Restrooms closed during Fresno mall renovations. You’ll have to go outside for now

A crappy situation is brewing at Fashion Fair Mall.

The two primary restroom areas at Fashion Fair are closed while undergoing renovations. And construction is not expected to be completed until late September or October.

So for at least the next four to six weeks, mall visitors who have to use the bathroom will need to go outside, where mall management has provided porta-potties.

Some porta-potties are by the food court. Others are on the eastern side of the mall where Forever 21 once was located. There are also restrooms inside the mall at the bigger stores, such as Macy’s.

Nonetheless, some customers who recently shopped at Fashion Fair were not very happy.

“We got the worst malls in the country,” Cinque Webb posted on social media. “Porta-potties all at Fashion Fair. SMH.”

Another recently wrote: “Fashion fair only having porta potty’s is so GROSSSSSS. And (they’re) in the SUN!

“I haven’t been here in forever and I’m never coming back.”

When reached over the phone to further discuss his restroom situation this weekend at Fashion Fair, Webb expressed frustration about walking to three different spots and “halfway across the mall” before locating porta-potties outside, near the food court area.

Webb said he was in the middle of doing back-to-school shopping at the mall when he realized he had to go. And so did his 12-year-old daughter.

“Man, first off, we’re trying to figure out where to go, because the restrooms are all closed,” Webb said. “Then we finally find these porta-potties outside. But we’re carrying all these bags from shopping.

“How are we supposed to use the restroom and hold our bags inside a porta-potty? And it’s the summer. It’s hot. It felt like the plastic was melting from inside that thing. For a mall that big and as many people who go shopping there, you can’t give us porta-potties.”

Webb said his daughter was so uncomfortable that she declined to use the restroom, despite previously expressing to her dad that she needed to go.

“It wasn’t quite filthy, but it was a mess inside,” Webb said. “Luckily for me, I just had to go No. 1. ... My daughter, she was just like ... ‘No, I’m good.’ And held it.”

Webb and others online questioned why the mall couldn’t provide higher-end, temporary restrooms — such as the trailer restroom setup used at Sierra Vista theater in Clovis a few years ago when its men’s restroom was out of order.

Or perhaps stagger the restroom renovations rather than close both of them at the same time.

When reached Monday, Fashion Fair management did not immediately respond to questions about the restroom situation.

Management did encourage patrons to use the restrooms located inside department stores and other retailers if they prefer indoor restrooms with air conditioning or need access to baby-changing stations.

The Fashion Fair mall restroom remodeling is part of a multi-year, phased renovation that eventually will feature upgrades for the Outdoor Village and center-wide improvements (hall walking areas of the mall).

Among the improvements to come include upgraded landscaping, modern seating area, enhanced lighting, new flooring and remodeled restrooms with contemporary finishes.

It’s the mall’s first restroom renovation since the 1980s.

Fashion Fair mall, of course, remains open throughout construction.

“This renovation is more than a facelift for the shopping center,” Fashion Fair General Manager Joey Elliott said in a news release last month to announce the construction. “It’s a reflection of our ongoing commitment to the Fresno community.

“We’re creating a space that’s not only beautiful, but also functional, inclusive, and full of energy.”

This story was originally published August 10, 2026 at 5:11 PM.