City Cafe & Tap Room at 667 Plumas St. in downtown Yuba City has new ownership, and the change comes with a significant addition: a 22-tap self-serve taproom being built in a connected space right next door. Alfonso Villagomez has taken over the restaurant's liquor license and says the core cafe experience customers already know isn't going anywhere.
New Owner, Familiar Menu
The ownership shift puts Villagomez in charge of City Cafe's liquor license, according to WhatNow. Villagomez has been direct about his intentions, saying, “I don't plan on changing the core base of City Cafe.” He described the move as additive rather than a reinvention, per the same outlet, framing the taproom and new service lines as growth built on top of what's already working rather than a teardown of the existing concept.
That existing concept includes some physical advantages Villagomez is leaning into. City Cafe has one of downtown Yuba City's larger patios along with an on-site parking lot, the report notes — amenities that matter in a downtown corridor where curbside space can be tight. The restaurant will stay open throughout the entire ownership transition, with no interruption planned for regular service.
Pool, Darts and a 22-Tap Wall Next Door
The headline change is physical: a 22-tap self-serve taproom going up in a connected space next to the existing cafe. The build-out will include a pool table and darts, plus its own pub-style menu set at a separate price point from the main cafe offerings, according to the same report. It's a distinct identity carved out alongside, rather than inside, the cafe's existing footprint.
City Café's own site already promotes an adjacent tap wall as a draw, describing it as “the perfect social gathering spot.” The business also markets its adjacent event space, City Social, as able to accommodate groups of 10 to 60, with group and events packages that include cocktails, wine, beer, spirits and chef-driven plates, per the venue's website.
Catering, Delivery and Trivia Nights on Deck
Villagomez isn't stopping at the taproom. He's expanding catering and delivery as additional growth areas, with plans for both office catering and off-site liquor catering, the report states. Seasonal menu changes will continue on the cafe side even as the new taproom offerings roll out gradually rather than all at once.
Weekly programming is also part of the plan, including Wednesday pub trivia nights once the taproom side ramps up. Villagomez's broader pitch, as relayed in the report, is that the core menu stays true to the existing concept while the new energy — taproom, catering, programming — comes in around it rather than replacing anything.
The change in Yuba City follows a mixed stretch for the city's longtime dining spots. Hoodline previously reported that Linda's Soda Bar closed after nearly a century, with its owner still seeking a buyer, while The Refuge Restaurant and Lounge celebrated its own grand opening in Yuba City back in January 2024, according to the Appeal-Democrat. Ownership changes at taprooms aren't unique to Yuba City, either — the Tacoma News Tribune reported that Locust Cider recently handed off its last Gig Harbor location to a new owner.
