The new spacious interior of E&J’s Music Lounge in Yuba City features a stage and plenty of room for instruments.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Yuba City’s Plumas Street serves many functions. Often considered the region’s premiere dining district, it regularly houses street fairs and large community events such as the annual Winter and Summer strolls hosted by the Yuba City Downtown Business Association.

As with all business districts, change is inevitable. Some shops come and go while others continue to expand their footprint and legacy.

“We’re still getting set up but the extra space has been really nice,” said Justin Rankin, owner of E&J’s Music Lounge.

Originally located at 659 Plumas St., Rankin ecently moved his shop less than a block south to 623 Plumas St. which once housed a martial arts studio. The new venue offers a much larger display room where Rankin can show off his many custom works. A stage in the left-hand corner serves as a rehearsal space for Mudstone, Rankin’s band.

The new spacious interior of E&J’s Music Lounge in Yuba City features a stage and plenty of room for instruments.

“There's a lot of potential for live entertainment here,” said Rankin. “It’s really cool to see Plumas Street becoming this event destination.”

The events Rankin is referring to include the regular open mics and musical performances that occur at Hooligans, Sopa Thai, and Steel House Coffee, all nearby businesses. Live entertainment can also be found at Sutter Buttes Brewing with their monthly comedy nights, the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts and the Teegarden Event Center.

One of the newest venues is Skip’s Open Mic Music Cafe, formerly Skip’s Marysville Music Cafe, which relocated from Marysville to Yuba City this past December.

“It’s slowly but surely becoming that entertainment district,” said Skip Bertsch about the numerous performance venues on Plumas Street. “With it being an entertainment district, the city has extended the sound ordinance to midnight too, which is nice.”

Here is a peek into Krazy Katz Vintage Vinyl Records, located inside the Skip’s Open Mic Music Cafe in Yuba City.

Bertsch’s venue, located at 787 Plumas St., is often used for music lessons and recitals but doubles as an event rental with portable stages. Krazy Katz Vintage Vinyl Records is also located inside the store, making Skip’s a “one stop shop” for local music and performance enthusiasts.

“The nicest new feature is that after hours, we have the whole parking lot,” said Bertsch. “It will enable us to do all sorts of little events and outdoor music festivals here.”

Across from Skip’s lies Europa Florist & Caskets, which suffered major fire damage in 2023. This business now appears to be open again but only through a back entrance as marked by street signage.

Other relatively new stores include a formal wear shop called Carolina & Ana Boutique, Plumas Barber Studio, Aeon Nails and Novedades Espinoza. Iguanas Mexican Grill is now closed but in its place is Agave Bar and Grill which seems to have a lively vibe. Local business owners said to check back at that restaurant for a grand opening party on Cinco De Mayo.

For more information about Plumas Street, visit yubacitydowntown.com or take a walk down Plumas Street between Bridge Street and Colusa Highway any day of the week.