Sacramento, California – Old Sacramento has always been a place where the past refuses to stay quiet. This week, it had two fresh reasons to pull people back to the waterfront: a beloved costume landmark returning after a long rebuild, and a new retail-and-exhibition space opening its doors just steps away.
Councilmember Lisa Kaplan and #TeamKaplan joined community members and business leaders to mark the Grand Reopening of Evangeline’s Costume Mansion and the ribbon-cutting for The Paperworks, Stage Nine Entertainment’s newest mixed-use retail and exhibition space in the Old Sacramento Waterfront.
For Evangeline’s, the celebration carried extra weight. The Costume Mansion returned after a year of renovation, with the business announcing a Grand Reopening weekend for June 27 and 28, 2026. The shop, long known as one of Old Sacramento’s most colorful destinations, reopened its refreshed space after a difficult closure and reconstruction period.
The return was not just about costumes, props or Halloween crowds. It was a sign of staying power. In a district built on history, Evangeline’s comeback gave visitors another reason to see Old Sacramento as more than a tourist stop. It remains a working neighborhood of shop owners, artists and longtime Sacramento characters who keep showing up.
Nearby, The Paperworks added a different kind of spark. Located at 1115 Front Street, the new space brings together specialty shops, dining and exhibition programming inside a historic building. Its featured attraction, “Death by Natural Causes,” offers an immersive exhibit that explores the science, history and natural forces behind death in a way organizers describe as family-friendly for ages 8 and older.
Kaplan’s office framed the two celebrations as examples of the resilience, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that continue to shape Sacramento’s identity. The office also congratulated Deborah Chaussé, Troy Carlson, local business owners, artists and partners who helped bring the spaces to life.
The milestones arrive at a useful moment for the waterfront. Downtown districts across the country are still working to pull foot traffic back into historic commercial areas, and Old Sacramento is doing it through a mix of familiar names and new experiences.
From the restored Costume Mansion to local shops and a major exhibition space, the message from #TeamKaplan was direct: come visit, support local businesses and see what is new. For Old Sacramento, the ribbon cuttings were more than ceremonies. They were proof that the waterfront is still adding chapters to its story.