$35,000 in fines issued in Fresno to non-essential businesses for operating during pandemic

Fines issued by the city of Fresno for opening a non-essential business, price gouging or other violations in connection with coronavirus rules in the past month totaled $35,000, according to numbers released by city officials.

The largest fine, $10,000, was issued to Super Liquor at 4045 W. Fountain Drive, in connection to a charge of price gouging,

Other large fines, each for $5000, were issued to Crazy Bernie Furniture at 4224 W. Shaw Ave. and The Spot Smoke Shop at 5665 N. Blackstone Ave., as a second count of operating a non-essential business.

According to city spokesman Mark Standriff, businesses cited $1,000 for operating as a non-essential business were:

▪ High Society Smoke Shop at 1124 W. Shields Ave.

▪ 559 Cigarettes and More at 1219 N. Fresno St.

▪ A Better Bed at 2686 N. Clovis Ave., #106

▪ A&W Surplus at 3330 N. Duke Ave.

▪ Smoke Zone at 3777 N. Hughes Ave.

▪ The Spot Smoke Shop at 5665 N. Blackstone Ave.

▪ Dre36 Gym at 2940 E. Nees Ave., #101

▪ Satyr Vapor at 7016 N. Maple Ave.

▪ Tint Pros at 6155 N. Blackstone Ave.

▪ Furniture For You at 5193 N. Blackstone Ave.

▪ Crazy Bernie Furniture at 4224 W. Shaw Ave.

▪ Fresno Chrysler Dodge at 6162 N. Blackstone Ave.

▪ Brothers Barbers at 2046 W. Bullard Ave.

Standriff said the city received a total of 920 complaints of business operating when they were not essential, and issued 347 notices, without fines. There were also 367 price-gouging complaints.

The city also responded to 166 social distancing complaints and responded by issuing 125 notifications without a fine, as well as issuing one fine for $125 to the Dog House Grlll at 2789 E. Shaw Avenue.

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 2:53 PM.