12 restaurants and stores recently closed in Fresno. Here’s who and why
The summer of 2025 was a rough one for many local stores and restaurants.
Some didn’t make it.
At least dozen of them closed their doors for good. The reasons why include slipping sales, bankruptcy, health issues, expiring leases and more.
Here’s a look at the businesses — some local mom-and-pops and some big chains — that closed in recent months.
Uncle Harry’s
Locally owned Uncle Harry’s NY Bagelry & Coffeehouse closed its Shaw and Marks avenues location recently.
The lease ended at the spot, owners Wayne & Rena Rutledge said in an emailed statement to The Bee.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We are truly grateful for the many years we were able to serve our community there,” it said.
They invited customers to visit the newest location at Fig Garden Village, which returned to the center after an eight-year absence. Uncle Harry’s still has three other bagelries in town.
KuniSama
Japanese restaurant KuniSama at Herndon and Willow avenues closed quietly over the summer.
The owners could not be reached for comment about why. A sign on the door said only, “With a heavy heart, I am sad to say that KuniSama is closed for business. Thank you for your support for these last 10.5 years.
The restaurant once had flamboyant teppenyaki chefs, a sushi bar and a full bar with Japanese beers, whiskey and sake.
Most customers seemed to love KuniSama’s food, according to its online reviews. But commenters on Google and Yelp.com say it had stopped the tableside teppenyaki shows in recent years, and noted how the restaurant often wasn’t very busy.
RoundTable
The Round Table Pizza near Shaw and West avenues closed earlier this year. The parent company confirmed the closure is permanent in an emailed statement. It also implied it does not plan to close other area restaurants, saying, “we are committed to the other Fresno area locations.”
Round Table did not say why the location closed.
It had a 2.2 rating out of five stars on Yelp.com. Although some recent reviews were glowing, many criticized the restaurant for cold pizza, poor service and a cockroach crawling on the counter.
George’s Shish Kebob
George’s Shish Kebab inside The Galleria at Civic Center Square in downtown Fresno closed a few weeks ago. The restaurant serving Armenian cuisine was around for 43 years with different owners and locations.
Owner Fred Ghiassi told Bee reporter Joshua Tehee that he stepped stepped away from the restaurant due to health concerns and as a retirement of sorts. He still owns Tah Deeg, a Persian restaurant at Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis. That restaurant will remain open.
The unrelated George’s Bar & Grill on North Blackstone Avenue is also still open.
KFC
Two KFC locations closed permanently in recent weeks.
One was at the southwest corner of First Street and Bullard Avenue, near the Politi Library. The other is near the northeast corner of Dakota and West avenues.
Neither the local franchisees nor the parent company said why the fast-food restaurants closed, though sales have slipped chainwide in recent years.
Straw Hat Pizza
The only Straw Hat Pizza in Fresno and Clovis closed in the past few days, along with the arcade next door to it.
The restaurant at 80 W. Shaw Ave. had been a franchise of the pizza place for five years.
“It was doing good on the weekends with football, but it didn’t have a great success,” said building owner and franchisee Ranjit Singh Dosanjh.
Now, he’s gearing up to open a new restaurant at the same spot: Dosan A Social Eatery. It takes two concepts local still reminisce about — Sweet Tomatoes and hofbrau restaurants — and combines them into one buffet. The restaurant will also have a full bar and brunch.
It’s aiming for an Oct. 1 opening.
Arby’s
The Arby’s at Ashlan and Cedar avenues has closed.
Neither the company nor the local franchisee would say why that location closed, but the sales are slipping companywide.
The shut down leaves just one of the meaty fast-food restaurants in Fresno, at Blackstone and Sierra avenues.
Rite Aid stores
All the Rite Aid stores in Fresno have closed, along with most in surrounding cities.
The drug store chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May for the second time in recent history and is looking for a buyer. The stores, which have struggled to keep up with competitors CVS and Walgreens, wasn’t able to keep their shelves fully stocked, leading to a downward spiral, analysts said.
If you had a prescription there, go to RiteAid.com to see where it’s been transferred.
blkmktplc
The vintage boutique at 1525 E. Olive Ave. that sold some of the best goods that came through Neighborhood Thrift closed May 31 (though Neighborhood Thrift’s two stores are still open).
Although blkmktplc’s brick-and-mortar shop selling the higher-end clothing is no more, you can still buy the vintage dresses, jackets and more. It operates online and through occasional pop-up events, continuing to support a mission of providing jobs and employment training.
Follow its Instagram account to keep tabs on the pop-up events.
Sunnyside Trek Bicycle
The bike store at East Kings Canyon Road and Fowler Avenue has closed. It first opened as Sunnyside Bicycles in 2010. Vanessa and John McCracken opened it after selling their Madera bike shop.
It operated as a mom-and-pop shop and a pillar of the biking community for years. It also opened (and later closed) a location in Reedley.
It later became Trek Bicycle Fresno Sunnyside.
That store closed Sept. 13, its Facebook page saying it was “joining forces” with the Trek Bicycle Fresno North at Friant Road and Fresno Street.
Mitsui
Mitsui Buffet in Clovis has closed — perhaps permanently.
The restaurant on Shaw Avenue has been closed for weeks. A handwritten sign on the door says it is temporarily closed for remodeling.
But according to a story by Bee reporter Bryant-Jon Anteola, Mitsui’s health permit expired in May, its liquor license was automatically revoked, and its phone number is not in service. The owner did not return messages seeking comment.
The story also shared the video of a cockroach crawling in the crawfish on the buffet taken by a Fresno couple in April.
Robert’s Frosty
The longtime roadside hamburger and ice cream stand on Highway 41 in Coarsegold has closed.
The community was stunned when it closed. Owner Robert Moreno cited a disagreement with the landlord over the lease and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.
But he and his food aren’t gone for good. He’s in the process of getting his food truck Smash N’ Burgers up and going at the Yosemite Fuel Stop. Look for him there soon.
Reporters Joshua Tehee and Bryant-Jon Anteola contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
