Transforming a defunct subterranean movie theater into a bustling restaurant is no easy task. When Sacramento restaurant owner Bob Emerick first saw the underground remnants of the old Crest Theater auditoriums, he knew he had stumbled upon something special. It’s common for buildings in the older parts of Sacramento to have abandoned underground rooms, and often renovation efforts lead people to think of the mysteries behind these rooms and their past purposes. Fortunately for Emerick, he decided to reimagine this space as a restaurant that would continue to keep people intrigued by simultaneously capitalizing on the theater’s historical roots and transporting customers a world away. Thus, Empress Tavern was born and became one of the most unique and alluring spaces in the city.