Oto's Marketplace has been slicing sushi-grade fish and stacking bento boxes for Sacramento shoppers for 65 years, and next month the neighborhood grocer joins five other longtime local institutions as honorees at the Sacramento History Alliance's 8th Annual Burnett Awards. The gala is set for Thursday evening, November 12, from 5 to 7 p.m., in the lobby of the Sacramento History Museum on the Old Sacramento waterfront.
The Sacramento History Alliance announced the honoree lineup for the event, which the organization describes as a tribute to businesses that serve as pillars of Sacramento's history, according to Sacramento Press. Oto's Marketplace, a 2026 honoree, specializes in Japanese and Asian foods, sushi-grade fresh fish, A5 Wagyu and other quality meats, farm-fresh produce, and daily-made bento lunch boxes and sushi, according to burnettawards.org. The market has served the Sacramento community for over 65 years, per the same organization.
A Century-Old Law Firm and a Third-Generation Cleaner
Among this year's honorees is Downey Brand, which has operated for 100 years, from 1926 to 2026, and has launched 100 Acts, a year-long initiative recognizing service, leadership, collaboration, gratitude, and commitment to making a positive difference, per the Sacramento Press report. Rytina Fine Cleaners, a third-generation family-owned business, brings more than 60 years of expertise caring for Sacramento fashions, offering garment care, laundering, alterations, and specialty-item services, the outlet notes.
Broadway Costumes rounds out the honoree roster as a family-owned and operated business now led by its third generation. Founded in 1965, the shop is described as Sacramento's leading costume rental and supply store, specializing in historical costuming for adults and children, per the same report.
Preservation and Community Honors
Lil' Joe's Restaurant, a North Sacramento staple since 1948, will receive the Preservation Award, which is sponsored by Preservation Sacramento. Sacramento Ballet has been named the Community Partner Awardee, recognized for delivering dance performances, education, and community outreach programs in the California capital region since 1954, the article states.
Scott Syphax, a KVIE Studio Sacramento host, will emcee the gala, according to the report. The awards are named in honor of the late Burnett Miller, a native Sacramentan, former mayor, community icon, philanthropist, business leader, and one of the city's most prominent history enthusiasts, as Sacramento Press reported ahead of last year's ceremony.
A Fundraiser With Deep Local Roots
The gala is a benefit fundraiser for the Sacramento History Museum, which welcomes nearly 60,000 visitors each year, including 13,000 schoolchildren, according to burnettawards.org. The Sacramento History Alliance, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to making Sacramento's history accessible to all, operates the museum in partnership with the City and County of Sacramento, the organization notes.
Tickets for the 2026 ceremony and reception cost $100 per person and include the awards ceremony, assorted appetizers, and a hosted wine bar, per the Sacramento Press report. A limited number of sponsorships remain available, the outlet notes, and the event is presented by Rosanna Herber, Annette and Rich Kassis, Bruce Marwick, Morgan Stanley, and Otto Construction.
Honoring a Tradition of Longevity
The Burnett Awards have grown from a sixth annual celebration in 2024 to this eighth annual edition, consistently honoring venerable businesses that have met and withstood the test of time and are recognized contributors to the community culture, according to Fox Sports 1400/iHeart. That 2024 class included Bertolucci's Body and Fender Shop, serving since 1948, alongside Otto Construction and Bogle Family Vineyards, per the same report.
Last year's honorees were Country Club Lanes, KFBK News Radio, Morgan Jones Funeral Home, and WeidnerCA, while Zelda's, a Midtown mainstay since 1978, received the Preservation Sacramento Award and ACC Senior Services was named Community Partner Awardee, Sacramento Press reported at the time. The Sacramento History Alliance honors legacy businesses and organizations annually, continuing a pattern that has made the Burnett Awards a fixture of the city's fall calendar.
