Fresno restaurant-bar Swiggs to close Saturday
Fresno bar and restaurant Swiggs is closing Saturday.
The business at 1440 E. Shaw Ave. informed customers on its Facebook account and sent out a news release to media with the headline: “Family owned business celebrates 5 year anniversary by shutting its doors.”
The bar will host a farewell party all day Saturday, and owners Michael and Gina Jew say they’ve stocked up on their signature flamingo wings – spicy garlic Parmesan chicken wings – and stuffed burgers.
Michael Jew said competition and the rising cost of business led to the decision. Everything from the increased cost of food, insurance and minimum wage rising in January made it harder to business, he said.
Business typically picks up once students return to Fresno State after the summer off, but that didn’t happen this year, likely because of new competition, he said.
“We were waiting out the summer and we just haven’t really seen the students come back,” Jew said. “There’s a lot of competition with Campus Pointe, we have Dave & Buster’s [coming].
The building has been home to many businesses, including Big Yellow House, Inkahoots II, 1440, The Jungle, VIP, Club Rio, The Attic, The Bed Room, La Casa Rosa, and Santo’s Bar and Grill. The owners say their five-year stint puts them in the top three of longest-running businesses in the spot.
In an ugly pink building that sat vacant on Shaw Ave, we poured our blood, sweat and tears into Swiggs.
Swiggs owners Mike & Gina Jew
The owners are encouraging customers to share memories of Swiggs on its Facebook page. The entire farewell message is posted here.
In an email to reporters, Gina Jew said: “We had a good run, and did better than anyone thought we would. I’m going to miss the people the most.
“Michael and I didn’t have any family in Fresno until we started Swiggs, we have employees and regulars that have been with us since day one, we watched them grow up, graduate, get married, have kids and it saddens me that I may never see some of these people again.”
Bethany Clough: 559-441-6431, @BethanyClough
This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 9:02 AM with the headline "Fresno restaurant-bar Swiggs to close Saturday."