here, and it’s always good to feel at home.”
