With various businesses closing or moving and the confusing battle over ArtHop last year, it’s hard to not reminisce on what Fulton Street used to be. It’s time to look back on the iconic street’s history, and hope that it can continue to evolve into a hub of creativity and community.
Having lived in Fresno since 2018, I can only speak on the Fulton Street I’ve been able to experience since then. Over those seven years, many shops have closed or relocated while others have opened or remained a constant on the street.
Old Fulton
1418 Fulton, formerly located near the Warnors Theatre, sold books, zines, prints, tote bags and more. It occasionally hosted art installations, featuring local artists, risograph workshops and tattoo pop-ups. For someone who wanted to learn about the community or is a fan of art, this place was a dream since it housed so much creativity and passion. It was a pain to see it close in 2022.
“We’re so grateful to have all the help from our community from the very beginning up to the very end. We’ve always felt so supported by you all,” the shop owners posted on their Instagram page, revealing that Warnors Theatre no longer saw their vision as a storefront and prevented them from resigning their lease.
Another thoughtfully curated retail store was Root General, formerly located next to 1418 Fulton, which closed in 2023. It sold t-shirts, hats and even towels repping Fresno in fun colorways and designs. The owners, Kirk and Cassey James, opened the store in 2015 and eventually became parents. So, it was reasonable they chose to close up shop and focus on their family.
“It’s the end of an era, we’ve handed over the keys to our little slice of downtown,” they said on a final post on Instagram.
Fulton Street Coffee may be controversial as its staff went on strike due to poor management and health concerns, according to former employees. I never tried it, but it seemed to be loved by the downtown community and occasionally hosted pop ups during ArtHop until it closed its doors in September 2024. The coffee shop was near Warnors Theatre and next to the vintage clothing store Friend of Yours and souvenir shop Scraps. Both have closed their doors as well.
Full Circle Brewery recently announced its departure from Fulton Street across from Tioga-Sequoia Brewery. It will move back to its Chinatown location and continue operations there.
Now remember how on ArtHop nights, it was fun to walk around Fulton Street with all these places to stop by and shop from, as live bands played just outside the buildings and other local artists set up booths.
It was loud, bustling with friend groups filling the sidewalks, thrifters selling vintage clothes and dance crews battling it out on the corner of Tuolumne and Fulton streets. It was the epitome of community and talent in Fresno.
Why Not Wednesday is not necessarily the ArtHop we knew, but it is still bringing life to Fulton Street and therefore deserves a mention. Why Not Wednesday began last year, after much pushback, but seems to be going well with plans to continue on this year.
Despite these losses, Fulton Street has gained other shops, either replacing what once was or bringing their own flair to the strip mall.
Current Fulton
At the same 2011 Tuolumne Street location, across from the former CVS, Sacred Heart Coffee is just Fulton Street Coffee rebranded under new ownership, and with a new theme honoring the owners’ Catholic background. Given its fresh start and as a coffee lover, I can’t wait to try it out in the future.
Sun Stereo Warehouse is an exciting place, housing various small businesses inside, making it a perfect hub for customers and businesses to gather for events. Inside lies independent news organization uSpark Valley, Fresno’s first candle bar Joy’s Velitas, the Isla Tea Lounge and more.
Though not brand new, Yellow is another boutique and nail shop in Downtown Fresno that deserves some spotlight. Opened in 2022, Yellow is Latina-owned and carries some Fresno merchandise from T-shirts to totes and other goods. The shop participates in monthly ArtHop nights and has collaborated with other local businesses such as Noc Box Coffee Studio.
A staple in Downtown Fresno is Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden, hosting the booze and vibes with weekly themed days at the garden; such as games nights and even speed dating sessions. In addition, the beer garden occasionally hosts concerts from big band names like Chicano Batman to local DJs, which is great for a music lover like me. It’s the perfect place to bring some needed nightlife to Fresno.
The Modernist bar right next door is also worth mentioning for it serves those who want a classier drinking environment or just don’t like beer.
MAS FRESNO, located at Mariposa Plaza, focuses on music, art and fashion, often hosting their thrift alley events and musical performances by local musicians and bandas. MAS Fresno opened in 2022 as a winner of the “Create Here” business plan competition held by the Downtown Fresno Partnership. Now, MAS is partnered with the Why Not Wednesday planning committee, according to Fresnoland.
Fulton Street proves to be forever changing, from community favorites closing or relocating, to new businesses trying to carry the mantle for Downtown Fresno.
Though I am always saddened by the changes, I’m also excited to see what’s new for the beloved Fulton Street this year.
