Papi’s Mex Grill to Open Third Fresno Location at Bullard and West

Papi’s Mex Grill is moving into the former Casa Corona at the northeast corner of Bullard and West avenues in northwest Fresno, with owners aiming to open the restaurant before summer. The locally owned chain will remodel the interior, keep much of Papi’s signature menu and install a full bar, signaling more evening dining options for the neighborhood.

Owners Raul Gutierrez Jr. and Jovanie “Jo” Gutierrez, who also run Oak Hill Wine + Bistro in northeast Fresno, confirmed the Bullard and West site as the company’s third location. Papi’s operates other spots at Champlain Drive and Shepherd Avenue and at Riverwalk, the shopping center on Avenue 12 off Highway 41 just north of Fresno in Madera. The first Papi’s opened in 2012 at the site now occupied by Zaatar Bistro at Champlain and Shepherd, according to company history.

Gutierrez Jr. said, “It just felt like the right location for the right area.” He added that the new bar “might have a little bit more focus on classic cocktails as well,” and that “it will be like every other Papi’s.” Fresno Bee photos of the site were taken Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, showing construction and interior work under way.

The new Papi’s will carry the chain’s core menu, including its popular surf and turf burritos, described as made with shrimp and steak or chicken, smothered in cheese and Suiza sauce and served with rice and beans. Margaritas remain a focus: a file-photo caption notes that “Margaritas made with fresh lime juice are a popular favorite during happy hour at Papi’s Mex Grill,” and owners plan to serve classics and a spicy mango variation.

Casa Corona closed its Bullard and West location in December 2024, with the business declaring it was “not a victim of anything,” and saying the owners wanted more time to travel. Casa Corona’s other location at Cedar and Herndon avenues remains open, along with its sister concept Viva Be Bowl’d, described by the restaurant as “a quick-service eatery next door.”

For northwest Fresno, the Papi’s arrival reuses a vacant restaurant footprint and should generate short-term construction activity and longer-term hiring for front- and back-of-house staff. Adding a full bar can increase evening-hour sales and potentially boost local sales and liquor tax receipts, while also reshaping foot traffic patterns around Bullard and West. Locally owned restaurants such as Papi’s and Oak Hill Wine + Bistro represent retained, rather than outside, investment, which tends to circulate a larger share of revenue within the local economy.

What comes next is completion of the remodel, liquor-license and permitting steps, and a formal opening timeline from the Gutierrez owners. Residents can expect new late-afternoon and evening dining options at Bullard and West before summer, and local officials and neighboring businesses will likely monitor how the new Papi’s affects parking, traffic and late-night activity in the corridor.