Selland family temporarily closes remaining restaurants over coronavirus concerns

Selland Family Restaurants has temporarily closed all remaining eateries in light of the coronavirus pandemic, citing employee health risks.

OBO’ Italian Table & Bar and all three Selland’s Market-Cafe locations had remained open for takeout and delivery until Sunday night, when the restaurant group emailed its listserv to announce their closure.

“The health and safety of our employees and our customers is always our top priority,” the email read. “With the growing concerns and uncertainty that lies ahead, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we feel it is safest to allow our staff to stay at home during this time.”

Selland Family Restaurants closed high-end Ella Dining Room & Bar and The Kitchen on March 16, the day Gov. Gavin Newsom called for all restaurants statewide to cut their dine-in service. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg echoed Newsom the next day.

Randall Selland and Nancy Zimmer opened The Kitchen, the city’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, in 1992 and have debuted East Sacramento’s OBO as well Selland’s Market-Cafes on Broadway and in the El Dorado Hills Town Center within the last decade. The couple’s children Josh Nelson and Tamera Baker now work as the group’s CEO and Chief Brand Officer, respectively.

This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 10:14 AM.