Fresno Bookstore Seeks Community Aid for Move and Remodel

Judging by the Cover bookstore is leaving its Chinatown location for a more accessible and affordable space.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Judging by the Cover, a Fresno bookstore focused on promoting Bipoc and queer stories as well as local authors, is moving from its current location in the Chinatown area to a new space through a partnership with the South Tower Community Land Trust. To cover the costs of the move and necessary renovations, the bookstore has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser and is asking the community for support.

Why it matters

The move will allow Judging by the Cover to operate in a more accessible and affordable location, furthering its mission of highlighting diverse stories and supporting the local community. The bookstore's previous location in Fresno's Chinatown area helped promote literacy and awareness of the neighborhood, and the new partnership demonstrates the importance of community-driven initiatives in sustaining small businesses.

The details

Judging by the Cover bookstore has been operating out of the F Street Plaza Mini Mall in Fresno's Chinatown for just over a year, after initially starting as an online business and then doing pop-up events. The bookstore's co-owner, Ashley Mireles-Guerrero, says the new opportunity through the South Tower Community Land Trust will allow them to reopen in a different, more accessible location. To cover the costs of the move and necessary renovations, the bookstore has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser, as Mireles-Guerrero notes they don't have the typical financial resources available to small business owners, such as 401(k) funds or home equity loans.

  • Judging by the Cover has been operating out of the F Street Plaza Mini Mall in Fresno's Chinatown for just over a year.
  • The bookstore's current Chinatown location will remain open through the month of April.

The players

Judging by the Cover

A Fresno bookstore focused on promoting Bipoc and queer stories as well as local authors.

Ashley Mireles-Guerrero

The co-owner of Judging by the Cover bookstore.

South Tower Community Land Trust

A community organization that has partnered with Judging by the Cover to provide the bookstore with a new, more accessible and affordable location.

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What they’re saying

“We love the idea of making things more accessible, more affordable, and so we signed on to move into the new space.”

— Ashley Mireles-Guerrero, Co-Owner, Judging by the Cover (yourcentralvalley.com)

“The fundraiser is going to make the difference between us moving and it hurting for a while, or us moving and it going very smoothly on day one.”

— Ashley Mireles-Guerrero, Co-Owner, Judging by the Cover (yourcentralvalley.com)

What’s next

Judging by the Cover's current Chinatown location will remain open through the month of April, after which the bookstore will move to its new space through the partnership with the South Tower Community Land Trust.

The takeaway

Judging by the Cover's move demonstrates the importance of community support and partnerships in helping small businesses, like independent bookstores, overcome the challenges of rising costs and finding affordable locations. The bookstore's focus on diverse stories and local authors also highlights the vital role these businesses play in fostering literary and cultural diversity within a community.