EXPO Events & Tents, a Fresno based event rental company, has informed more than a dozen of their customers that they will absorb the cost of the tent rentals until they are permitted to return to in-person dining in late December or early January.

Pismo’s, Harris Ranch, Max’s, Heirloom Eats, and Yosemite Ranch are just some of the restaurants that will benefit.

“The pandemic has crushed a lot of companies, and EXPO isn’t any different. We’ve all suffered. But giving back – even in the hardest times – is what makes EXPO and stand out company,” said company spokesperson Peter DeYoung.

Temporary Restaurant Space

Expo Events currently has more than 32,000 feet of temporary restaurant space in place, the company said.

Under California’s regional stay-at-home order, restaurants in Fresno and 11 other Central Valle counties are prohibited from offering in-person dining — inside or outside – until Dec. 27 at the earliest.

The order went into effect in the 12-county San Joaquin Valley region on Dec. 6.  when hospital intensive care capacity fell below 15%. Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the new restrictions in an effort to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients as COVID-19 cases soar across the state.

Across Fresno County, more people are hospitalized with the virus in December than at any other time during the pandemic.

In a news release, Expo’s president Mario Viramontes said, “We are always there for our customers, in good time and bad. We treat our customers like we would treat our own family, with compassion and great care”.