Here’s what’s coming to the former Cattle Rustler’s restaurant in Citrus Heights

By Thomas J. Sullivan–
A new Mexican restaurant, R Vida Cantina, will be opening soon in Copperwood Shopping Plaza at 7040 Sunrise Blvd.

“R” is for Ramos, and Vida, means life,” Kevin Ramos, one of three new owners of R Vida Cantina, told The Sentinel in an interview. The trio of Ramos, Carlos Rodriguez and Kevin Miles, Jr. are co-owners.

If the last name Ramos sounds familiar, it should be.

Ramos said his family, owners of Casa Ramos family restaurant chain, are glad to be making a return to Citrus Heights after a prolonged 10-year absence. That’s good news, as R Vida Cantina has signed a five-year lease at the site of the former Cattle Rustler’s, which closed in early 2018.

Their former Casa Ramos restaurant in Citrus Heights was once located in Birdcage Plaza, where the former Sports Authority and Old Navy are now.

“Many people in Citrus Heights fondly remember Casa Ramos or have since dined at our other locations,” he said. “I think they’ll be delighted to know we’re coming back with a new twist.”

“We’re looking to create more of a cantina-type menu, but we will be featuring most of the popular dishes we’re best known for,” said Ramos. “It will be a varied menu to suit just about everyone’s taste.”

The motto of the new R Vida Cantina Mexican Restaurant is “good food, good drinks and good life.”

An opening date in early October is being targeted, but Ramos said that date is contingent on no issues with permits.

The interior of the 6,500-square foot restaurant, built in 1982, will be refreshed throughout, Ramos said. Some interior walls will be removed to create a much more open feel. Interior construction is expected to begin later this month.

“It took us about six months to negotiate the lease we wanted,” Ramos said, noting that the site along Sunrise Boulevard caught his eye. “I was surprised that it had been vacant for so long in what is certainly a very high-traffic location.”

The new restaurant floorplan will feature a large banquet room and a new outdoor patio. One current exterior wall facing the interior of the shopping plaza will be opened with a pull-down garage door to give patrons access to outside patio seating.

The Ramos family owns Casa Ramos-branded restaurants in Rancho Cordova, Folsom, Lincoln, Placerville and Sacramento. The family made a business decision earlier this spring to close a restaurant on Vine Street in Eldorado Hills. Kevin suggested the family take a second look in considering Citrus Heights.

“Citrus Heights is growing, and Copperwood Plaza in general, is a great location, with good traffic on Sunrise Boulevard,” Ramos said. The new owners visualize R Vida Cantina as a popular cantina-style restaurant and sports bar with televisions throughout.

The new restaurant is currently hiring for all positions and is accepting resumes on site, according to Ramos.