On Jan. 20, long-time Fresno Chinese restaurant Shanghai Chinese Cuisine shut its doors for good. After 44 long years of service, owner Pauline Dunn explained to the Fresno Bee the numerous reasons for the closure including thieves, labor struggles, and overall rent increases, alongside economic matters such as food inflation and location instability.
But Shanghai’s struggles aren’t unique in this aspect.
In the past couple of years, it hasn’t been uncommon to see once-beloved restaurants and businesses closing their doors to the public. Along with long-time businesses, we’ve also seen a rise in newly opened businesses unable to survive the current economic crisis. Many business owners are vocalizing the struggle to afford food products as the cost of food has skyrocketed since the pandemic.
Another once-beloved Fresno local restaurant Hunan Chinese Restaurant also told the Fresno Bee that the price of chicken has gone up 77%, as reported by restaurant manager Isaac Huang to the FresnoBee. Along with unaffordable ingredients, there had also been a struggle to afford the electric costs with PG&E seeing an 11% increase in electricity bills since the start of 2024.
There have also been many issues regarding rent and landlords. Many restaurants have been forced into closing their home location due to rent increases or landlord disputes.
Iconic breakfast eatery Benaddiction, famous for its rock and roll-themed menu, was pushed out of its original Bullard and Marks location where they had been residing for eight years. According to the Fresno Bee, although Benaddicition successfully opened a new location, owner James Caples had voiced disappointment in the movement as that location had become their home. Finding a new property with a fully operating kitchen in an optimal area had also been a struggle they didn’t feel they needed to face.
Many suspect that alongside rent hikes, food cost increases, vandalism, and thievery, we also need to look at the City of Fresno for its lack of real and effective services for small business owners.
While numerous grants are available, we are seeing a need for more sustainable help from the city. From the neglect of downtown Fresno and southwest areas to the increase of larger businesses taking over once locally owned buildings with the backing of our city officials; small businesses have suffered adverse consequences.
Although we are seeing many struggling businesses, the community is not hopeless. The Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation, along with the help of the City of Fresno, held an open grant for small businesses early last year offering up to $50,000 in order to help improve any businesses’ existing spaces. Dubbed the Façade Improvement Program Grant, this grant includes renovations and enhancement to business spaces including the interior and exterior buildings. Mom-and-pop restaurant Cafe Leon Mexican Restaurant was able to get a new bright coat of paint due to the grant.
However, helping fix storefronts is only a Band-Aid solution to the much larger issue, as seen with Shanghai. The now-closed business was able to qualify and use said grant, although it wouldn’t help in the long run.
Our community needs help from the city to keep these businesses running. Without help, there’s no way that small businesses in Fresno will be able to stand in the current economic crisis. Fresno’s diversity has brought many beautiful businesses cherished by all Fresno residents, they deserve a fair chance at success.
While an increase in business may not magically fix the situation, it can show the support the Fresno community brings. Going to the restaurants or corner stores in your area instead of the average chain is something we should all make an effort to participate in.
Go to a local sushi restaurant like Sendai Sushi or a local pizza shop like The Curry Pizza Company. Or maybe if you want authentic Thai or Lao food, you can visit SaBaiDee. Supporting your local businesses and restaurants is the first step to showing that we are here for our Fresno businesses and ensuring they are here to stay.
