Two fast food restaurants in downtown Fresno closed. Who’s already taking over?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Aliberto’s Jr is open and will celebrate its grand opening June 12.
- The KFC was bought by a local family and is being converted to Smashville.
- Smashville aims to open mid June or early July pending city approval.
When the KFC and Wendy’s on C Street in downtown Fresno closed, they left behind a barren scene of boarded-up windows, empty sign posts and chain-link fence.
But just a few months later, the side-by-side restaurants are already home to new locally owned eateries with fresh paint and new signs.
The Wendy’s is leased by Aliberto’s Jr Mexican Food that’s now open.
And a new owner bought the KFC property, which will soon open as a Smashville Burgers & Chicken restaurant.
What is Smashville?
Smashville owner Ahmed Nabill and his family also own several other businesses nearby, in the Foodmaxx shopping center just across Fresno Street. That includes two clothing stores, ice cream shop Creamy Delight and the Manhattan Deli.
Because of that, Nabill said he knows what the area wants.
“I know that neighborhood,” he said. “All the big companies are leaving and no big companies want to come down here.”
His uncle bought the KFC building, and they kept it running as Kentucky Fried Chicken for a while before closing it for renovations for Smashville.
Work is finishing up and soon as Smashville gets city approval to open, it will. He’s aiming for mid-June or early July.
Smashville is a concept that Nabill came up with that combines smashburgers and Nashville hot chicken — hence Smashville.
Expect the menu to feature a Western burger, for example, with a thin smashed patty, bacon and onion rings served on a potato bun.
The Nashville chicken is crunchy and also served on potato buns, he said.
There will be sides such as mac ‘n’ cheese and soft-serve ice cream.
Smashville will use the drive-thru.
If all goes well, Nabill hopes to open more Smashville locations.
“It’s going to be hopefully a hit,” he said.
Aliberto’s Jr
Aliberto’s is already open, leasing the former Wendy’s.
It will celebrate its grand opening June 12, with discounts all day.
Aliberto’s is a franchise with local owners. It’s the second Aliberto’s in Fresno to open. The first is at Dakota and West avenues in a former KFC and run by different owners.
Other Aliberto’s franchises are open throughout California and in Washington and Texas.
The menu features tacos, breakfast burritos, tortas and aguas frescas.
But its top-selling items?
The loaded fries. There are several kinds available from buffalo chicken fries with beans, guacamole, sour cream and cheese for $15.45. You can get the same toppings on Hot Cheetos. There’s also a vegetarian version of loaded fries called “super fries.”
The restaurant’s drive-thru will be open 24 hours a day Mondays through Saturdays, though it will close for a short time Sundays into Monday mornings.
