‘No regrets’: Sibling by Pushkin’s set to close after 9 years, owners say
After nearly a decade specializing in gluten-free brunch fare, Sibling by Pushkin’s announced it will be closing its doors in the new year.
In an Instagram post Sunday, the 1813 Capitol Ave. restaurant shared the news — its last day operating will be Sunday, Jan. 4.
“Ten years ago we came in, built it, executed, and now we say goodbye,” the post said. “It’s bittersweet, no question. But it was a success, and this is just part of doing business.”
Co-owner Danny Turner said, while the decision to shut down the successful restaurant was difficult, its reasoning was simple. The restaurant’s lease was set to expire, and another 10-year lease would be at too steep a cost, he said.
“It’s a tough decision because we made money yesterday, we’re making money today ... it’s a profitable store,” Turner said. “It just felt like it wasn’t the right decision to continue.”
Turner said in its final weeks, Sibling will operate its typical hours and serve its usual menu with a handful of minor additions to accommodate an expected rush of closing traffic.
Sibling bolstered a budding Sacramento gluten-free empire
In 2016, Turner and his wife, Olga, opened their restaurant — originally called Pushkin’s Restaurant — as an offshoot of their then-nascent bakery at 1820 29th St.
As with the Pushkin’s locations, the full-service restaurant serves exclusively gluten-free food. Turner previously told The Bee that the decision to exclude gluten products from the menu came naturally, as he does not eat dairy or gluten. However, the Turners never expected to find such success in a niche market.
“I think on a greater whole, people don’t understand how unique it was to have a 100% gluten-free restaurant ... be that successful,” Turner said. “When we opened (Sibling), we had no idea if it was going to do well, it was a total risk.”
Despite the eatery’s success, Turner said it’s the right time to sunset the restaurant concept. When it opened, the original Pushkin’s bakery and cafe was not even two years old. Now, the brand is a household name for gluten-free bakes in the capital region.
In 2019, six years after launching the first Pushkin’s, the Turners opened another outpost in Roseville. The Pushkin’s Restaurant was renamed to Sibling in 2020 to differentiate itself from the bakeries as the brand grew.
The following year, the team managed to launch an entirely new concept in the throes of COVID-19 restrictions — the vegan and gluten-free Babes Ice Cream and Donuts. A third Pushkin’s spot opened earlier this year in Arden Arcade.
“In a way, we took Sibling and spread it out across Placer County and Sacramento County,” Turner said. “If we open more, it’ll be our bakery and cafe counter service concept.”
On Monday, Turner thanked the Sacramento community for supporting the restaurant over the last decade, saying he and Olga Turner have “no regrets at all.”
“Without Sibling, Pushkin’s wouldn’t be what it is today,” the Sibling Instagram announcement reads. “This place, our customers, our teams taught us so much, and thankfully we’ll never forget that.”
This story was originally published December 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM.
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