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4 shifts shaping the business landscape in Merced County

Stories by Merced Sun-Star journalists, with AI summarization

Merced County's business landscape is undergoing significant transformation, marked by notable closures alongside the arrival of new establishments. The planned closing of Barnes & Noble and the Yosemite Wholesale Distribution Center reflect challenges for long-standing contributors to the community and workforce.

Meanwhile, economic development persists, with new retail opportunities like Raising Cane’s and other chains revitalizing shopping centers. These shifts underscore how openings and closures can simultaneously challenge local economies and provide avenues for growth, revealing the evolving nature of commerce in the region.

Barnes & Noble, with a location on Olive Avenue in Merced, will be starting a My Favorite Teacher Contest this month, and all entries are due by March 1. By Thaddeus Miller

NO. 1: BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSTORE SET TO CLOSE MERCED STORE. HERE’S WHEN AND WHAT WE KNOW.

A store manager confirmed the Barnes & Noble store in Merced is closing soon. | Published March 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Shawn Jansen

The Yosemite Wholesale Distribution Center located at 2674 E. Vassar Avenue in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. Save Mart confirmed the planned closure of the facility in a statement sent to the Merced Sun-Star. By Andrew Kuhn

NO. 2: SAVE MART DISTRIBUTION CENTER TO CLOSE MERCED COUNTY LOCATION

The company confirmed the planned closure this week | Published September 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Andrew Kuhn

The Merced County Administration Building located at 2222 M Street in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. By Andrew Kuhn

NO. 3: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE WHERE WOMAN DIED IN FUEL TANK INVESTIGATED BY MERCED COUNTY

County documents state gasoline was spilled during a fuel transfer. | Published November 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Andrew Kuhn

New employees participate in training in preparation for Monday’s grand opening at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurant in Modesto, Calif., Friday, Dec. 16, 2022.

NO. 4: NEW RESTAURANT TO OPEN AT MARKETPLACE AT MERCED. THE CHAIN SPECIALIZES IN CHICKEN FINGERS

The fast food eatery will replace the shuttered Big Lots at 665 Fairfield Dr., mall owners announced. | Published January 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alma Villegas

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.