{"id":279487,"date":"2026-04-22T01:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T01:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/279487\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T01:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T01:30:10","slug":"popular-fresno-eatery-fears-high-speed-rail-construction-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/279487\/","title":{"rendered":"Popular Fresno eatery fears High-Speed Rail construction impact"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chef Ian Cookson and his family have overcome multiple business struggles since their 2019 launch of Libelula<\/a>, the popular downtown eatery near Fresno and Broadway streets.<\/p>\n

They had to navigate the disruptions of the COVID pandemic a year after opening. Then, there was the damaged roof that caused rain to fall in its kitchen. Through it all, Libelula has cultivated a loyal base of customers who trek to downtown for its sriracha maple chicken sandwich and tater tots.<\/p>\n

But this year will bring Libelula\u2019s greatest test of resilience, yet.<\/p>\n

The giant state-owned lot across Broadway Street that provided parking space to Libelula\u2019s customers recently closed, resulting in a drop in sales. Now, the California High-Speed Rail Authority<\/a> has closed Fresno Street to turn it into an underpass for the future bullet train<\/a> \u2014 a construction project the agency expects to last more than one year.<\/p>\n

The rail authority says it\u2019s working to help Libelula, but Cookson fears the reduced parking and street closure could cause enough of a fall in traffic to put Libelula out of business. He said he was unprepared because he found out about the planned Fresno Street closure only a few weeks ago, when the rail authority told him it would hold an informational community meeting on the underpass project.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know what we\u2019re going to do,\u201d Cookson told The Fresno Bee on Monday, the first day of the street\u2019s closure.<\/p>\n

Known for its artistic interior and creative menu options, Libelula has been named downtown\u2019s best restaurant multiple times. After Cookson announced last week on social media that business was under threat from Fresno Street\u2019s closure, he said customers poured in to support the eatery. He\u2019s hoping the support will continue through the closure, which is expected to end in June 2027.<\/p>\n

Though it is already an underpass for the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, the rail authority has to build another bridge over Fresno Street for the future high-speed trains. It\u2019s also making several other improvements to Fresno Street that require its closure from F Street in Chinatown to Broadway Street in front of Libelula.<\/p>\n

The Fresno Street project follows the completion of underpasses on Tulare Street and Cesar Chavez Boulevard<\/a> (soon to be renamed Ventura Avenue) \u2014 both which took the agency multiple multiple years to finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not saying that\u2019s going to happen now, but what if it does?\u201d Cookson said.<\/p>\n

\"Ian Ian Cookson, co-owner of Libelula, says the impact road closures for high speed rail construction around his cafe could devastate his business, photographed Monday, April 20, 2026 in downtown Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com Will construction force Libelula to relocate?<\/p>\n

A statement from the rail authority says it and its construction contractor are working with Cookson and the owner of the Crest Threatre building, which the restaurant is located in. The agency has met with them in recent weeks to discuss help for the businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are working with the City of Fresno on several mitigation efforts, including increasing business signage to guide the public through the road closures to the affected businesses while we are under construction, to providing the property and business owners with additional information and resources that may be utilized to assist with any negative impacts to their business during construction,\u201d the rail authority said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Cookson said the agency has also offered to help him relocate Libelula, but he is not convinced any of the offerings will actually keep him in business in the long run.<\/p>\n

He said he will re-locate the restaurant if he has to, but noted the decision to open in its current downtown location was intentional.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to be a part of this community,\u201d he said of downtown.<\/p>\n

\"Ian Ian Cookson, co-owner of Libelula, says the impact road closures for high speed rail construction around his cafe will devastate his business, photographed Monday, April 20, 2026 in downtown Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com \u2018Heartwarming\u2019 support for Libelula<\/p>\n

Libelula last week posted a social media message<\/a> asking its customers to show up and support the restaurant through \u201cone of the hardest moments we\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are writing this with heavy hearts,\u201d the post said, \u201cbecause we are fighting to keep our doors open.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post called on community members to find new parking spaces along downtown streets and take the extra walk to eat at a local business.<\/p>\n

Cookson said the decision to make the post was difficult, but the community\u2019s response was strong and drove a sudden increase in sales.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs heartbreaking as this is, it was really heartwarming to see everybody come here and show support,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Cookson, who previously was executive chef at The Vineyard Restaurant & Bar in Madera, said Libelula is a passion project that has involved his whole family.<\/p>\n

He added that the restaurant will be extending its open hours to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"Ian Ian Cookson, co-owner of Libelula, says road closures for high speed rail construction around his cafe could kill his business, during an interview Monday, April 20, 2026 in downtown Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
\n Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Erik Galicia<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n

Erik is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, where he helped launch an effort to better meet the news needs of Spanish-speaking immigrants. Before that, he served as editor-in-chief of his community college student newspaper, Riverside City College Viewpoints, where he covered the impacts of the Salton Sea\u2019s decline on its adjacent farm worker communities in the Southern California desert. Erik\u2019s work is supported through the California Local News Fellowship program.\n <\/p>\n