Business closures and openings reshape Merced County

The articles discuss significant business changes in Merced County, noting closures and new openings. They show how some businesses leave established locations, while others arrive with new concepts.

Several retail chains, including Big Lots and Save Mart, will close stores in Merced County, affecting workers and leaving empty storefronts. Rite Aid also plans to shutter a Merced-area location after declaring bankruptcy again. Longtime local restaurant Taste of Little India is ending its run after more than 20 years due to a lost lease.

At the same time, new businesses are launching. Raising Cane’s will open in a former Big Lots location, introducing a chicken restaurant to a local shopping center. Specialty coffee shop Hola Cafecito started serving drinks and baked goods on Main Street. Valley Eats food truck park is preparing to open, offering spots for various vendors, and Downtown Grubs will open a food truck plaza on a previously vacant corner downtown. A new grocery store, Merced Valley Food, now operates with a focus on family shopping and bakery items.

These changes reflect ongoing transitions in Merced County’s economy as established businesses close and new ventures take root.

Enrique Valencia, 67, owner of Maria’s Taco Shop, speaks with an employee at the restaurant’s 1750 R Street location in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. The restaurant which is open 24 hours, has offered authentic fast Mexican food to the Merced community for 32 years.

NO. 1: TACO SHOP IN MERCED SERVES AUTHENTIC FAST MEXICAN FOOD TO COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS

Maria’s Taco Shop, a Merced fixture for 32 years, offers authentic Mexican food 24 hours a day | Published October 19, 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. 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

Hola Cafecito, a specialty coffee shop located at 429 W. Main Street, opened its doors to the public in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. By Andrew Kuhn

NO. 3: SPECIALTY COFFEE SHOP OPENS IN MERCED, OFFERING UNIQUE FLAVORS AND WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE

The location offers a variety of house specials including coffees and teas. | Published March 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andrew Kuhn

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: PROJECT TO BUILD MORE THAN 50 UNITS OF HOUSING FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE IN MERCED

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday to kick off the project. | Published April 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andrew Kuhn

Merced Valley Food located at 1640 Yosemite Parkway inside the Merced Plaza in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. By Andrew Kuhn

NO. 6: MERCED GROCERY STORE OPENS FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY NEEDS, FAMILY FRIENDLY SERVICE

The store opened to the public on May 1. | Published June 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andrew Kuhn

Rite Aid says it plans to keep its 1,350 stores in 15 states open despite filing for bankruptcy again. By John Angelillo

NO. 7: RITE AID IS CLOSING MERCED-AREA STORE. WHEN, WHERE & WHAT HAPPENS TO PRESCRIPTIONS

The struggling pharmacy chain plans to shut down more than 470 stores across the United States. | Published June 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Fernanda Galan

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. 8: 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

The empty corner of West 16th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way on Monday, June 30, 2025. The location where a KFC restaurant once stood, will be transformed into the Downtown Grubs food truck plaza. By Andrew Kuhn

NO. 9: NEW DOWNTOWN MERCED FOOD TRUCK PLAZA AIMS TO REVIVE VACANT CORNER

Developers said the site will be able to accommodate 10 food trucks. | Published July 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andrew Kuhn

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.