30+ new restaurants are coming to Fresno and Clovis. Here’s a peek into what’s coming
Fresno restaurateurs are the hopeful type.
Despite COVID-19 continuing to hit workers, and inflation making everything more expensive, more than 30 restaurants are gearing up to open in the Fresno-Clovis area.
They range from a high-end restaurant to coffee shops. They include popular chains – like Raising Cane’s and The Human Bean – to locally-owned bars and breakfast restaurants.
Some will open within weeks. Others might not open for another year or so.
Here’s a look at who’s coming. If they have an opening date, we’ve shared it. If not, one hasn’t been set yet.
New restaurants opening in Fresno, Clovis
Baklava House is in the works at the northwest corner of Bullard and West avenues. It’s owned by a man who’s related to the people behind Angry Chickz, though this business is separately owned.
Batter Up Pancakes’ second location is still in the planning stages, slated for the southwest corner of Herndon and Fowler avenues. The owners are hoping to open the breakfast restaurant this fall.
Bone Dry Sober Bar is a pop-up bar serving nonalcoholic mocktails now. It plans to open a location late this year at the newly renovated 736 Fulton St. in downtown Fresno.
Bourbon & Brimstone is a bar and restaurant in the works for the T.W. Patterson building on Fulton Street. Owner Sarah Primavera (who some may remember from Lucy’s Lounge) is aiming to open this fall.
California Fish Grill is moving into the former Marie Callender’s spot on Blackstone Avenue, news that The Bee broke to readers last month. It hopes to open in late November.
Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is aiming to open its newest location this summer on Blackstone Avenue near El Paso in the former Togo’s/Baskin-Robbins spot.
Other locations are in the early stages at The Row at Heritage and the Marketplace at El Paseo.
Daddy Waffles is a breakfast and lunch restaurant in the works in the former La Mesa spot at the northwest corner of Marks and Herndon avenues. It’s a second location for the owner, who owns the Waffle Shop on Figarden Drive. He is shooting for an early September opening.
Dutch Bros Coffee is keeping quiet about its future plans, but leases reported in The Bee show that the coffee drive-thru favorite has signed leases for several locations. They include the northwest corner of Herndon and Fowler avenues, and 865 N. Willow Ave. near Alluvial Avenue, both in Clovis.
A Dutch Bros is still in the works at East Kings Canyon Road and South Willow Avenue, according to the shopping center owner. It’s still in the permitting stage and could be a ways off.
Dutch Bros said last year it’s planning a location at Shaw and Sylmar avenues in Clovis. Another has signed a lease at the Loma Vista Marketplace at Shaw and Leonard avenues, according to the center’s website.
Fasika Ethiopian Restaurant is planning to open a second location, this one in the Helm building on Fulton Street in downtown Fresno. The restaurant is waiting on building permit approval from the City of Fresno before it can start work on the space. Its owners hope to be open by the end of the year.
Frida Café is still slated to move into the historic Fresno Water Tower. The 1894 structure is being renovated and will reopen with the coffee shop and a visitors center inside.
Front Yard Burger has had its sign up on Blackstone Avenue for months, but still could be several months away from opening. The restaurant’s owner is the same man behind Angry Chickz and Flippin’ Dave’s Burgers. The family is focusing on opening restaurants in other cities before it opens the burger spot, said one member.
Huckleberry’s Breakfast and Lunch is close to opening its newest location, at 4360 W. Shaw Ave., just east of Costco. The owners are shooting to open the last week of August.
Huong Lan, a Vietnamese restaurant, is still planning to open a downtown location serving pho and banh mi sandwiches. But it’s been waiting for months on a building permit for work on the former Coney Island restaurant space at 1920 Tulare St.
Hummus Republic is close to opening its second location in Fresno, this one at the former Wahoo’s spot at Palm and Nees avenues. The owners are hoping to open the second week of August.
The Human Bean and its coffee drive-thru are gearing up to open at the end of July. It will be the first in the area and is located at Shaw and Fowler avenues.
Another location is in the planning stage for the parking lot in front of Fresno Ag, and could be a ways off.
Jersey Mike’s Subs has signed a lease to open a location in the Loma Vista Marketplace, which is under development at Shaw and Leonard avenues in Clovis.
Jollibee, a Filipino chicken chain, is in the works at a spot in front of Fashion Fair mall.
Judy’s Donuts plans to open a location at Riverwalk, the new shopping center on Avenue 12 near Highway 41 just north of Fresno.
Kuppa Joy, the locally-owned coffee shop, is planning to open a location in part of what is now Little Leaf Tea at Palm and Bullard avenues this winter.
Lee’s Sandwiches, a sandwich chain that sells Vietnamese and other sandwiches, will open in Campus Pointe near Fresno State. Construction is finished, but the restaurant is waiting on equipment. They’re aiming for an Aug. 28 grand opening.
MilkT Society, a boba shop at Herndon and Clovis avenues, next to Pokiland in Clovis is opening soon.
Mr. Fries Man is headed for Campus Pointe in Fresno. The Southern California restaurant specializes in french fries smothered with all sorts of toppings. It’s aiming for a September or October opening.
Nick the Greek is a franchise serving pitas and plates of Greek food. It is moving into a spot on Blackstone Avenue near Red Robin, but hasn’t shared an opening date.
.jpg "IMG_8438 (1).jpg")
Me-n-Ed’s and a Blast & Brew plan to open side by side in Riverwalk, the new shopping center just north of Fresno off Highway 41. Both are owned by the same company.
The restaurant will have a sit down dining room and the self-serve beer Blast & Brew is known for, but also let people order pizza for takeout from Me-n-Ed’s.
Another Me-n-Ed’s Pizzeria has signed a lease to Loma Vista Marketplace at Shaw and Leonard avenues in Clovis.
Ono Hawaiian BBQ’s new location on West Shaw Avenue has been a long time coming, but is finally getting close to opening. The restaurant plans to open before the end of August. It’s taking over the former Del Taco spot near Brawley Avenue.
Plant Slayer is a vegan comfort food truck that is working on opening a restaurant. It’s moving into The Galleria at Civic Center Square in downtown Fresno.
Pizza Factory is getting close to opening a location at 3771 Shaw Ave. in Clovis.
The PM Lounge is working on the former Fresh & Easy spot at Cedar and Nees avenues. It will be an 18,000-square-foot private social club available only to members. It will feature luxury dining, small concerts, indoor virtual golf and more.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is continuing its expansion into the Fresno area. The fast food restaurant with the popular drive-thru has said it is planning a location at Herndon and Riverside Drive, possibly in the Marketplace at El Paseo. It hopes to open in late 2023.
Another location is still in the planning stages for the Kings Canyon Pavilion shopping center at Kings Canyon Road and South Willow Avenue, according to the shopping center owner.
Ramen Hayashi plans to open its second location in September. The Clovis restaurant known for serving up steaming bowls of ramen noodles in broth has a restaurant in the works at the Marketplace at El Paseo, near the theater.
Red Chickz, a Nashville hot chicken franchise, is close to finalizing a location in town. The owner could open up to three locations in the area eventually.
Teriyaki Madness is a fast-casual Asian grill. It hasn’t identified any locations yet, but the franchise owner is looking for spots for three restaurants.
Toledo’s Mexican Restaurant is still planning to open a new restaurant at the northeast corner of Cedar and Nees avenue. Yes, they already opened a small restaurant there as a temporary spot.
They are still working on the bigger location they planned before the pandemic. Issues like COVID-19, and food and fuel prices have put another 6-month delay into the plans, but it’s still a go, the owners said.
Yava Bakery is close to opening in the former Le Parisien Cafe spot on Palm and Nees avenues. It was hiring workers late last month. It’s a breakfast and lunch spot with a focus on Middle Eastern pastries and cakes by the owner of Kabab City restaurants.
This story was originally published July 14, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
