Richard Stockle opened Richard's Prime Rib & Seafood on Belmont Ave. in downtown Fresno in the summer of 1969, and original plans called for a beer bar, a couple of pool tables and offered some gaming on the side. When expenses came to be too much during preparations, the entrepreneur decided to
… scratch the original plans and turn the establishment into a restaurant. Richard's became a Fresno hotspot for its juicy steaks and fresh seafood. In its early days the restaurant occupied only the bar side, which seats 40 comfortably. Five years later, Richard purchased the other side of the building, which used to be a bank. The restaurant’s capacity expanded to 115.Continued