The holidays are upon us, and we get it: Buying a gift can be difficult, and it’s tempting to order everything on an app from the comfort of your home. The Black Friday deals from mega retailers have been in our inboxes and social media feeds for weeks.
But, if you’re like us, you also want to do your part to support small, local businesses, many of whom are struggling a lot right now, as the cost of running a business remains stubbornly high.
We asked the Fresnoland team where they plan to shop small across Fresno, and here’s our suggestions.
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For the foodies
Looking for a gift that fights suburban sprawl? Two family ranches near Fresno are selling grass-fed beef on pristine lands that sit in the crosshairs of future development. Who knew eating a ribeye could be an act of conservation?
At Riverland Farms in Sanger, Jeff Butts has stewarded 80 acres for 35 years, offering ground beef at $10 per pound and premium cuts like filet mignon for $27. His 100% grass-fed beef is available at the Vineyard Farmers Market (Shaw and Blackstone, Wednesdays 2-5 p.m. and Saturdays 7-noon) or directly from the ranch. “People are more than welcome to come buy direct from the ranch,” says Butts, who has held his prices steady for three years despite rising costs. The ranch sits near a proposed 3,000-acre development on Kings River land owned by Ben Ewell and John Harris.
For future-minded carnivores, keep an eye on newcomer Sugarloaf Ranch in Clovis. Joscelle Brennan started raising cattle on 55 acres in May 2023 after years in nearby Auberry. With 50 head of cattle grazing beside the development-targeted Blasingame ranch, their first beef will be available in late spring 2025 through sugarloafranchclovis.com.
Location: Vineyard Farmers Market, northwest corner of Shaw and Blackstone; Riverland Farms, 608 S. Frankwood Ave., Sanger; sugarloafranchclovis.com
–Gregory Weaver, environmental reporter
Did you know that Fresno has a chocolatier that sources cacao beans from different parts of the world and makes their own chocolate? Did you know they also have a cafe?
Raphio Chocolate makes their own chocolate made using high-quality cacao beans from across the world. They even go as far as to inspect the beans in person.
At their cafe, they use their in-house made chocolate on their drinks and pastries. You can also shop their products online. I recommend a box of their chocolate bonbons, which retail for $16 to $29. If you want someone to feel special, you gotta give em’ something special!
Location: 783 East Barstow Ave., raphiochocolate.com
–Diego Vargas, community correspondent
For the ultimate cozy experience, Teazer’s 15 oz ceramic mug with a lid and stainless steel tea filter is a must-have for tea lovers. Picture sipping delicious strawberry green tea while curled up with a great book or carrying this charming mug around town—all for around $29-$32, depending on which design you choose.
Locations: 645 E. Olive; 3140 W. Shaw; 115 East El Paseo Del Centro; 1180 Shaw Ave
–Gisselle Medina, religion and culture reporter
What do you get for the person who has everything? Wine, obviously. I asked my friend Gary Darakjian, advanced sommelier and beverage director at Trelio, to make a few recommendations. He suggested a sparkling wine and a medium-bodied red wine, a versatile choice for the holidays.
Tissot, Crémant du Jura, NV, $39
“The Tissot family have been at the forefront of honest and delicious wines in the eastern French region of Jura for many years. In addition to a range of whites and reds, their sparkling wine tastes of tart stone fruits and apples and finishes with a dry crispness that calls for another sip. Insider tip: Crémant is the French designation for sparkling wines in the Champagne style produced outside the Champagne region. In other words, crémants offer great bang for your buck.”
Rivers-Marie, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2023, $44
“Famed Napa and Sonoma winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown focuses on Pinot Noir with his Rivers-Marie label. Sourced from various vineyards on the Sonoma Coast, the wine balances fresh flavors of cherries with an earthy spice, all in a juicy package. This wine wants turkey and salmon and all the sides.”
Location: Trelio, 438 Clovis Ave., Clovis (come after 4 p.m. or call 559-297-0783)
–Danielle Bergstrom, executive director and managing editor
Tucked away between a movie theater, a crab shack and Korean corn dog spot, talented gift-givers can find Abigail’s Candy Shop. From classic staples like M&Ms and Skittles, to suspicious throwbacks like Wax Lips, banana taffy and anything with coconut, this family-owned confectionary has been in business for nearly 20 years with an enormous offering of treats. I recommend one pound of Jelly-Belly jelly beans — pear or popcorn flavor. They sell for just under $12 per pound. If you don’t know anyone who wants a pound of popcorn jelly beans, then you need better people in your life — and we can help you with that, too!
Location: Abigail’s Candy Shop, 1260 Shaw Ave., Clovis
–Rob Parsons, senior editor
Ice cream is my favorite treat, and Ampersand keeps me coming back with its rotating seasonal flavors menu. If the weather is too cold for ice cream, the shop also has gifts available like mugs, socks and stickers.
Locations: 1940 N. Echo Ave.; 7010 North Marks Ave.; 2886 E. Shepherd Ave.
–Pablo Orihuela, housing reporter
For the Fresno fans
What better gift for the Fresno-phile in your life than some one-of-a-kind, only-get-it-here Fresno merch?
Hella Fresno just debuted new pins, which are modeled after the road signs you’d see driving south toward downtown on the 41. You can buy them online for $20 or at their pop-ups around town.
Location: Buy online, or monitor their Instagram for pop-up sales
–Julianna Morano, labor and economy reporter
For the Fresno devotee in your life, head to Yellow. This Fulton Street boutique, owned by a hometown artist, curates a delightful mix of locally crafted accessories, Fresno-themed merch and artwork from valley creatives. Drop by and you might just meet the shop’s mascot – an affable pug named Penny.
Location: 1560 Fulton St #101
–Gregory Weaver, environmental reporter
For the creatives
Your next read should come from Judging by the Cover, a new Chinatown bookstore.
Hanif Abdurraqib’s essay collection “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us” ($26) has something for everyone, whether that’s lifelong motivation to pursue writing (what it gave me) or an essay to make you rethink The Weeknd’s discography. I’m so pleased to tell you that there’s an independent bookstore in town selling it – not only that, but the city’s newest one, Judging by the Cover.
Make sure to check out their robust collection of local authors and children’s books in multiple languages while you’re there!
Location: 1029 F St.
–Julianna Morano, labor and economy reporter
I started buying mugs from Hannah Rose Ceramics in 2020 and have since amassed a small collection. Nothing beats drinking your morning (and afternoon) coffee out of a beautiful, handmade mug. You can find them in person – around $40 a piece – at the Scarab Gift Shop in downtown Fresno.
Location: Scarab Creative Arts, 729 Divisadero
–Isabel Santos-Gonzalez, operations and analytics manager
Though photography may seem like a daunting hobby with lots of complexities, it’s really as easy as pointing and shooting. In an age where our phones can do it all, we seldom forget that dedicated cameras can really capture special moments so uniquely. For that reason, I’m sending you to Horn Photo!
Believe me when I say that a film camera captures life far differently than digital cameras do.
Horn Photo currently has Kodak’s Ultra F9 film camera, a neat little film camera that uses 35 mm film and has built-in flash, retailing for $40. Paired with a roll of Kodak Gold 200 Color Negative Film, you don’t need anything else, just point and shoot.
Photos on your phone are nice, but a film camera will add a magic to your photos that you only get with film. Plus, the added mystique of wondering how your photos turned out is a feeling like no other!
Location: Horn Photo, 7899 N. Blackstone Ave.
–Diego Vargas, community correspondent
If you’re not sure what the next addition to your vinyl collection should be, let me recommend Gerry Rafferty’s second solo album City to City! You’re not just listening to Rafferty’s guitar and vocals on this record, you’re hearing the man’s heart strings! This album has one of Rafferty’s most popular songs, Right Down the Line, featuring one of the best guitar melodies I’ve ever heard. City to City was a popular release in the late ’70s and decently common in record stores. Take a trip over to Tower District Records — last I checked, it was eight bucks.
Location: Tower District Records, 1930 North Echo Ave.
–Omar Rashad, government accountability reporter
For the kids
Chinatown grocery store Central Fish may be best known for its, well, fresh fish – but the gift shop has a wide selection of imported goods from Japan. My kids are huge fans of Pokémon and Hello Kitty, and I was able to score several items for their Christmas stockings, from a Charmander coin pouch to Pikachu magnets to a Hello Kitty plushie.
Their selection of ceramic cats is phenomenal – I’m sure I’ll be back for more soon. (Don’t forget to grab an $8 roll of fresh sushi on your way out!)
Location: Central Fish, 1535 Kern St.
–Danielle Bergstrom, executive director and managing editor
If you need a gift for the kids in your life, you can’t go wrong with a Folkmanis puppet. They are whimsical, engaging toys and a worthwhile addition to any playroom.
Location: Fresno Art Museum, 2233 N. First St. or fammuseumstore.shopsettings.com/
–Isabel Santos-Gonzales, operations and analytics manager
For the unique, one-of-a-kind gifts
For the holidays, I love giving gifts that bring cozy vibes, like this $24 ‘Fuck off’ cake-shaped candle from Sour Milk. The scent and the way it burns make it feel like winter, especially now that Fresno’s finally starting to chill out.
Location: Sour Milk, 1474 North Van Ness Ave.
–Gisselle Medina, religion and culture reporter
Yoshi Now! is one of my favorite vintage shops in the valley. I’ve bought a lot of nice clothing there, including this Ralph Lauren button-down.
Location: 1410 Kern St.
–Pablo Orihuela, housing reporter
Need a little holiday magic? Maybe some cosmic help clearing out the dead wood in your life to make way for more friends that like jelly beans? Just want to punish your enemies? Treat yourself to a spell (or curse?) candle from the Brass Unicorn for $19.95. For more than 40 years, the Brass Unicorn has offered Fresno a fabulous collection of unique clothing, gifts, spirituality and witchcraft books, and a massive assortment of jewelry, collectibles, essential oils, incense, perfumes and much more!
Location: The Brass Unicorn, 1007 N. Van Ness Ave.
–Rob Parsons, senior editor
