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Beloved Neighborhood Pharmacy & Post Office Here to Stay – And now, with coffee!

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Natali Carrera
Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her teenage son, her husband of 19 years and shopping small & local. She is the founder & CEO of parent support non-profit Success Together, Inc. and has been a freelance content creator for FresYes.com for 7 years. Natali is an unrelenting cheerleader for and lifelong resident of Fresno, as well as a Fresno State grad.
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Allen and Lynn Taylor opened their northwest Fresno-based Bullard Pharmacy more than 50 years ago, and the combination neighborhood pharmacy, gift shop and postal counter has been a beloved staple for those in the area for just as long. The Taylors and their staff have always been known for their exceptional customer service, and many northwest Fresno residents go to the postal counter within the Bullard Pharmacy almost exclusively, thanks to their very helpful staff who will take the time to advise you on how to ship things economically and in the best possible packages.

Lynn and Allen Taylor, Bullard Pharmacy founders and beloved royalty as far as customer service goes!

Living near Bullard Pharmacy, I was one of many who has used their postal counter for almost all of my USPS needs for more than ten years now, and I was saddened to hear that the Taylors were planning to retire his past December and so far had not found a buyer for the store. The pharmacy portion of the business was sold, however the gift shop and postal counter remained with an uncertain future, as did their staff.

Along with so many others, I was thrilled to learn that Bullard Pharmacy had been purchased and would remain open complete with postal counter and the addition of a new highly sought-after feature – a Peet’s Coffee counter! Since early 2021, the store, now known as “The Post” has been undergoing remodeling inside, with a clearance of older merchandise and new displays featuring boutique and local goods taking their places.

The Post with its new signage located on the NW corner of Bullard and West

The postal counter moved from its smaller, former location along the store’s back wall to the larger and more open former pharmacy counter (a much needed shift too, as the holiday influx of packages would often leave the post office workers with little room to stand in the hours just before the postman came for his late afternoon pick up). Peet’s Coffee has now been setup in the former postal area and is expected to begin serving this month!

The new, expanded postal counter inside The Post
Peet’s Coffee Counter inside The Post, prepared to open this month!
Peet’s Coffee Menu

Whether you’ve been a long time customer who was concerned Bullard Pharmacy and its postal counter would close, or if you’ve never been but like to buy local, love a postal counter with great service or Peet’s Coffee, you’ll definitely want to stop by The Post soon! Keep up with all the changes as well as their awesome selection of incoming, ever-changing products via their Facebook page.

Meet the local police officer who balances career, family, and an amazing BBQ business

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Natali Carrera
Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her teenage son, her husband of 19 years and shopping small & local. She is the founder & CEO of parent support non-profit Success Together, Inc. and has been a freelance content creator for FresYes.com for 7 years. Natali is an unrelenting cheerleader for and lifelong resident of Fresno, as well as a Fresno State grad.
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Do you ever meet a business owner and think, “There’s got to be an interesting story behind this business”? I do. I love learning about the passion people have for what they do—especially when it comes to local, family-owned businesses.

Over the past couple of years, my family and I have crossed paths with a family whose children attend the same school as my son. I had a feeling their business story was an interesting one. My hunch was right.

If you like amazing barbecue, ribs, and homemade rubs and barbecue sauces that will knock your socks off, you’re going to want to learn more about Sheepdog BBQ. Read on, hungry friends, for my interview with John Banuelos, founder and owner of Sheepdog BBQ.

BBQ business

Meet local business owner John Banuelos of Sheepdog BBQ

FresYes: What made you want to start Sheepdog BBQ?

John Banuelos: It all began in 2008 when my wife and I were on vacation in Lake Tahoe. We attended a cooking class that was being offered at the resort we were staying at, and they taught us how to cook the “perfect” steak. The class planted a seed, which grew into a passion for me.

A few months later, I attended a training class that offered barbecue food as their lunch they prepared for us. They had a barbecue sauce which was excellent. I’d asked the caterer what brand the sauce was and they told me they made their own. It never occurred to me before that you can make your own barbecue sauce.

After that class, I went home and started putting some ingredients together to come up with my own homemade barbecue sauce. I had gone through about 15 different versions and finally came up with the one that I have today. I started to make it in small batches and would give it as gifts during the holidays. Everyone who had tried the barbecue sauce kept suggesting to me that I should sell it. At the time it didn’t interest me because I didn’t think of myself as a business person. I was just a cop.

In 2012, word got around on my shift about my barbecue sauce. People started asking me to bring them some the next time I made it, so I did. After a while I was making batch after batch and giving it away. I finally decided that I needed to stop making it for free and start making money from it. I sat down and began to break down the costs to make it and to see if it would be profitable. It took about six months to figure it out, and in September of 2013, I officially launched Sheepdog BBQ.

What was your first product?

My first products were my Smokin’ Sweet BBQ Sauce and Smokin’ Sweet BBQ rub. Both have the same flavor profile.

Okay, I have to know: Where did the name Sheepdog come from?

When I started the business, the term “sheepdog” was not very well known outside of the law enforcement arena. However, within it, the term sheepdog refers to people in law enforcement and military. Sheepdogs (law enforcement/military) protect the “sheep” (law-abiding citizens) from the wolves (non-law-abiding citizens).

So I knew naming my business this would appeal to the law enforcement community, while the non-law enforcement community would think it was just a cool sounding name because the term sheepdog also relates to the old cowboy days of herding sheep with actual sheepdogs, and what cowboys did to prepare food—barbecue!

You’ve just celebrated your fifth year in business. What is your product line like now?

A year after launch, I created my second barbecue seasoning, which was inspired by the cooking class that we’d taken in Lake Tahoe. Garlic Dog is an all-purpose seasoning, great for steak, chicken, and vegetables.

A year after that, in 2016, I created my third rub which was a Mexican-inspired seasoning. This rub goes great on carne asada, chicken, shrimp, and corn on the cob.

BBQ business

The current lineup of Sheepdog BBQ products

What are your most popular products, and do you have a personal favorite?

I always get asked which seasoning is most popular; honestly, they all seem to have their own amazing following. I wouldn’t say I have a favorite, but the one I use the most is the Smokin’ Sweet Rub. I use it on my tri-tip, ribs, and pulled pork.

So, in addition to being a law enforcement officer and making great barbecue sauces and seasonings, you also do catering?

Catering was never in the plans at first, but the more I cooked and the more I posted my food on social media, people became intrigued. I had friends ask if I could make food for them, so I did, then word of mouth got around and the catering branch of my company took off.

There are a lot of barbecue caterers here in Fresno. I will never say my food is better than someone else’s, but what separates my food is everything on my menu is flavored with my own products.

Being an LEO and owning a business has to be challenging. What makes both possible, and what advice do you have for others who have demanding jobs, but also really feel called to entrepreneurship?

I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur. I never set out to be one. I refer to myself as the “accidental entrepreneur.” I began my business for two reasons:

One, to have an outlet from my job. I’ve been a police officer for 15 1/2 years. The last 5 or so years have been tough for law enforcement. So, I needed something outside of the crazy cop world to occupy my mind. I have definitely done that (with Sheepdog BBQ). While I love my job, I try not to let it consume me like it started to, so I focus on my family and business.

Which brings me to the second reason I started Sheepdog BBQ: I wanted to build a family business, something my kids could grow into and maybe get involved with as they get older. Already, my oldest, Darren, loves to help me. He’ll go shopping for ingredients with me or watch as I prepare food. Even my youngest, Audrina, likes to peel labels for me so I can label my bottles of sauce.

It has been difficult at times, juggling a full-time job, side business, and raising a family, but it’s all about making time and working as a team. My wife is a huge help when it comes to promoting the business and keeping me organized.

You have a rib competition coming up. Tell us about that. Can the public attend/buy tickets?

I’ve learned there are two types of barbecuers: those who compete and those who cater. I love the catering aspect, and competitions are very intense. I’ve never competed before, but thought I’d give it a try.

I will be competing Saturday, Sept. 29, in the Rib Battle Royale at Full Circle Brewery. The event begins at 7 a.m. and rib turn-in is at 2 p.m. The event is open to the public, and I’m excited about this new adventure.

So, now that everyone who’s read this interview is drooling at the thought of amazing barbecue, where can we shop Sheepdog BBQ products and stay in the loop regarding products and services?

All of my products are available for sale through my website, www.sheepdogbbq.com, and you can also find me and my food on Facebook and Instagram.

…

(Image credit: Sheepdog BBQ)

Locally Owned RIDE54 Opens This Week and FresYes Takes It For a Spin

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FresYes Writing Team
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A new cycling studio opens this week, and thanks to its smart-thinking and customer-savvy Fresno owners, it will stand out from any cycling studio you’ve been to before.

Melissa Lev, a big fan of indoor cycling fitness classes (aka spin classes), and her husband, Layne, had long considered opening a local franchise of regional spin studios here in town. The Levs had headed pretty far down that path when they realized that a franchise would leave their business lacking something they felt their potential customers would value—strength training.

It was this customer-centric line of thinking that led to the couple creating their own brand of cycling studio, RIDE54, which officially opens its doors Thursday, Jan. 26.

RIDE54

RIDE54 is located next to Dave & Busters at Friant and 41

RIDE54

RIDE54 is family owned and built from the ground up by Layne and Melissa Lev

“Melissa loves cycling, and we both thought opening a studio in Fresno would be really great since we didn’t have any of the larger studios here in town,” said Layne, “But for the price, we felt it was important to offer something that allowed people to train in cardio and strength.”

In order to bring this dual approach to Fresno fitness enthusiasts, the Levs built a studio that includes both a state-of-the-art spin class equipped with theater-style rows of top-of-the-line spin cycles and customized studio lighting that changes with the music and workout phase, and a pristine TRX classroom just a few feet away. It comes as no surprise that the Levs paid great attention to design as they build their studio—Layne also founded Hundred10, a Fresno-based design and branding business that has successfully showcased numerous local businesses since 2007. (RIDE54’s website also is, of course, very cool.)

RIDE54

Rows of bikes await you in the spin classroom

RIDE54

TRX (which stands for Total-body Resistance Exercise) was invented by a Navy Seal and allows participants to work out using their own body weight as resistance. By utilizing the TRX resistance cable and band apparatus, and adjusting body positioning and movement, individuals with a variety of exercise experience can get a great strength-training workout that is appropriately challenging for their needs.

RIDE54

TRX training offers additional strength workout opportunities at RIDE54

RIDE54

Layne Lev shows me how the TRX apparatuses are easily adjusted and modified to meet each person’s needs

Prior to the studio’s grand opening, I had the opportunity to try a cycling class at RIDE54 along with other members of the FresYes team and, well… I still am unable to walk as I type this. I kid! I kid.

But seriously, it was a fantastic workout that really challenged me and even engaged my upper body more than I anticipated through the incorporation of hand weights and seated push-ups. The music helped me to stick it out when waves of exhaustion threatened to kick in, and by the end of the class, I had that great post-exercise high that leaves you feeling energized rather than worn out.

RIDE54

The FresYes team, post-spin class, nice and sweaty!

My experience with indoor cycling is limited, but based on what I saw, RIDE54 seems to really offer an exceptional program. Layne shared that he and Melissa worked hard to recruit the best of the best when it came to instructors, and their team has spent the last six months together every weekend perfecting their routines (on twenty spin bikes that were parked in the Levs’ dining room!).

If you’re interested in taking classes at RIDE54, pricing is flexible. You can either purchase classes individually or in groups and use them when your schedule allows or, if you prefer, you can sign up for an unlimited monthly or yearly membership.

New members can take advantage of discounted pricing on unlimited first weeks or months of classes, too. Also, there will be free, 30-minute fundamentals courses on Saturdays for those who are brand new to indoor cycling classes and would like to learn more about the methodology.

Learn More at RIDE54’s Open House

RIDE54 will host an open house this Thursday from 4-7 p.m. There will be food and drinks, and even a Lululemon Athletica trunk show, so if you’d like a chance to check out the studio and TRX classroom and learn more about classes, you should stop in.

For more information including class schedules, pricing, instructor info, and more, visit RIDE54’s website here.