The Casa Garden Restaurant, located on the Sacramento Children’s Home campus, has closed after 46 years of service.
The restaurant first opened its doors in 1974 after a former Sacramento Children’s Home Board member proposed the idea of a women-led, volunteer-based, ongoing fundraising method. Since it’s beginning, Casa Garden restaurant has been almost fully operated by volunteers from the “Los Ninos Service League” auxiliary. The restaurant famously chose a select menu of one entree, salad, and chef’s special option that changed every two weeks.
By volunteering and choosing the condensed weekly menu, the Los Ninos Service League drastically reduced expenses. This allowed for greater financial donations back to the Sacramento Children’s Home. The group also oversaw rentals of its meeting center and outdoor garden area for meetings, weddings, and special events.
Over the years, Casa Garden and its volunteers have been responsible for raising and donating more than $3.1 million to support SCH programs and services.
Casa Garden announced in March 2020 that it would temporarily close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After nearly one year since suspending operations, the restaurant’s Board of Directors made the difficult decision to close permanently.
“It has been our privilege and pleasure to serve you for over 46 years. We know many of you have enjoyed delicious lunches or attended lovely events here. Our volunteers and staff have worked tirelessly to make your time at the Casa special. Additionally, we appreciate your support of our mission to provide much-needed funding for the Sacramento Children’s Home
“We are facing unprecedented challenges at this time and have made the unfortunate but necessary decision to close permanently effective February 1, 2021. All assets and liabilities will be turned over to the Sacramento Children’s Home. We are all saddened by this decision, and it is unknown what, if any, future plans are in store for the restaurant’s site.
“In the meantime, a few copies of our recently updated Casa Cookbook are available. Please see the link (here) if you wish to purchase a copy. As always, all proceeds will go to the Children’s Home.
“We want to take this opportunity to encourage you to continue supporting the Sacramento Children’s Home and express our hope that you and your families will remain well,” Ferris-Steed said in a statement on the restaurant’s website.
All of us at the Sacramento Children’s Home appreciate the support the Casa Garden Restaurant staff, volunteers, and diners have provided for nearly five decades. The restaurant has been such an important part of our history, not only because of its fundraising but also because of its ability to bring community members together in support of the mission of the Sacramento Children’s Home.
We will greatly miss the volunteers, the staff, and the patrons of Casa Garden. To them, we say thank you for your passion, hard work, and dedication.
To read the Sacramento Bee’s article on Casa Garden’s closure, click here.
Watch/read KCRA’s report here.
Or watch FOX 40’s report: