Machinery started tearing down walls Saturday at the former Joann fabric and crafts store in Fresno’s River Park Plaza and, by Monday, all that remained was two walls and a pile of rubble.
Built in 2005, the 35,000-square-foot building at Blackstone and Nees avenues will be replaced with another, smaller building and more parking, said Tracy Kashian, senior vice president of marketing and public relations of Lance Kashian, which manages all River Park properties.
The parking lot has often been criticized for how crowded it gets, especially with the nearby Chick-fil-A drive-thru.
No retailer or restaurant has been chosen yet to move into a future building, Kashian said.
Demolition of the old Joann fabric store at Blackstone and Nees in north Fresno is shown nearly completed on Monday, July 21, 2025. The store closed earlier this year due to bankruptcy. Built in 2005, the 35,000-square-foot building will be replaced by something else but executives of the property haven’t decided what yet. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
The former Joann fabric and craft store at River Park is headed toward demolition. Photographed Monday, July 14, 2025 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Demolition of the old Joann fabric store at Blackstone and Nees in north Fresno is shown nearly completed on Monday, July 21, 2025. The store closed earlier this year due to bankruptcy. Built in 2005, the 35,000-square-foot building will be replaced by something else but executives of the property haven’t decided what yet. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 11:57 AM.
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Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers’ questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.
