CITY EMPLOYEE ATTACK

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Some Asian food trucks featured at events at River Park were recently told they were no longer welcome.

The River Park Shopping Center, California Fresh Farmers Market Association, and Fresno Street Eats have announced a collaborative effort to review participants and their offerings at the River Park farmer’s market and other events.

The organizations emphasized their commitment to supporting the diverse cultural communities of the Central Valley and incubating small, local businesses.

“Such richness of culture and cuisine benefits us all,” they said, highlighting the importance of fostering loyalty to their brands and creating an environment where businesses can thrive.

The review aims to ensure that market participants complement the existing mix of tenants at River Park rather than compete with them.

“Our mutual goal is to find and highlight participants that complement the mix of tenants at River Park in a manner that is consistent with these values,” they said.

Following the review, some Asian food trucks that have been at the farmer’s markets in the past have been asked not to return.

Those trucks include Top It Ramen and El Jabalito.

Lin’s Restaurant Group, which has Asian restaurants at River Park, says it has nothing to do with the decision.

“We want to address the recent post regarding a supposed ban on Asian food vendors at River Park and clarify that Lin’s Restaurant Group and our affiliated restaurants—Spicy J’s, J-Pot, J-Tea, and O-iza—have no involvement in this decision and were not consulted on the matter. We are not aware of any such ban, and we have never raised any concerns or complaints about food vendors operating in the area. Any claims suggesting otherwise are completely false. As an Asian-owned business, we are proud to support the broader Asian community and stand with all local businesses working hard to share their food, culture, and passion with Fresno. Our focus remains on serving our guests and being a positive part of this vibrant and diverse dining scene,” said Lin’s Restaurant Group.

We wish all vendors and small businesses continued success and send our best to everyone navigating these challenges with heart and hard work.

This directive came from the Lance-Kashian & Company, which manages River Park Shopping Center.