A look at the new restaurants/retailers coming to Modesto, Central Valley in 2020
A new year, a new decade, and lots and lots of new businesses to look forward to coming into the Central Valley.
In an already busy year (hello, presidential election), Modesto and surrounding cities will see a slew of new restaurants and retailers that are planning to open in 2020. These new developments range from large national chains to locally owned independents. But they are all something to get excited about in the coming year.
And with all these new businesses also come a bunch of new jobs. Some have even begun hiring and others should start soon. So people looking for work should have several opportunities in the coming year.
A look at some of the major and unique projects opening in the region in 2020, and when to expect them.
Dave & Busters, Modesto
The Sears in Vintage Faire Mall closed in January 2019, leaving its humongous, two-story 150,000-square-foot anchor space vacant. But it wasn’t vacant for long as by April of that year it was revealed that a Dave & Busters would take over half of the space. (Dick’s Sporting Goods is taking over the other half, but more on that later.)
Dave & Buster’s operates a chain of 134 national entertainment centers aimed at more adult audiences, complete with large video arcades and sports bar-style restaurants. The Modesto center is moving into the second-floor space of the former Sears site. Work has been underway, and an ad was recently posted for a general manager, signaling hiring has started in earnest. No opening date has been revealed yet, but it is expected to be completed sometime in 2020.
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Modesto
See, I told you I’d get to them. Dick’s, which has had a location at the corner of Dale and Sisk roads since 2011, will move into the first-floor of the former Sears space. The relocation will give the sports apparel and gear store much more space, up from its current standalone site’s 33,000-square-feet. Permits for the initial plans for renovations to the store were issued by the City of Modesto in late December, indicating work should start soon on the project. No opening date is set yet, but a 2020 opening appears likely.
Dutch Bros Coffee, Modesto
The Oregon-based coffee company with a cult-like following opened its first Stanislaus County location in Oakdale last August. Known for its all drive-thru kiosk concept and beloved for its more than 150 secret menu items and combinations, the chain has more than 300 locations across the Western States. At the start of January plans were submitted to the City of Modesto for its first Modesto location, at 1524 McHenry Ave.
Dutch Bros spokeswoman Hillary Brown said the project is moving forward for ground-up construction of a dual drive-thru kiosk on the site that includes the large Modesto Radiology Imaging building. Brown said they hope to have the site open in late 2020. The coffee company also plans to open a second location, at the corner of Briggsmore and Orangeburg avenues just off the Highway 99 exit. Brown said that location could also be completed in late 2020, or early 2021.
The Brass Tap, Modesto
In 2018, the Florida-based The Brass Tap brew pub chain announced plans to move into the Central Valley in a big way. The first site in Modesto was projected to open in mid-to-late 2019. While site selection took longer than anticipated, Modesto-based franchisees Rick and Kathy Sousa decided to go with new construction across the street from Kaiser Permanente hospital at 4506 Dale Road in northwest Modesto.
The restaurant and pub will go into the new Kiernan Business Park in a planned project that includes a new Courtyard by Marriott hotel, retail shopping center with restaurants and shops, a gas station and large luxury apartment complex. Plans for the 3,200-square-foot space were submitted to the City of Modesto last fall. Groundwork is expected to begin this month. Sousa said if construction moves smoothly they will be on track for a September-October opening. The Sousas also are still moving forward with the four other The Brass Tap sites in the region, which should be all opened within a seven-year span.
W. Stuart. C. Steakhouse, Modesto
The transformation of one of downtown Modesto’s most distinctive buildings into a high-end steakhouse is well on its way. The team of Jaime Jimenez and James Madrid, along with Executive Chef Michael Goularte, have ambitious plans for the old World Savings/Wachovia bank at the corner of I and 10th streets. The development is on track for a late-April, early May opening.
The steakhouse already has its menu posted online. Goularte was the former executive chef at Galletto’s Ristorante and also a former partner in Turlock’s Hauck’s Grill. The restaurant also posted a hiring notice on its Facebook page this week and will have an open hiring event from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 22 at the steakhouse site, 833 10th St.
Stuart’s Pizza, Modesto
The team behind the steakhouse is also working on a pizza-by-the-slice spot to open less than a block away on 10th Street. Madrid said the new restaurant in the former taqueria space between between Picasso’s and Greens will be a more affordable alternative to the steakhouse, and offer grab-and-go items. A hiring notice for the pizza place also went up online this week, and job searchers are invited to attend the same interview hiring event Jan. 22 at the steakhouse. The eatery is expected to open in early February.
The Farmacy, Modesto
Trying to stick to those new New Year’s resolutions? Well you are in luck because a new healthy, plant-based restaurant is planned on the same block as Stuart’s Pizza on 10th Street. The pop-up cafe from Modesto entrepreneur Erin Doran, who also owns The Century and co-working space Nine3One on 10th Street, will be inside the new The Rosé Bouquet flower shop. It will serve all plant-based, vegan-friendly whole foods. Expect it to open sometime in late-February or early March.
Maestro’s Cocina & Tequila Bar, Modesto
Rounding out the 10th Street developments, a new Mexican restaurant and tequila bar will be added to the downtown Modesto mix. The corner spot at 10th and I streets has been under construction for about a year. Owner Daniel Perez said the delays in converting the long-vacant space have been due to electrical issues, which have now been solved.
Kitchen equipment has been ordered and they are awaiting approval from the city for its outdoor patios. Once completed it will have a full Mexican food menu and craft tequila bar. Perez said he hopes to have a March opening, but said it could take longer because he said he would rather “take my time and do it right than skip any corners.”
18Seventy Brewing Co., Modesto
The flurry of activity in downtown Modesto isn’t over yet. J Street should see a new brewery-taproom open this year with the 18Seventy Brewing Co. The craft beer brewpub, in a long-vacant retail space near the corner of J and Ninth streets, also will serve coffee and tapas. Founder Bridgette Berry even wrote her master’s thesis on combining a coffee and brewing business. The site is on track for an April/May opening this year.
Torii Japanese Restaurant, Modesto
A 36-year-old institution should be coming back this month after lengthy renovations. Torii Japanese Restaurant was sold to new owners and closed last May for updating and repairs. The Century Center restaurant in east Modesto has gained a loyal following over the years for its teppanyaki menu, sushi bar and boisterous karoake scene. Now, after eight months dark, the new owners plan to have it back up and running in its new and improved form sometime later this month.
Burly’s California Bistro, Modesto
Modesto’s west side will see a new, upscale bistro open offering farm-to-table meat-and-potatoes fare. Burly’s California Bistro on Carpenter Road is tucked back in an unassuming shopping center. But the restaurant hopes to stand out as a full-service, sit-down eatery in a part of town where most of the dining options are fast food or taquerias. The team behind the new site has years of experience in the food industry dating back to the popular Mallard’s Restaurant. Expect Burly’s to open in early February.
Memo’s Cocina & Tequila Bar, Modesto
The popular downtown Turlock Mexican restaurant is branching out and plans to open its first Modesto location this year. Operated by the family behind the long-running Las Casuelas locations in the region, Memo’s has set itself apart by offering from-scratch, elevated takes on traditional dishes and cocktails. They now want to bring their brand to Modesto, and plan to construct a from-the-ground-up restaurant on Sylvan Avenue across from the skate park near Beyer High School. Plans for the northeast Modesto location are in the permitting process, and if all goes smoothly they hope to break ground in April/May with an open date this fall.
Elsewhere around the Central Valley
Callahan’s Brewing Company, Hughson
The craft brewery trend shows no signs of slowing in the valley and this year Hughson should have a new one to call its own. Callahan’s Brewing Company, first announced in 2018, has settled on a location and is in the process of renovating the space. After one location fell through, founder-owner Ron Callahan bought the oldest building in town to become his new brewery-restaurant. The 6818 Hughson Ave. site was built in 1907 and served many purposes over the years from movie theater to dental office and dry cleaners. It was most recently the office for the late California Assemblyman George House. Callahan hopes to break ground in March, and then have the brewery open by late summer, early fall.
Turlock Corners Retail Plaza, Turlock
A new retail plaza just south of Turlock’s bustling Monte Vista Crossings shopping center should fill out in the coming year. Last year Farmer Boys opened opened in Turlock Corners at the intersection of Tuolumne Road and Countryside Drive. NAI Benchmark Vice President of Retail Brian Heron said construction on the rest of the center, which will include a 16,000 multi-tenant retail space and additional standalone pad for an additional restaurant, should be completed this year. Initials plans for a Popeyes Louisiana Chicken to go in alongside the Farmer Boys have fallen through, but Heron said they have another, as-yet-unnamed restaurant that should be taking over the pad.
Warrior Crossing, Turlock
Another new retail center in Turlock should also start taking shape this year. Warrior Crossing, on the northwest corner of Monte Vista Avenue and Crowell Road, will have a mix of restaurants and retail once completed. It will also be home to Stanislaus County’s fourth Dutch Bros Coffee location. The center will include the standalone drive-thru Dutch Bros kiosk, as well as an approximately 7,000 square-foot building that would house a mix of retail and restaurant tenants. Turlock Assistant to the City Manager for Economic Development & Housing Maryn Pitt said she expects the center to break ground in the next few months. But Dutch Bros spokeswoman Brown said that location may not open until early 2021.
Maybe this year, maybe next
HomeGoods, Modesto
While it has not been confirmed by Vintage Faire Mall or its parent company, HomeGoods is expected to enter the Modesto market for the first time in the near future. The move is part of the big Dave & Busters/Dick’s Sporting Goods opening/relocation at the north Modesto mall. While those two businesses will go into the former Sears anchor site, HomeGoods will then take the former Dick’s Sporting Goods building on Dale Road. City of Modesto representatives have confirmed the deal, but no date has been given for a possible opening.
Walmart Supercenter, Ceres
The long (long, long) anticipated Walmart Supercenter coming to Ceres could start construction this year. In the works since 2007, the new store would replace the city’s existing Walmart and be the anchor for the new Mitchell Ranch Center on the northwest corner of Mitchell and Service roads. The building permit for the new Walmart was issued by the City of Ceres in January 2019. Some needed road improvements have been completed and since then the site has been quiet and vacant. Ceres Director of Community Development Tom Westbrook said the city has not been informed yet of when the company would start construction. Work could take up to a year once started.
This story was originally published January 11, 2020 at 3:03 PM.
