These stores are coming to Fresno area in 2026, from chains to mom-and-pops
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Multiple national chains and local shops plan 2026 openings across the region.
- Retail hubs River Park, Fancher Creek and Shoppes at Merced host major tenants.
- Barnes & Noble, a local bookstore, Vallarta, Daiso and a new Sierra Nut House are coming
New stores are coming to the Fresno area in 2026 — from little mom-and-pop shops to big chains.
From Merced to Visalia, most of the new retailers are coming to shopping centers, including River Park and Fancher Creek in Fresno, and the newly developed Shoppes at Merced next to the mall.
Book lovers are in for a treat, with both a new Barnes & Noble coming to Clovis and a locally owned bookstore coming to the Oakhurst.
Clovis
Barnes & Noble is planning to open its first bookstore in Clovis. It’s taking over the former Joann fabric and crafts store that closed at Clovis Crossing at Herndon and Clovis avenues.
Work has started on the building and the store is scheduled to open in May, according to its website.
It will be the third Barnes & Noble in the area. The original is on Blackstone Avenue across the street from River Park. Fashion Fair added a smaller version of the bookstore in late 2024 in the outdoor portion of the mall.
Ross, Grocery Outlet, Ulta and Five Below are slated to open in the Loma Vista Marketplace at Shaw and Leonard avenues this year, according to the City of Clovis. They are scheduled to open between March and June.
A Corner Bakery Cafe and a new sushi spot are also coming to the center, probably this summer.
Fresno
Burlington clothing store is planning to open a store in River Park, next to Marshalls in the former Buy Buy Baby store, which closed in 2023. Technically, it’s a move from the existing location on Blackstone Avenue that’s tucked away south of the Target on Bullard Avenue.
The company hasn’t shared an exact opening date , but a representative said it’s expected to open “later this spring.”
HomeGoods is coming to Fancher Creek, the shopping center under construction at Tulare and Clovis avenues. No opening date has been shared yet.
Petsmart is also coming, but the company did not say when.
Michaels, the craft store, is still on for the center too, a representative from developer Fancher Creek Properties confirmed.
Sierra Nut House will move to its new Fresno home this spring at Bullard and West avenues. It’s leaving its Blackstone Avenue location so Sam’s Deli can open a location there and moving into the former Tony Roma’s spot at the Pavilion West shopping center.
Madera
Bath & Body Works, Daiso and Miniso are moving into the Madera Marketplace shopping center near Walmart at Cleveland Avenue and Highway 99. They are all scheduled to open in 2026, according to Lewis Smith, senior vice president of real estate firm Retail California.
Daiso is a trendy Japanese chain while Miniso is a popular Chinese chain, both selling affordable home goods and fun items.
Daiso is scheduled to have its grand opening at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2091 W. Cleveland Ave.
Raley’s is expected to start building a 40,000-square-foot Raley’s O-N-E store (“organics, nutrition, education”) this year as part of an expansion of retail space at Riverstone’s Riverwalk shopping center at Avenue 12 and Highway 41. The store likely won’t open until 2027.
Merced
Ulta, Rack Room Shoes, Five Below and Mattress Firm are scheduled to open this year at the newly developed Shoppes at Merced, next to the mall, the Marketplace at Merced.
Ulta will hold its grand opening Feb. 13. The Five Below is slated to open sometime that month.
Bath & Body Works, Petco and Burlington have already opened.
Oakhurst
Raven & Pines Bookstore is scheduled to open in Oakhurst this spring. The new store is moving into a spot in the Vons shopping center at Highway 41 and Highway 49.
It’s the same spot occupied years ago by Branches Books & Gifts . Raven & Pines will sell new books, gifts, toys, games, puzzles and more.
Jessica Loll and her mom, Cherri, are opening the store. Jessica Loll, who grew up in the Modesto area, recently moved to Oakhurst, where her parents now live, after living in Los Angeles.
“We want to really make a community space,” she said. “We’re going to have a lot of events: author events, game nights, craft nights.”
Visalia
Vallarta is planning a second store in Visalia offering its Mexican and Latin American foods.
The company has a new store under construction near Lovers Lane and Highway 198 to accompany its location at Dinuba Boulevard and Riggin Avenue.
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
