Fresno-based Sierra Nut House announced Monday that its location near Fresno State open since 1969 will close. The Villaggio store will remain open. Instagram photo

The Sierra Nut House announced the closure of one of its two locations via Instagram on Monday.

The post announced that the store, located at the corner of Chestnut and Sierra avenues, will close its doors permanently this Friday, Jan. 19.

Sierra Nut House is owned by Joann Sorrenti, whose family has owned the land since the business opened in 1969. Originally located on the south side of Sierra Avenue, Sierra Nut House moved to its current location about four years after its opening.

“Her [Sorrenti’s] family owned all the land here and this little corner was the last little bit,” said Zoraida Morales, Sierra Nut House executive assistant/general manager. “She’s sold the property — the land, but the business itself isn’t closing. She does plan to keep the business going.”

Plans to open another Clovis location have been in the works for just under a year, according to Morales.

“We have a warehouse and we’re putting all of the stock in our warehouse – we can operate out of there until it’s warm – and then we have to find a place,” Sorrenti said. “I found a few places that are available in April, but I need more options.”

Sorrenti said that the produce that would require storage would only be able to remain in storage until the temperature begins to rise again.

Overall, sales have not been an issue, citing the success of their second location inside the Villaggio Shopping Center.

“We’re kind of the only ones in this little corner as opposed to the other store,” Morales said. “She’s looking in Old Town Clovis, so kind of the same idea of being around other shops.”

The Villaggio location will remain open.

Sierra Nut House opened with the hopes of selling nuts and dried fruits seasonally, but grew to become a year-round operation following the success of the business. After being founded at the family nut and fruit farm, Sierra Nut House quickly evolved and required their produce to be sourced, acquiring their produce from several local nut and fruit farms.

In 2019, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary.