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If you’re a long time Fresnan, chances are you have fond memories dating back to your childhood of enjoying weekend family outings and post-baseball season parties at Popolo’s Pizza. Popolo’s, known for their cozy booths, expansive salad bar, thick crust pizzas with cheese nearly as thick as the crust and crushed ice has nestled its way into the hearts of almost all local pizza lovers as a Fresno institution. Beyond their delicious pizzas, Popolo’s is also known for their friendly servers, famous dinner rolls, calzones, potato skins and ice cold draft beer selection.
The cozy booths of my childhood memories and beyond
I can smell the garlic-y croutons just looking at this picture
When I was growing up, Popolo’s (which some Fresnan’s pronounce as “Pop-a-lows” and others like my Italian family say as “Poh-poh-lows”) was located on the northeast corner of Shaw and Marks as well as the southwest corner of Blackstone and Herndon. The Shaw and Marks location closed when I was nearing my junior high years, after being the single most-chosen location by my family for Saturday night dinners with our grandparents for ages. Chevy’s and Harley’s later occupied the space, but no restaurant has had the staying power of Popolo’s in that location. The Blackstone and Herndon location had remained open, serving local customers for nearly 31 years, until an unexpected recent plumbing issue followed by a foundation problem forced the business to close for repair. After three weeks without a reopen in sight, the family behind Popolo’s decided it was time to make a move and secured an exciting new location in Park Place, located at Palm and Nees in the former Capo’s location.
Popolo’s owners, the Greene family, recently announced on their Facebook page that the new location would offer “a large banquet room, patio, arcade and a beer & wine bar” while continuing to serve their former delivery area and stretching beyond former boundaries to expand it.
Numerous long time Popolo’s customers have already begun messaging Popolo’s via Facebook in attempt to reserve their famous banquet space in their new location, as the pizza parlor has long been known as a great and affordable place to host a gathering in the Fresno area. In fact, discussion of hosting my own son’s post-season baseball party there is how I found out about the move and new location in the first place.
Popolo’s makes Fresno’s only party sized pizza, that serves an entire crowd!
Though the exact date has not yet been determined, the Greene family has shared that they anticipate a mid-June reopening in their new location, and currently, Popolo’s is hiring new employees to help bring the restaurant into its new era. To apply online, visit their webpage here.
Popolo’s thick crust and cheese are what cheat days were made for!
So how ‘bout it Fresnans? Can we band together and ensure Popolo’s and the Greene family feels our long-time love for their work as they re-open in Park Place in the coming weeks? Let’s be sure to show up to help the new location open with a bang and keep going back to ensure Popolo’s stays around at least 31 more years! Personally, I can’t wait to enjoy some pizza on their new patio!
{All photos included in this post are courtesy and property of Popolo’s Pizza and used with permission.}