Six new stores opening in Fresno selling everything from clothing to Starbucks with CBD
A wave of new stores is opening in Fresno and Clovis, selling everything from clothing to books to Starbucks coffee – with or without CBD.
Some are big-box discounters. Some are little thrift shops and independently owned stores. And two of the stores have some version of Starbucks inside.
Here’s a look at the newest places to shop in town.
Kennel Marketplace
If you ever need anything that says “Fresno State” on it – from a T-shirt to pajama pants to a shot glass – this is a prime place to get it.
Kennel Marketplace is a new store at Campus Pointe, near the western edge of the shopping center that abuts the Fresno State campus.
At 10,000 square feet, it’s huge.
Much of the store is clothing, from the standard T-shirts and hats to children’s clothing and more with the words “Bulldogs” or “Fresno State” printed on them.
There’s also a T-shirt printing bar where customers can have custom shirts printed and choose from licensed emblems, like a shirt for fall rush season, for example.
Another section features Fresno State-themed merchandise, like mugs and lanyards, and license plate frames. There are even valve stem caps, the little caps that go on your tires, with tiny bulldogs on them.
The shop sells Apple products like iPads and iPhone accessories, and a few small, quilted Vera Bradley bags.
The store is a partnership with the Follett Higher Education Group, which also manages the Kennel Bookstore on campus.
There’s also Starbucks inside in the Kennel Marketplace operated by the dining services team. The full-fledged coffee shop has sandwiches, salads and snacks from the university’s Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market.
Details: 3010 E. Campus Pointe Drive. Hours: The Marketplace is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Starbucks is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 559-370-0557.
Mad Monk/Rasputin
Mad Monk, the bright pink building on Blackstone Avenue near Barstow Avenue is open – but it’s not fully operational just yet.
There’s a lot going on inside, for sure, but the vintage clothing department that will really set this story apart isn’t up and running yet.
Everything else is, including selling used books, records, CDs, DVDs and T-shirts from all kinds of rock bands.
Rasputin Music & Movies has moved into the larger pink building, and is operating under the Mad Monk umbrella. The former Rasputin spot will become a Rasputin outlet store in the next month or so, with much of the products selling for 99 cents or less.
The move to the pink building gives the store room to expand, including adding used books for the first time.
It features mysteries, scifi, graphic novels, cookbooks, erotica and more.
“We got to have twice as much product as before, twice as much selection,” said company president Ken Sarachan.
In addition to Anastasia’s Vintage clothing and the outlet store, a large mural is slated to be painted on the side of the building, a tribute to the “good ol’ days of Blackstone” in 1971, Sarachan said.
Details: Mad Monk is at 5577 N. Blackstone Ave. Hours: noon to 6:30 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. 559-412-8261.
Judy’s Place Thrift Store
This new little thrift shop is in Clovis on Shaw Avenue near Minnewawa Avenue (just a couple doors down from the Hinds Hospice Thrift Store if you plan to hit up multiple stores).
Judy’s Place has a little bit of everything, like clothing and shoes for men, women and children. There’s a plus-size rack and mix of retro 1970s-style men’s patterned polyester shirts and modern tops for women.
Most are priced at $2.99 or less.
There is also a housewares section with lots of lamps, dishes and toys.
The store benefits adults with intellectual disabilities and the store is named after the owner’s mom.
Details: 135 Shaw Ave., suite A. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. 559-906-1474.
Health Right Market
A store selling health-related products has opened in Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis – with a mini Starbucks inside.
The Health Right Market is a locally owned brick-and-mortar version of the online store Kina McFadden started. She started the Black-owned business after helping her mother, who lost her eyesight to diabetes, focus on her health and get off medications.
It sells supplements and vitamins, alkaline water systems, mobility scooters and more.
It also sells various CBD products, from massage oil to beverage enhancers and gummies. Also known as cannabidiol (which does not have marijuana or THC in it), it is purported to help with stress, anxiety and other health issues.
You can get CBD in your Starbucks drink here, too.
A corner of the store has a machine that makes a limited menu of flavored $5 lattes, mochas, hot chocolate, espresso-based drinks and teas.
About 25 milligrams of liquid CBD can be added to any drink.
The Starbucks is staffed by special ed adults trained as baristas.
One thing to know about the people at Health Right? They like to have fun. Don’t be surprised to see DJs or test drives of the scooters around the mall.
The store is hosting a health and wellness fair Oct. 23 and 24.
Details: Health Right Market is in Sierra Vista Mall, next to the former Sears. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. 559-940-7616.
HobbyTown
The HobbyTown in Fresno closed after 28 years – and now it’s back. Only this time it has a new owner and is a few doors down from its previous location.
The store reopened a few weeks ago on the same corner, but in a smaller location closer to the northeast corner of Blackstone and Barstow avenues.
The store specializes in products related to RC cars, planes and boats. It also sells puzzles, models and supplies to paint them.
HobbyTown continues to use the large RC track near the previous store.
Details: 5404 N Blackstone Ave. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 559-577-4500.
dd’s DISCOUNTS/Ross
Two big stores have taken over the former Sears at Manchester Center.
The dd’s DISCOUNTS store is open. It’s a discount store that’s also a full department store with clothing, shoes, housewares, kitchen supplies, bedding and more.
Next door, the Ross Dress for Less store is scheduled to open Saturday, Oct. 9.
Both Ross and dd’s are owned by the same company. Both are discounters, with dd’s carrying lower-priced items.
Details: dd’s DISCOUNTS is at 3652 N. Blackstone Ave. Hours: 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. 559-228-3286.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 7:43 AM.
