Planada
Planada, CA · Food & Drink
The Fresno Bee
Fresno is littered with empty pharmacy buildings. Some have new tenants with plans
Drive anywhere around the Fresno area and you’ll eventually see an empty chain pharmacy. It’s been a year since Rite Aid filed for bankrtuptcy and closed more than 2,000 stores — 17 of them in the San Joaquin Valley. And at least seven locations of CVS and Walgreens have closed in Fresno alone. So what’s happening with those stores? Some have new renters that haven’t moved in yet. Keep reading to find out who — including a new business that wants to move into the Rite Aid on the edge of the Tower District. Some are in the final stages of negotiating with renters or new buyers. And some are still sitting empty. These buildings are challenging to fill. Despite being in prime locations on busy corners, they are an odd size and shape, said Russ Moroz, managing director of investments for commercial real estate investment brokerage Marcus & Millichap , which does business in Fresno. They’re too big for fast food or other restaurants. Too small for regular grocery stores or big retail chains. Too short for the growing trend of kids indoor play centers , and usually lack the loading dock needed for showrooms selling kitchen tile or
The Fresno Bee
LA matcha, gelato chain opens anticipated first Central Valley space in Clovis
To get something from Matsu Matcha , Central Valley residents previously had to travel hours to one of the brand’s several Los Angeles locations. As of Sunday, they just need to drive to Clovis . Matsu Matcha, an LA-based matcha chain with locations in Little Tokyo and Koreatown, opened its first Central Valley location at 1195 Herndon Ave., Unit 102. The grand opening came months after signs first went up, and the new shop created more excitement by running several contests on Instagram and Facebook. Together, it meant the first few days were extremely busy, with lines out the door even as the drinks and gelato came out at a quick pace. Several items on the menu were already sold out, and Mackenzy Yang, the manager of Matsu Matcha, said that it was all hands on deck to deal with the level of demand. “Every employee has been running around the whole time,” Yang said. There are no cashiers in the shop; instead, there are two ordering screens where people can choose what drink (or dessert) they want, the level of sweetness and any extras they might want to include, like matcha jelly. Employees behind the counter hand out samples
familydestinationsguide.com
You’ll Happily Drive Across California For The Incredible Steaks At This Remote Restaurant
Nobody warns you about Wool Growers Restaurant in Los Banos, and that’s honestly a little unfair. You’re just driving through the San Joaquin Valley, minding your own business, and then someone mentions this Basque restaurant in a mid-sized Central Valley city, and suddenly your entire afternoon has a new purpose.
hoodline.com
Arkansas Coffee Chain 7 Brew Builds 13-Car Drive-Thru At Clovis And Shaw
A drive-thru-only coffee shop is taking shape at the southwest corner of Clovis and Shaw avenues, wedged into an empty parking lot between McDonald's and El Pollo Loco. The chain behind it, 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee, is based in Arkansas and could be opening one of its very first California locations right here in Clovis.
The Fresno Bee
A new-to-California coffee chain is building on this busy corner in Clovis
What’s behind the construction the barricades near McDonald’s at Clovis and Shaw avenues? Construction vehicles are digging up dirt for the next new chain coffee drive-thru. It’s not a Dutch Bros, not a Starbucks, but a 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee . It’s a drive-thru-only coffee spot at the southwest corner, built in an empty parking lot between McDonald’s and El Pollo Loco. Its Clovis location will be one of the first in California. The Arkansas-based company has been exploding with new locations across the Southwest, particularly in Texas and Arizona. It has more than 900 locations in 38 states. The Clovis location will be 910 square feet with a double drive-thru lane that can hold up to 13 cars, according to a permit approved by the Clovis Planning Commission. Employees walk out to cars to take orders and deliver drinks to keep the line moving. It will have outdoor seating, but no indoor seating. If the construction process is anything like the location in the works for Visalia , a small prefabricated building will be lifted into place by a crane . So what is 7 Brew? The company has a concept similar to Dutch Bros business model. It
YourCentralValley.com
Local Bites: Valley Prime Meats & Carniceria in Fresno
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – A new butcher shop in northeast Fresno has all the meats, from wagyu to prime to angus. While the idea of a butcher shop isn’t something new, Valley Prime Meats at Cedar and Herndon offers a different kind of service and experience. “I always had a passion for food. Always like […]
The Fresno Bee
Where in Fresno is your favorite food truck today? A new app can help you find it and others
Kevin Rios owns a grocery store , a moving company and Tacos Los Costeños , a taco truck parked at the intersection of Cedar and Gettysburg. About a year ago, he set his sights on developing something new: an application dedicated to connecting food trucks, food creators and anyone who gets hungry. “We’re all growing here,” Rios said. “It’s not just for vendors, it’s not just for creators, it’s not just for customers. Everybody wins.” The app, Foodtruck Finder , is now in closed beta, and expects to open to the public in about a month’s time. Rios has had the idea for creating a food truck app, where he’d combine features from Google, Yelp, Instagram and DoorDash into one place, for about five years now. In the Foodtruck Finder app, people will not only be able to tell where their favorite food trucks are, they’ll be able to see any foodie events coming up, order from those trucks for pick-up, leave reviews on both a food truck and specific dishes they make. “You go to a restaurant and it’s 3.5 stars,” Rios said. “Why? Was it the food, the service?” Users can ask the app to choose a new
richmondconfidential.org
Tacos Los Primos on 23rd Street changes ownership after 24 years
After 24 years serving Mexican fare on 23rd Street, Juan Carrillo and his family have sold the Tacos Los Primos food truck to new owners. Carrillo, his wife Maria Carrillo, daughter Dulce Carrillo and son-in-law Raul Chavez are moving to Visalia in the San Joaquin Valley, with plans to open a new food truck by the end of the year. They are moving, Carrillo said, primarily because Visalia is a more affordable place to live.
hoodline.com
Selma's Knotty Chix Pretzels Finally Opens Storefront After Six-Year Pandemic Side Hustle
A pretzel business born out of pandemic boredom has finally found a permanent home in downtown Selma. Knotty Chix, the twisty-dough venture started by Viviana Sisneros, has opened a brick-and-mortar store at 1920 High Street, across from Lincoln Park, after years of selling through pop-ups, farmers markets and social media orders.
The Fresno Bee
Want to throw axes and eat? Check out Fresno's new virtual reality arcade
In the same place, people can watch a game, throw darts or axes at a digital wall, get strapped into a virtual reality game or practice their golf game. And that’s not even touching the special events, like video game tournaments and cookie-designing classes, that Vibe-In hosts with other parts of the community. Prince Singh, the owner of Vibe-In, opened the arcade in March, but the idea existed years before it. He grew up in Visalia as part of a very business-minded family and watched his parents, uncles and aunts build and run different companies. Singh also helped at some of those companies, which gave him a solid idea of what he didn’t want to do with his life. “I was kinda burnt out with the gas station,” Singh said. “I wanted something different.” He spent a couple of years trying to develop a hotel on some property his parents own before realizing that because of county, fire department and highway regulations, building a hotel there wasn’t feasible. Singh also picked up some experience working for his uncles, who operated their own Chuck E. Cheese locations. The decision to open his own space came from spending time with his friends.
The Fresno Bee
Fresno's Yemeni coffee scene is booming with new cafes. Here's what to know
If you’ve been watching Fresno’s cafe scene lately, you’ve probably noticed something brewing — and it smells like cardamom. Three Yemeni coffee shops are either expanding or opening fresh location s across the city, bringing spiced lattes, honeycomb bread and more to the Central Valley. Here’s what coffee lovers need to know:
Yahoo!
fresnoland.org
In search of Fresno’s best burrito, part one.
San Francisco has the “Mission burrito” (beans, rice, meat), San Diego has the California burrito (replace the beans and rice with french fries, add pico de gallo and guacamole). Fresno has… well, both of those, but also so much more. The trouble with defining a “Fresno” style...
The Fresno Bee
Meet the Fresno restaurant group behind trendy eateries Otherside, Heirloom and Saizon
If you’ve waited in line at Heirloom, snagged a honey-saffron latte at Otherside or caught the Instagram glow-up of Saizon, you’ve been eating your way through one restaurant group’s playbook — probably without realizing it. Now that group is growing again. Owners of Otherside Cafe confirmed this month that their second cafe will land at the corner of Palm and San Jose avenues, at the entrance to the Fig Garden Financial Center — just north of Fig Garden Village, behind Elbow Room and Chipotle. It’s taking over a freestanding former bank building most recently home to Guarantee Real Estate. Co-owner Rema Koligian said in an Instagram video that she expects it to open by the end of 2027. That new cafe is just the latest move from Brandon Smittcamp and partners Rema and Kevin Koligian — the trio (plus chef Justin Shannon at Heirloom and Saizon) are behind some of the buzziest places to eat in town. Here’s the full lineup. Otherside Cafe Opened in May 2025 at The Row at Heritage Grove, Otherside pairs a serious coffee program with an all-day food menu. General manager Adam Byrd — a 20-year bartender at The Lime Lite who (which Smittcamp also
thefeather.com
Food Review: Strada Italian Sandwiches
The rich aroma of freshly baked focaccia bread lingers through the restaurant, as chatter and music fills the room. Italian art displays across the walls as each sandwich is assembled to perfection. The staff exclaims with cheerful faces, “welcome to Strada!” Throughout the Central Valley, new restaurants continue to expand and elevate local dining experiences. Amongst these fresh dining spots, Strada thrives through serving authentic and high-quality Italian sandwiches. From homemade focaccia bread to savory spreads, this restaurant brings a twist to traditional sandwiches.