Business openings and closings reshape Merced market

The articles show how business openings and closings change Merced's commercial environment. Each piece highlights new businesses, shifting locations, or closures. Together, they reveal a fluid local market, with some businesses arriving and others departing.

A new food truck park called Valley Eats will offer space for seven vendors and new eating options on Olive Avenue. Twins Food Outlet opened a Main Street location and plans to expand further. Raising Cane’s, a national chicken finger chain, will move into the space left by Big Lots at the Marketplace at Merced. Meanwhile, Taste of Little India closed after more than 20 years, but Tandoor Table, a new Indian restaurant, will soon take over that location. Merced’s business scene continues to evolve as spaces change hands and new owners enter the market.

Art Granado, a retired veteran, stands and asks California High-Speed Rail Authority representatives several questions about the project’s impact during a community forum on Wednesday Nov. 20.

NO. 1: MERCED RESIDENTS DISCUSS JOB OPPORTUNITIES, TIMELINE DURING CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL FORUM

The state’s transportation project is bringing changes to the Central Valley. How will those changes stimulate Merced’s economic development? | Published November 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Alma Villegas

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. 2: 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

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A Merced business store owner was arrested for illegal gambling in a room.

NO. 3: BUSINESS OWNER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED ILLEGAL GAMBLING VENTURE IN MERCED, POLICE SAY

Gambling machines were found inside the cell phone store. | Published March 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Galaviz

Taste of Little India located at 1052 W. Main Street in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Restaurant owner Parm Samra said he was informed that the building has changed ownership and his lease has been terminated. The restaurant will close on April 11. By Andrew Kuhn

NO. 4: MERCED’S TASTE OF LITTLE INDIA RESTAURANT TO CLOSE AFTER 23 YEARS OF BUSINESS

Owner Parm Samra has been in business for nearly 30 years, working to make Indian food mainstream in the Merced area. | Published April 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andrew Kuhn

A groundbreaking ceremony for a project funded by California’s Homekey program at 125 E. 13th Street in Merced, Calif, on Thursday, April 17, 2025. Image courtesy of Micah Diele.

NO. 5: HOMELESS POPULATION IN MERCED FALLING. MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS COMING

“Housing is a top issue in our town, across the state and across the country,” said Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto. | Published May 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shawn Jansen

Construction continues on the future home of Valley Eats, a food truck park located at 1997 W. Olive Avenue behind Starbucks and 7-Eleven near the intersection of West Olive Avenue and Highway 59 in Merced, Calif., on Friday, June 6, 2025. By Andrew Kuhn

NO. 6: MERCED’S NEW FOOD TRUCK PARK TO OFFER AFFORDABLE EATS, COMMUNITY VIBES

The area will feature up to seven food trucks offering various cuisine. | Published June 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andrew Kuhn

NO. 7: NEW RESTAURANT TO SERVE AUTHENTIC INDIAN CUISINE IN MERCED. HERE’S WHEN AND WHERE

The restaurant will take over the former location of Taste of Little India. | Published June 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Angela Rodriguez

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Twins Food Outlet at 159 W Main St. pictured on June 24, 2025. The store opened on June 28, 2025 By Nicholas Corral ncorral@mercedsun-star

NO. 8: MODESTO-BASED TWINS FOOD OUTLET TO OPEN TWIN LOCATION IN MERCED

The owners say they want to expand southward to Madera and beyond. | Published July 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nicholas Corral

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.