Stage Nine Boss Plots Big Comeback For Old Sac’s Paperworks Building

One of Old Sacramento’s quietest corners is about to get loud again, at least in a cultural sense. The owner of Stage Nine Entertainment is taking over the historic Paperworks building and turning it into a mixed-use cultural and retail hub, with gallery space, a community bookstore, boutique shops and a second-floor exhibition venue. The overhaul would flip a long-empty storefront right next to Stage Nine’s flagship into an indoor magnet for waterfront visitors, giving regulars a fresh spot to browse on rainy days and one more excuse to linger in the district.

According to the Sacramento Business Journal, the Stage Nine owner is taking control of the Paperworks building with plans for a mix of shops, galleries and exhibit space. The plan focuses on activating the block that sits alongside Stage Nine's existing Old Sacramento footprint and boosting the neighborhood’s indoor attractions.

The entrepreneur behind the project is Troy Carlson, who launched Stage Nine in the early 1990s and gradually built it into a multi-concept Old Sacramento destination. Local coverage and the retailer’s online presence trace Stage Nine’s evolution from a college-era gift shop into a layered retail and exhibition operation on the waterfront. Sacramento Press and the company site point to Stage Nine’s on-site gallery and its connection to Stage 9 Exhibits, the build-and-tour side of Carlson’s business.

What The Paperworks Will House

The Business Journal reports that the Paperworks build-out will include an art space, a community-focused bookstore, boutique retail and a new second-floor exhibit area designed to host traveling shows. The Journal describes the overall program as a blend of local makers and curated, museum-style displays. The reuse is intended to preserve the building’s historic character while introducing climate-controlled gallery space sized for larger exhibitions.

Stage Nine's Exhibition Track Record

Stage 9 Exhibits - the production arm linked to Stage Nine Entertainment - has already put its stamp on touring, family-friendly shows, including the "Toytopia" exhibit that ran at the Exploreum and later traveled to national venues. The Exploreum documents Stage 9 Exhibits’ role in developing that show and notes the group’s work with institutions beyond the region. That track record gives Carlson’s team the practical experience to run rotating exhibits in a second-floor venue without having to outsource all the fabrication.

Why This Matters For Old Sac

Old Sacramento is a national historic landmark and a year-round waterfront draw, packed with shops, attractions and district events that rely on a steady mix of tourists and locals. Old Sacramento Waterfront bills the area as a blend of history, dining and retail, and the Paperworks project lines up with efforts to stretch those offerings beyond mostly outdoor programming. An indoor gallery and bookstore could help even out weekday traffic and add low-key, climate-controlled options for families and out-of-town visitors.

Timeline And Next Steps

The exact opening date and tenant lineup have not been released, but a Bank of Marin LinkedIn post flagged the Paperworks project and said Stage Nine intends to "unveil The Paperworks next month." Bank of Marin highlighted the effort as part of Stage Nine’s broader expansion of retail and exhibit operations. City permitting and the pace of the build-out will ultimately decide when the public gets to step inside.