The Chinatown Fresno Foundation has a new space to help accelerate business startups on their road to success. And the foundation Tuesday will cut the ribbon on two startups’ new homes, where they’ve covered six months’ worth of rent and utilities for the businesses.

The Chinatown Fresno Foundation will debut the new Pop-Up Place storefront at 1029 F St. for clothing store Vintage Drip and Judging by the Cover: A Bookstore

The foundation covered six months’ rent and utilities in hopes the business owners can establish themselves and eventually find a permanent home, said Monica Valero, business development director with the foundation.

The foundation will assess the program after the six-month period to see if they will continue it, Valero said.

“They’re going to begin a journey that not only will bring success to their ideas, but ideally, we want them to expand possibilities for established microenterprises here in Chinatown,” Valero said. “We want them to foster entrepreneurship, community engagement and strategic planning. All in all, the initiative is just to generate success, cultural richness for job growth, a sound economy, and improve quality of life for Chinatown.”

Pop-Ups, Chinatown’s Symbiotic Relationship

Vintage Drip sells retro apparel from t-shirts to jeans, shoes, and hats. Co-owner Rick Gonzalez also owns TNT Collectibles and Blue Shell Gaming, both in northwest Fresno. Vintage Drip operated out of TNT before finding its new home at the Pop-Up Place.

For Gonzalez’ business partner, Leo Castillo, Vintage Drip is his first business.

Finding a new home in Chinatown not only means getting to test out the business venture, but also help bringing traffic to Chinatown, Gonzalez said.

“We got this opportunity to move over to Chinatown with their new project and open up in a bigger space there,” Gonzalez said. “Originally, we were going to do a 10-by-10 square space like we did at the other place, but this is a better opportunity, different kind of area to bring life back to Chinatown.”

The foundation sought two-fold results from their Pop-Up Place program. The six-month program would not only help support small businesses, but also help further interest in the historic area, Valero said.

“The main goal of the Pop-Up Place is to allow those businesses to possibly open up a storefront or store space here in Chinatown to bring in a new clientele, a new set of foot traffic just to bring in customers into this community,” Valero said.

While the foundation will cover rent and utilities, they require business owners be open Tuesday through Saturday.

Alongside Vintage Drip, LGBT-friendly Judging by the Cover: A Bookstore will occupy space at the Pop-Up Place.

Attempts to reach the owner were unsuccessful, but Judging By the Cover has had pop ups at Tioga Sequoia Brewing Co., the Fresno Rainbow Pride Festival, and Fashion Fair, according to their Facebook account.

Gonzalez Says Vintage Mall in Chinatown Could Fit the Aesthetic

Gonzalez hopes to eventually buy or lease a building in Chinatown. He loves the area and its aesthetic, but recognizes it still needs community support. The 57-unit Monarch @ Chinatown, an affordable housing complex, opened in March 2023, bringing more people and families to the area.

Gonzalez says the vintage mall aspect with stores like his and the bookstore could bring uniqueness to the area. He says events such as Art Hop or night markets can drive traffic. And combined with an extra security push from the city, the area could flourish.

“I think for the community, it makes sense,” Gonzalez said.