Riverwalk: The Creative Side of Retail

February 28, 2021

Original thinking has always been a part of the 2,000-acre master-planned community of Riverstone, and the inventiveness and creativity are anticipated to continue at the developer’s next-door retail destination—Riverwalk.

Featuring a contemporary-agrarian design aesthetic accented by creative landscaping and water features, Riverwalk is planned to include condominiums, offices, restaurants, retail stores and a movie theater. Image is an artist’s rendition.

Offering a variety of popular stores, fast casual dining options and more, the upcoming Riverwalk retail destination will bring everyday conveniences close to home. Image is an artist’s rendition.

First-phase construction continues at the mixed-use lifestyle development, which is planned to comprise one million square feet of space and offer a one-of-a-kind, live-work-shop-dine-play dynamic unique to the North Fresno area. As the inspiration behind its name, a central river-like water element is planned to run through the heart of Riverwalk, providing a comfortable and beautifully landscaped setting open to sunshine and fresh air.

“We’ve always envisioned Riverwalk as becoming a great, big outdoor living room where people simply love spending time,” said Riverstone’s Tim Jones. “Nowadays more than ever, you might say the outdoors are in. By design, the outdoor-centric envisioning of Riverwalk will offer fresh air and open spaces that are naturally conducive to safe social distancing.”

Some of Riverwalk’s first retail tenants have already been announced. Coming soon will be the first Madera County location of Dutch Bros. Coffee, a much-loved brand with Oregon roots that serves specialty coffee drinks, smoothies, freezes, teas and more.

A new location of Papi’s Mex Grill is also slated for Riverwalk. A local favorite that has been serving authentic and delicious Mexican food in the Valley for nearly a decade, Papi’s focuses on grilled Mexican dishes like fajitas, seafood specialties and amazing tacos. Papi’s is also very well known for serving amazing margaritas with all-day happy hours on Sundays and Mondays.

Another hometown favorite—Judy’s Donuts—is also on its way to Riverwalk. The new location will offer its everyday collection of bars, twists, cakes, buttermilks, French crullers, classic glazed donuts and more. Judy’s is also known for its specialty creations ideal for birthdays and anniversaries—everything from its Panda and Pink Unicorn donuts to decadent berry-and-cream-stuffed croissants.

All three of the new retail tenants are sure to be popular with busy parents during school season at Riverstone’s brand-new Stone Creek Elementary school—which is right on track to open in time for the 2021 school year. Belonging to Madera’s #1 school district—Golden Valley Unified—the innovative 15.5-acre campus is planned to feature tech-forward 21^st century classrooms, a state-of-the-art Library/Media Center, a dedicated music room, outdoor learning spaces, an outdoor amphitheater and a dynamic sports complex.

Enrollment is now open for Stone Creek Elementary at Riverstone for the 2021 school year. To sign up and enroll, email Shellie at sroth@gvusd.org or call the GVUSD main office at 559-645-3570.

For those interested in making Riverwalk their new backyard, a very limited collection of above-retail condominiums will soon be offered. “We understand that some Valley homebuyers are attracted to the excitement and sociability of urban living,” continued Tim Jones, “and that’s the whole idea behind our Riverwalk condominium homes. For only a handful of fortunate owners, these contemporary, style-forward residences will offer a truly unique lifestyle within an engaging urban setting.” More details on this one-of-a-kind Riverwalk ownership opportunity will be announced later in the year.

Situated in the heart of the region’s path of growth, Riverstone—when complete—will total approximately 6,578 single-family, attached and multi-family homes. Amenities at Riverstone include walkable neighborhoods, parks and open space, a dog park, a sustainable water supply and The Lodge community clubhouse with resort-style swimming pools, a trainer-designed fitness center, demonstration kitchen, Gear Barn, outdoor gathering spaces with firepits, and ongoing monthly activities such as self-defense classes, book clubs, arts and crafts, specialty meal cooking classes and more. Future amenities are anticipated to include hiking and biking trails, a community farm and the on-site Stone Creek Elementary school belonging to the award-winning Golden Valley Unified School District.

For more information about the new-home community of Riverstone and its collections of new homes from Bonadelle Neighborhoods, Crown Homes, Lennar, Wathen Castanos Homes, Wilson Homes and Woodside Homes, homebuyers are encouraged to tour the builders’ Model Homes or visit the community’s website at www.RiverstoneCA.com and add their name to the Interest List.