The year that killed Fresno restaurants. At least 37 eateries closed in 2024

January 15, 2025

3 5 minutes read

It was a terrible year for Fresno-area restaurants.

At least 37 of them closed — more than in previous recent years and even during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

No agency officially tracks how many restaurants close each year. But The Bee’s restaurant reporter has kept a tally of eateries in the Fresno-Clovis area shutting down each year.

Though some closures may have fallen through the cracks and the numbers are anecdotal, past stories show that 30 restaurants closed in 2023, 18 in 2022, about 12 in 2021, and more than 20 each in 2019 and 2018.

There’s a long list of reasons why they are closing that the Bee’s reporting has covered throughout the year:

Inflation, especially the rising cost of food.
Rising rents as real estate costs catch up with the rest of the state.
Power bills, with several restaurateurs saying they pay more than $10,000 or $20,000 in summer months when temperatures regularly hit the triple digits.
Health issues or restaurateurs wanting to retire with no one to take over the business.

And some of the closures are simply the normal comings and goings of restaurants that happen even in good years.

It’s not all bad news, after all. The Bee recently reported that at least 30 new mom-and-pop restaurants opened last year when it asked readers to pick their favorite. (Spoiler alert: It was Zaatar Bistro.)

But while we move into the new year, let’s take a moment to notice the restaurants that won’t be there to serve us anymore.

The Fresno-Clovis area restaurants that closed in 2024

Blast & Brew, formerly Piazza Del Pane, opened in northwest Fresno near Palm and Herndon avenues in 2022. It features self-serve craft beer taps, a full bar, gourmet pizzas, sandwiches and what company president/CEO John Ferdinandi calls “sophisticated comfort food.”

Blast & Brew closed its Herndon and Palm avenues location, though its other locations remain open.

BJ’s Kountry Kitchen’s last two locations in Fresno closed after 43 years. That includes the original, which has reopened as The Waffle Place.

Boba Silog, the Filipino restaurant in north Fresno, announced its closure in September.

Bobby Salazar’s on Blackstone Avenue closed early in the year, and the building later caught on fire. It’s other locations remain open.

Brothers Ramen & Japanese Eatery closed in August when its lease was up, the owner saying power bills are high, people are eating out less, and “it’s tough in California.”

The Brunch Bar, an all-day breakfast spot on Herndon Avenue in Clovis, has closed, but Rustika Cafe and Bakery has already taken over, serving breakfast, lunch and baked goods.

Guests taste the food and drinks at The Brunch Bar in Clovis during a test run for the restaurant on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

Casa Corona closed its restaurant at Bullard and West avenues, its owners wanting to travel more and saying, “We’re not a victim of anything.” Its other location on Herndon Avenue and neighboring Viva Be Bowl’d restaurant remain open.

Country Kitchen in the old Joe’s Steakhouse spot downtown closed after eight months, but the owner is vowing to reopen it.

Crave Cookie closed its Fresno location due to “unforeseen circumstances” with its lease, but its Clovis shop is still going strong.

Daddy Waffles, the breakfast spot at Marks and Herndon avenues, has officially closed, with a newcomer already working on moving in.

DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant closed its First Street and Shaw Avenue location, citing an expired lease, doubling food costs, $10,000 power bills and rising payroll. The other locations remain open.

The DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant at First Street and Shaw Avenue has closed after more than 40 years in business.

Fulton Street Coffee in downtown Fresno closed last fall. It’s been replaced by Sacred Heart Coffee.

Fosters Freeze on Clovis Avenue closed last summer, the owner blaming the $20 fast food minimum wage, an expiring lease and inflation (two other locations in Fresno closed the previous year).

Grandma Jane’s Kitchen closed after two years in Chinatown for several reasons, including the owner’s health and inflation.

Hot Dog on a Stick at Sierra Vista Mall closed, with the owner telling YourCentralValley.com that labor and expenses were up and sales were down at the mall. The Fashion Fair location is open.

Javier’s Mexican Restaurant in southeast Fresno closed last summer, with no signs of reopening.

Kids Cafe 2019 in downtown Fresno, run by students in the Fresno County Office of Education’s adult transition program, has closed.

Lucky’s Donut House closed after 33 years after the property owner planned to build a gas station on its site at Shields and West avenues.

Judy Taing, left, with her mother Lee Taing, center, and sister Katie Taing, right, talk about their impending move after the property owner gave them notice to leave, closing down the family’s Lucky’s Donut House location after over 30 years at Shields and West avenues. Photographed Monday, May 20, 2024.

Lune Wine Bar on Fulton Street in downtown Fresno closed in October, citing rising costs, including labor.

The Mug at Peacock Artisan Eatery closed shortly after opening due to family health issues, but the original coffee shop at Champlain Drive and Perrin Avenue is still open.

Oggi Cosi Si Mangia closed temporarily after a fire in 2023, but the owner said last summer he would “never open another business in Fresno” after ongoing issues with homelessness and police at the site.

Rubio’s Coastal Grill abruptly closed both its locations in Fresno and Clovis in May, eventually shutting down all its Northern California locations.

Salazar’s Grill & Bar in Kingsburg closed in April, the 20-year-old Mexican restaurant not renewing its lease after it expired.

Sandwich Works closed after 42 years on Ashlan Avenue after new owners doubled the rent, according to a sign at the business.

Saint J Wine bar downtown has closed, but it’s up for sale, and with many interested buyers, it may yet reopen, a former manager said.

Slater’s 50/50 at Fashion Fair mall has been closed for weeks, though it’s not clear if it’s a permanent closure.

Starving Artist Bistro in north Fresno closed in October “for a number of private reasons,” and also cited COVID-19, inflation, staff shortages and “rules and regulations imposed on the restaurant industry.”

Shanghai Chinese Cuisine closed after 44 years in February, blaming an avalanche of challenges, including the neighborhood near Blackstone and Griffith, and declining business.

Sendai Sushi at Cedar and Nees avenues closed last year and was replaced by Indian restaurant Golden Punjab.

Smallcakes, the cupcake shop in River Park, closed last year.

Sno-White Drive-In on Clovis and Ashlan avenues closed after 45 years, its owners retiring. It’s now a Sam’s Burger.

TGI Fridays closed just two days into 2024, one of dozens to close nationwide.

Uncle Harry’s Classic Meals, a 34-year-old Armenian institution in Reedley, closed. The owner never said why, but modern challenges facing many restaurants likely played a role.

Wayside Noodles closed its Campus Pointe restaurant, along with its Fig Garden Village spot.

Wayback Burgers at the Marketplace at El Paseo closed, but family-owned Main Street Burgers took it over.

Yass Fish Tacos closed late last year after transitioning from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Yosemite Falls Cafe at Granite Park stayed open until the very last day of the year and then called it quits. The owner has been vocal about the difficulty of doing business in California, including a $21,300 power bill in one month. His other restaurant locations remain open.