I grew up in Fresno County but I’ve lived in a lot of places, and one aspect of Fresno that’s always struck me is our flair for ad-hoc design. You know the old joke, when a busboy drops a glass or a tray, and some joker shouts, “Just put that anywhere?”
“Just put that anywhere” feels like Fresno’s operating design philosophy. In a lot of places, things get torn down, redesigned, rebuilt, restored. When Fresno grows, it tends to do so horizontally. Every few years we find a new area to turn into our central business district.
When that happens, it’s not as if the old sites disappear. A lot of times they don’t even get much of a refresh. They just leave behind their shells, like crustaceans moving through their natural life cycles. Lots of people are fascinated with abandoned ghost towns, but I find myself just as charmed by obvious anachronisms that have since been repurposed; a sort of DIY retro-fusion.
Hermit crabs are the subject of this week’s photo essay.
They’re probably not many people’s idea of “beautiful,” or held up as shining examples of thriving communities, but I’d like to think that maybe the abundance of hermit crabs says something about Fresno’s civic character. That we’re more focused on doing than on branding; that the act of creation is more important to us than figuring out how to sell it. Life finds a way…
One thing I learned while researching this piece is how interesting it can be delving into the history of some random building. I couldn’t include it all, but going through past grand openings often read like a catalogue of people’s hopes and dreams. (Also, I never realized how often fast food places got robbed in the 70s and 80s…).
I did my best to include as many “hermit crabs” as I could find, most of which I just happened past while driving through town, as one does. Still, there must be a few great ones out there that I missed. What’s your favorite? Drop us a line. Don’t be shy, I love your emails.
— Vince Mancini, Contributing Editor, Food
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The ‘hermit crab’ restaurants of Fresno
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This week’s local food news
Peacock Market is adding crepes and barbecue. Peacock Market on Tollhouse and Sunnyside in Clovis, home of Miguel’s Salsa (more tamales!), are adding southern barbecue and French crepes to their offerings. Trés multicultural over there. [The Business Journal]
RIP, Big Apple Platters. The fast casual, serving “New York City street cart-type foods” out of a 76 on Riverside and Herndon in northwest Fresno, has closed after just four months. The owner blames construction for making his store too hard to get to. [Fresno Bee]
Who wants to buy the “iconic Golddiggers sign?” A Fresno landmark can be yours for just $1200 bucks (or best offer). Big “baby shoes, never worn” energy. [Facebook]
The owner of Fabiano Roasters is expanding into a bakery and restaurant. Rumi Baklava is already open at Shaw and Marks, while Syrian-American owner Hamed Alghazali is planning on a Mediterranean Cafe at Alluvial and Fresno Street. Sounds tasty! [Fresno Bee]
Where to find the best “girl dinner.” Women, not only do they be shopping, they also love to be eating charcuterie with wine and calling it “dinner.” So goes the TikTok trend, and now Bethany Clough has your guide to where to find some in Fresno, provided your idea of “girl dinner” encompasses salad and french fries. Sure, why not? [Fresno Bee]
— Vince Mancini, Contributing Editor, Food
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