Fresno Country Waffles location has new owners with fresh ideas

Fresno breakfast staple Country Waffles on Shaw and Marks avenues has changed owners after almost 30 years of operations.

Handed off around early June, the restaurant at 3050 W. Shaw Ave. is now led by the partnership of Pinki Rani with fiance Robert Sharma, Sunil Gandrathi and Kamesh Malla.

Rani has a background in the industry after working in restaurants in New Delhi, India, prior to her move to the states. She has always dreamed of owning her own business and jumped at the opportunity to step up to the plate.

She and Sharma are becoming the new faces of the location, working in front of customers alongside their staff.

“Sometimes changes are good for business or anything, you know,” Sharma said. “My main goal is whatever we put our focus on, whatever we put to paper, is reachable and make it a success.”

Their list of ideas for the restaurant include Monday-through-Friday lunch specials, after-hours take out/delivery, ice cream and fresh baked goods. Some of these changes have already been implemented by increasing operating time by two hours.

Country Waffles, which has been an icon of Fresno’s food scene for decades, isn’t leaving. According to corporate representative Kelly Allred, this is a “revamp” of the restaurant’s image.

“it’s still the same,” she said. “ Only better.”