Local

Merced counts eight changes in local business scene

Stories by Merced Sun-Star journalists, with AI summarization

The articles all discuss important changes in Merced’s local business scene, highlighting both store closures and new openings. These shifts show how commerce in Merced adapts to new challenges and demands.

Big Lots and Rite Aid are closing locations in Merced due to broader company struggles. Barnes & Noble also closed earlier, raising concerns about vacant store fronts. The high-speed rail project will force the Merced Senior Community Center and Boys & Girls Club to move. Community leaders worry about continued services for residents by these groups. A restaurant closed after health officials found contaminated food had made customers sick.

At the same time, new businesses are arriving. Raising Cane’s, a chicken finger chain, will open in the location recently vacated by Big Lots. A Modesto-based food outlet, Twins Food Outlet, opened its first Merced store. Other upcoming openings include Chick-fil-A, Poki Bowl, and Sahara Coffee House. The local shopping center, now called Marketplace at Merced, has several new leases, including a sneaker shop and Boot Barn. A Hilton Garden Inn also prepares to launch. These openings aim to replace lost services and inject new life into Merced’s economy.

A large closing sign informs customers that the Big Lots location in Merced will be closing. Big Lots is closing 54 stores in California, including stores in Merced, Los Banos and Atwater. By Shawn Jansen

NO. 1: BIG LOTS TO CLOSE MANY CALIFORNIA STORES, INCLUDING THREE MERCED COUNTY LOCATIONS

A large closing sign hangs outside the Big Lots store in Merced, informing customers the store will be shuttering its doors. | Published July 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Shawn Jansen

Polly Spires (front right), 80, playsPinochle with her friends at the Merced Senior Community Center on Thursday Oct. 18, 2024. She visits the center three times a week to socialize with people in her age group. “I live alone. It’s the only time I get to talk to anyone,” Spires said. The senior center is facing displacement when construction of the high-speed rail begins in Merced in 2026.

NO. 2: FUTURE HIGH-SPEED RAIL NIXES TWO MERCED COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTERS. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The city’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Merced County secured construction of the McCombs Youth Center. Now, they are being asked to move. | Published October 24, 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. 3: 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

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. 4: 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

A view of the Merced Theatre in downtown Merced, Calif. By Andrew Kuhn

NO. 5: NEW STORES, RESTAURANTS ARE OPENING IN MERCED. SEE 7 BUSINESSES COMING TO TOWN

From Chick-fil-A to Five Below, here are a few of the popular brands opening Merced locations. | Published May 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Angela Rodriguez

NO. 6: HEALTH OFFICIALS SHUT DOWN RESTAURANT AFTER CUSTOMERS GOT SICK, POLICE SAY

Findings include a controlled substance in foods. | Published May 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Galaviz

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

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

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.