After 78 years of calling 138 S. Center St. home, the Turlock Journal will soon be moving — across the street.
The Turlock Journal and its sister paper The Ceres Courier (both part of MNC publishing) will be moving their offices to the second story of the F&M Bank building, located at 121 S. Center St. The half-a-block move is expected to be completed by Sept. 1.
“We are excited to be moving across the street to our new location. F&M Bank has been and will continue to be a great community partner as we move into their building. Our current site has served us well for many years but the move will allow us to set up an enclosed video and digital studio that we are really excited about. We will continue to maintain our focus as the most trusted local information source in Turlock, Ceres and all of the markets we serve,” said MNC publisher Hank Vander Veen.
While the move may only be a hop, skip and a jump from the Journal’s current location, it will mark the end of an era.
The Turlock Journal, under the brief ownership of Edward and Vera Frayne of New York, moved to the Hodges Building (138 S. Center St.) in 1941. Over the next seven decades, the Journal flourished at the location while seeing a number of new owners. In 2004, the building was sold to local businessman John Jaureguy, however, the Journal remained its chief tenant.
“TJ has been a great tenant and I wish them luck at their new location,” said Jaureguy.
The Journal has been located in the downtown Turlock area since its founding 115 years ago.
The first edition of the Turlock Journal hit the streets on Nov. 11, 1904. For the first two years, the Journal was published by brothers Harry and Jack Randolph in a one-story building on East Main Street owned by Horace Crane.
The Randolphs eventually built a wood frame building on First Street and that was the Journal’s home until 1941.
F&M Bank and the Journal collaborated on the build-out design for the new office space on the second floor of the Center Street location.
“F&M Bank is pleased to have the Turlock Journal in our building. The Journal represents our town and so many of the surrounding communities which we also have the opportunity to serve — we welcome the Journal,” said Gary Ericksen, F&M senior vice president and Turlock/Merced market manager.
Following the move, the Turlock Journal’s phone number will remain the same: 209-634-9141. The Journal’s mailing address will be: 121 S. Center St. 2nd Floor, Turlock, CA 95380.
The move is not expected to interrupt printing of any of the Journal’s regular publications.
