Local

6 closures and openings that shape Fresno’s evolving dining and retail scenes

Stories by Fresno Bee journalists, with AI summarization

These articles all explore recent business changes that reflect Fresno’s shifting dining and retail landscape.

Forever 21 is closing its Fashion Fair mall store, ending the era of a massive fast fashion anchor that once replaced Gottschalks. Meanwhile, El Super prepares to open a new supermarket in Manchester Center and seeks to hire 140 workers for its June launch.

Toledo’s Mexican Restaurant unveiled its new cedar avenue location after years of delays, bringing back familiar favorites and unique design elements for its customers. Zaatar Bistro has emerged as Fresno’s best new restaurant of 2024, with its Lebanese menu and loyal following. An empty Walmart on Shaw Avenue is set to welcome Chuze Fitness and Kids Empire, reflecting how retail spaces get repurposed.

Bubble Pop Tea debuts as a K-pop themed bubble tea shop, offering drinks named after music acts and local schools, and broadening options in the area’s beverage scene.

Read the stories below.

Diners enjoy lunch at Zaatar Bistro in this Fresno Bee file photo from April, 2024. By ERIC PAUL ZAMORA

NO. 1: THIS IS BEST NEW FRESNO RESTAURANT OF 2024, ACCORDING TO POLL. TRY THE STEAK, OWNER SAYS

The breakfast and brunch spot recently started offering dinner. | Published January 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Bethany Clough

Forever 21, the clothing store that resided in the old Gottschalks space at Fashion Fair mall in Fresno, is closing. By CRAIG KOHLRUSS

NO. 2: FOREVER 21 IN FRESNO’S FASHION FAIR MALL QUIETLY HANGS ‘STORE CLOSING’ SIGNS

It took over the former Gottschalks spot in 2011. | Published February 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Bethany Clough

Sengphiane Kim is the owner of Bubble Pop Tea in Fresno, a K-pop-themed boba tea shop her daughter helped create and decorate with her love of K-pop music in mind. By CRAIG KOHLRUSS

NO. 3: NEW FRESNO BUBBLE TEA SHOP OPENS WITH K-POP TWIST: ‘I FEEL LIKE I’M BACK HOME’

Bubble Pop Tea celebrates its K-pop theme with colorful decorations and a variety of band posters. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Fernanda Galan

Two new businesses have signed a lease for the former Walmart on West Shaw Avenue as construction workers work on the sprawling structure near Brawley Ave. in Fresno. By ERIC PAUL ZAMORA

NO. 4: AN EMPTY WALMART IN FRESNO IS GETTING TWO NEW BUSINESSES. ONE CATERS TO KIDS

Could a grocery store also be in the works? | Published March 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Bethany Clough

The Toledo family’s new Toledo’s Mexican Restaurant is open near Cedar and Nees avenues amid anticipation from the community. Photographed Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in Fresno. By ERIC PAUL ZAMORA

NO. 5: TOLEDO’S NEW FLAGSHIP RESTAURANT IN FRESNO IS FINALLY OPEN. TAKE A TOUR INSIDE

It’s the first restaurant the family has designed from the ground up and includes two kitchens, huge glass flower art and a selfie-worthy restroom. | Published April 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Bethany Clough

Construction continues on the new El Super grocery store, which sells Hispanic foods, and includes a tortilleria, to be located in the former Sears at Manchester Center. Photographed Monday, April 28, 2025 in Fresno. By ERIC PAUL ZAMORA

NO. 6: HISPANIC SUPERMARKET CLOSER TO OPENING IN FRESNO. IT’S HIRING 140 WORKERS

The grocery store is on one end of the mall, which is the beginning stages of being turned into apartments with retail below it. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Bethany Clough

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.