Zamora's Carnitas, the family-owned Fresno restaurant known for its carnitas and traditional Mexican dishes since 2007, is working to open a second location at 228 S. 8th St. in Fowler. The family hopes to have the new spot running in about two weeks, though no exact opening date has been announced.
The Fowler restaurant will take over the building most recently home to Jocy's Mexican Restaurant, according to KMPH. Jocy's closed after 20 years of serving the Fowler community, with its final day of business falling on Sept. 18. Owner Beto Gomez said the Fresno restaurant has seen even more attention this year, particularly on social media, a surge in popularity that helped set the stage for the expansion.
A Recovery Years in the Making
The expansion comes after a rocky stretch for the business. In November 2022, a fire broke out in the kitchen of Zamora's Carnitas' original Fresno Street location and burned through the roof, forcing the restaurant to close. No injuries were reported. The restaurant, which Beto Gómez and his family opened in 2006, had 15 employees at the time, including Gómez and his relatives, according to the Fresno Bee.
The rebuilding effort focused on the restaurant's location at 850 N. Fresno St., and community support followed the setback. The Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation and Neighborhood Industries contributed $40,000 to help the Gómez family get back on their feet, per the same report. Zamora's Carnitas reopened in 2023 at its current location on Belmont Avenue, across from the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
A New Generation Drives the Buzz
Tito Gomez began helping the family business after graduating from Fresno State, and the station's report notes he introduced Zamora's Carnitas to a new generation of customers through social media. That online push has coincided with the restaurant's growing name recognition around Fresno, setting up the family's bet that the brand can succeed in a second city.
For now, the Fowler community waits on specifics. The family's timeline points to an opening in roughly two weeks, but as with any new restaurant buildout, a firm date has yet to be locked in.
