Influencers flock to Fresno deli for its version of trendy Erewhon smoothies

The high-end Los Angeles grocery store Erewhon is best known for its viral smoothies endorsed by celebrities. Erewhon’s most famous creation, the 20-ounce Strawberry Skin Glaze smoothie, was created in collaboration with Hailey Bieber and sells for $21.

For Fresno locals who find the drive to Erewhon too long and the price at the counter too steep, Expressry Deli and Market on E Divisadero St. offers an alternative.

Expressry’s smoothies started going viral this summer as local influencers began pushing the store as Fresno’s version of Erewhon. The “Berry Sweet” smoothie, with its pink and white swirls, looks nearly identical to Erewhon’s Hailey Bieber drink. The blue and white Smurfie Smoothie bears a resemblance to Erewhon’s Coconut Cloud smoothie. Expressry’s Date Me Mango could be the sibling of Erewhon’s Malibu Mango.

Expressry experienced such a traffic boom in the past couple of months that the store released a statement asking customers to be understanding about long wait times.

Leo Carmona, who has 50,000 Instagram followers, has 89,000 views on his review of Expressry’s smoothies. “Let this be your sign to try Expressry Deli Market,” he says in the video.

“I feel like Fresno has really been missing that big town vibe,” Carmona wrote to the Bee. “When you think of big cities like LA you think of Erewhon, The Grove, or Beverly Hills. Expressry Deli Market is bringing the big town charm right to the heart of Fresno.”

Carmona wrote to The Bee that he reached out to Expressry first to establish a partnership.

Isabella Aguilar, another Fresno food reviewer, said in her TikTok review that the deli reached out to her via Instagram, asking her if she would post a review. Her video, which spoke positively of Expressry’s smoothies and other items, has over 12,000 likes.

One influencer who goes by “Ari The Guide” on TikTok said towards the beginning of her video that “Some of your favorite influencers are getting paid to make those good reviews.” In a statement to the Bee, Ari did not accuse any influencers by name of being paid for their reviews, writing “I think transparency is important, and I try to share the things I would want to know before deciding to visit myself.”

Ari wrote that her TikTok review of Expressry’s smoothies generated much discussion in her comment section. “People seemed eager to share their own experiences and opinions, particularly if they felt the business didn’t live up to the hype.”

Expressry Deli was founded by Akram Mohsin, a local entreprenuer. Mohsin could not be reached for comment.

This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 8:21 AM with the headline "Influencers flock to Fresno deli for its version of trendy Erewhon smoothies."