What’s opening in Modesto area in 2022? A lot, from National chains to new restaurants
After a difficult two years of development driven by the ongoing pandemic, Central Valley residents still have a number of notable new business openings to look forward to this year.
Whether it’s a nationwide chain coming to the Northern San Joaquin Valley for the first time or independent restaurants planting roots in Stanislaus County, the region should see plenty of “grand opening” signs in 2022.
Among the biggest new developments will be the construction and opening of Dave & Buster’s at Vintage Faire Mall. News broke that the chain of combination restaurants and entertainment centers planned to come to the Modesto mall almost three years ago, in spring of 2019.
Dave & Buster’s, known for its all-in-one dining, games and arcades, has been on my “What’s opening in the New Year” list two years running now, in 2020 and 2021 — without actually opening. But they say the third time is the charm.
Vintage Faire Mall spokeswoman Annie Ames said plans are still on track for the center to open in spring 2022. So, you know, relatively soon.
Construction initially began on the project in early 2020, as big machines moved away the old Sears auto shop and began renovations on the the two-story, 150,000-square-foot former Sears space. Dick’s Sporting Goods moved from its smaller stand-alone building on Dale Road to the larger lower floor of the anchor space in October 2020.
But work on the Dave & Buster’s abruptly halted after the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020 and the second-floor site has sat largely silent since. Now, work inside is underway again, Ames said. New signs have gone up inside the mall as well, announcing its pending arrival.
The Modesto location will be the first for the company in Stanislaus County, with the closest nearby sites currently open near San Jose and Sacramento.
But Dave & Buster’s isn’t the only new arrival expected at the mall this year. Ames said the shopping center has a couple of other new tenants finalized, with more on the way. The other new additions this year will include a new Jamba and a larger Don Roberto Jewelers.
The national blended juice chain will move into the Food Court next to the existing See’s Candies shop. Ames said it should open spring 2022.
Don Roberto, which has an existing location in the mall, is opening a larger new location in the center. The new spot on the lower level, west of the Macy’s Men & Home store, is under construction now and is also expected to open this spring.
Areas beyond the Modesto mall will welcome new chains this year, too. Regional favorite Nation’s Giant Hamburgers will open its first Modesto and Stanislaus County location this summer. Founded in 1952 in San Pablo, the burger chain has become a Northern California favorite, with some 30 locations in the Bay Area and elsewhere.
Known for its big burgers and fresh-made pies, the company is coming to the heart of Modesto with a McHenry Avenue location. The new restaurant will move into a former Wells Fargo bank branch. The company is currently in the permitting process, and once it gets the green light to go, renovations should take about four months. The new location should open in summer 2022.
Locally owned restaurants are also making moves in the new year. The owners of downtown Turlock’s Memo’s Cocina & Tequila Bar have been working the past two years to get their from-the-ground-up new location in Modesto ready. But the pandemic slowed construction considerably.
Owner Karina Ramirez said they’d hoped her craft tequila bar and Mexican eatery would be ready to open across from the skate park by Beyer High School in December. But supply chain delays pushed that back and they’re still waiting on bar equipment to arrive. She said they now hope for a February opening.
Memo’s will be one of two tequila bars and restaurants set to open in Modesto this year. Downtown Modesto’s Casa Maestros Cocina & Tequila Bar is also slated to open soon on 10th Street, kitty-corner from the Gallo Center for the Arts.
Another popular local restaurant that hopes to open again soon is Turlock’s Latif’s by Pedretti. The classic diner just off downtown Turlock first opened in 1953, and has been a favorite place for pies and more since. In late 2019 the longtime family owners of the restaurant sold to Nick Pedretti, whose family also has deep valley roots.
But a kitchen fire closed the restaurant in February 2021 and it has been dark ever since. Pedretti said reopening has been complicated by supply chain issues and insurance hold-ups. But he hopes to be able to reopen the iconic Turlock location in April.
In addition to new retailers and restaurants coming to the region, two large business developments that will bring more than 1,000 jobs to the region should also debut this year.
The new Amazon fulfillment center being built in Turlock off Fulkerth Road just west of Highway 99 is expected to complete construction this year. The million-square-foot facility will be the second Amazon location in Stanislaus County, and the company plans to hire some 1,000 workers. The company opened its first in the region in Patterson in 2013. Amazon said the new Turlock center should be ready by mid-2022.
In addition to Amazon, the sustainable building company S²A Modular plans to open its new Patterson plant this year. The new “MegaFactory” began hiring the first of some 250 jobs in December. The facility does on-site construction for high-tech and luxury single-family homes, apartment complexes and hotels. The 100,000-square-feet factory is slated to open in the first quarter of 2022.
And finally, those hoping to try the Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Ceres, its first announced Stanislaus County location, will have to wait another year. The development in front of the former Kmart on Hatch Road isn’t slated to open until 2023. But the popular fried chicken chain is actively looking to expand, so one might pop up before then.
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
