Best-read: Clovis ‘Honey Man’ remembered; vault fire tragedy; Hummus Republic shuts down

These were the best-read stories last week among Fresno Bee subscribers, drawing significant reader attention across the region.

They spanned a wide range of news: a deadly fire in an underground utility vault in downtown Fresno, the sudden closure of a Mediterranean franchise’s local restaurants, a look at the priciest meals in the area, a beloved Clovis “Honey Man” who touched countless lives and a contentious vote over library staff participation in a Pride event.

Here are recaps

• Two bodies found in underground vault in downtown Fresno, fire chief says: Two people were found dead Monday after a fire broke out inside a utility vault beneath the H Street bridge in downtown Fresno. Fire Chief Billy Alcorn said crews had to coordinate with PG&E to shut off live electrical equipment before entering the confined underground space. Investigators believe the vault may have been occupied by members of the unhoused community, with blankets and debris suggesting “almost livable conditions.” Click here for full story.

• ‘Closed until further notice.’ What’s up with this Fresno-area franchise?: All three Hummus Republic restaurants in the Fresno area have closed, with “Closed until further notice” signs posted at the two Fresno locations as of May 15. The Visalia restaurant shut down April 30 after about five years, with its owner citing a “horrible experience” with the franchise. Franchisees must invest between $207,500 and $659,000 and pay weekly royalty fees of 6% on gross income. Click here for full story.

• A $444 steak? What’s the most expensive meal at a Fresno-area restaurant?: An influx of upscale restaurants in the Fresno area prompted a look at the priciest meals available. Sukai at Table Mountain casino offers a $444 A5 Kagoshima Wagyu New York strip steak, with a complete meal reaching $772 when paired with premium whiskey. The most expensive option documented was at The Elderberry House in Oakhurst, where a meal can total $2,135 thanks to a $1,960 bottle of 2011 Montrachet wine. Click here for full story.

• Clovis ‘Honey Man’ dies after years of selling honey, sharing humanity on side of road: Richard Sanchez, known as the Clovis Honey Man, died Tuesday night at age 91 after 18 years of selling honey on rural roadsides. The longtime grocery store worker used his retirement side business as an opportunity to share Bible scriptures and offer kindness to strangers. His family only learned the depth of his impact after social media tributes poured in from customers he had quietly touched over the years. Click here for full story.

• Library staff blocked from Fresno Pride event by majority of county supervisors: The Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to deny library staffers’ request to participate in next month’s Fresno Rainbow Pride event with an informational booth. Supervisors Garry Bredefeld, Nathan Magsig and Buddy Mendes opposed participation, with Bredefeld displaying a “no indoctrination of our children” sign on his desk. County counsel said supervisors cannot restrict how library staff display books but can limit displays other than books. Click here for full story.

Original stories by B.J. Anteola, Bethany Clough, Anthony Galaviz and Thaddeus Miller

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content. Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.

This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM.