What’s up with these empty buildings in Fresno? Here’s what we know about prime vacancies
The Fresno Bee is asking readers what businesses they’d like to see come to town.
Once those results come in, where will these businesses go?
Discussions about what people want to see come to Fresno or Clovis always seem to inspire questions about what’s up with currently empty spaces. Like the Vons at Shaw and Marks, for example, or the Macaroni Grill spot on Blackstone Avenue near River Park, and a lot more.
Most are still up for lease or sale. The leasing process is slow, and can sometimes take years before a new store or restaurant moves in.
Here’s an update on the status some of prime real estate you may be wondering about.
Empty spots
Campus Pointe: The shopping center next to Fresno State at Shaw and Cedar avenues is about to welcome mochi donut maker Mochinut, and Flip Flop Shops, but still has plenty of spaces yet to be built out.
Joe’s Steakhouse is a prime spot in downtown Fresno that’s up for sale after the restaurant closed. It’s getting interest, said real estate broker Veronica Stumpf, but no takers yet.
Logan’s Roadhouse: The restaurant on Blackstone Avenue closed and has been torn down, but a Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is already being built in its place. It’s one of at least three in Fresno and Clovis the chain is planning.
Macaroni Grill: Torn down after closing in 2020, River Park is hoping to a lure a new tenant (they have someone in mind but won’t say who) and build a new building.
Marie Callender’s: The Cedar and Shaw avenues location has reopened, but the one on Blackstone is still empty. Retail broker Harold Zinkin of Commercial Retail Associates said half the building is leased to a new tenant and a lease is close to being signed on the other half. He declined to name the tenants.
Sears: The Sierra Vista Mall Sears in Clovis is still empty after the department store closed earlier this year. At the former Manchester Center Sears, dd’s DISCOUNTS and Ross have moved in and are open.
Sweet Tomatoes: The restaurant that closed during the pandemic on Fresno Street in north Fresno is up for lease, but not for sale. It’s had interested renters, but none have signed a deal yet, said Jon Cox with Commercial Retail Associates.
Taps & Tacos: This large restaurant on Shaw Avenue near Cedar Avenue has been closed for years. Its owners are negotiating with a possible tenant, Zinkin said.
Tokyo Garden: The downtown restaurant and bar has been closed during much of the pandemic. The business and the property are for sale. It’s getting a lot of interest, but no sale yet, said real estate agent Mike Briggs.
Vons: The former grocery store in the back of the Winepress shopping center near Target at Shaw and Marks avenues has been empty for years, but not for much longer.
About three-quarters of the space has been leased to a national business, but Zinkin declined to say who. He is in negotiations to fill the rest of the space.
Walmart: The former Walmart on West Shaw that the retailer moved across the street from is finally up for lease and is one of the bigger properties, with 126,723 square feet available for rent.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
