Tribe Buys Former Macy’s in Downtown Sacramento

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians has acquired the former Macy’s building at Downtown Commons in Sacramento for an undisclosed amount (estimated around $15 million), marking a significant expansion of its real estate presence in the city’s center.

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, the tribe behind the Red Hawk Resort and Casino, announced the acquisition of the former Macy’s building located at 414 K Street. The downtown landmark, which closed its doors permanently in March, had long served as a retail anchor in the city’s central district.

The acquisition underscores the tribe’s growing presence in Sacramento and its reassertion of ancestral land claims near Downtown Commons, an area leaders say overlapped with traditional Nisenan/Miwok territory, even as public redevelopment initiatives have lagged.

“The land is part of the foundation of our existence. It is where our ancestors lived and flourished,” said Chairwoman Regina Cuellar. “By re-acquiring our ancestral lands, we’re reclaiming our history, our traditions, and a deeper connection to our ancestors.”

 This follows the tribe’s April 2024 acquisition of a 2.4‑acre vacant lot at 301 Capitol Mall, purchased from CalPERS for approximately $17 million. While the tribe has yet to announce formal plans for either property, leaders say they are engaging with community voices to determine the best use for the buildings.

“We have a lot of wishes, our membership has a lot of wishes, and we’re trying to gauge the Sacramento community on what’s needed in the downtown area,” Cuellar noted. “We hear a lot of different things, and so, we’re open to exploring those different options.”

The purchase comes at a time when Sacramento’s urban core continues to struggle with post-pandemic economic recovery, increasing commercial vacancies, and inconsistent leadership from the Labor-led state government. While state and city officials have put forth broad revitalization plans, tangible results have been slow to materialize, leaving room for private actors, like the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, to take the lead.

This latest purchase underscores the tribe’s commitment to both cultural preservation and economic development, two goals not always effectively balanced by public initiatives. As downtown Sacramento looks for direction, this acquisition may signal a turning point driven not by bureaucracy, but by local investment with deep historical ties.