Despite issuing stern warnings in November, Fresno has not moved to evict the nonprofit managing the Granite Park sports complex.

The Central Valley Community Sports Foundation remains in charge of operations, but declining customer turnout has hurt the nonprofit. Nearby businesses in the surrounding retail and office park are also feeling the impact.

Terance Frazier, president and CEO of the foundation, blames the city’s threats for hindering his business and contributing to the closure of Yosemite Falls Cafe.

GV Wire news partner KMPH Fox 26 reported last week that the longtime Granite Park restaurant, Yosemite Falls Cafe, has closed.

The station previously reported last year about substantial increases in the restaurant’s PG&E bills, which added to its financial struggles.

“The retaliation from the City of Fresno administration has significantly diminished park usage. Additionally, Club One Casino continues to block parking for patrons, leading to considerable revenue losses for Granite Park and local restaurants during a critical time. This could’ve been a factor why Yosemite Falls just closed,” Frazier told GV Wire.

Frazier said that several softball tournaments went to other locations because of the bad publicity meaning less traffic at Granite Park for the restaurant.

Joseph Perales with Yosemite Falls declined to comment when reached by GV Wire. On a note left at the front door of the Granite Park location, owner Manny Perales said “the owners have decided to down size and operate only two locations; (I personally retired).”

Manny Perales said he intends to sell the Granite Park location “and give the new owners an opportunity to showcase this beautiful property with a fresh new concept.”

CVCSF Legal Battle With Fresno

The parent company of Club One, Fresno, and CVCSF city are engaged in a lawsuit over parking spaces.

Last October, a judge blocked a preliminary injunction to ban CVCSF from using spaces controlled by the casino. The regular lawsuit is scheduled to resume Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Frazier said that businesses are struggling because of increased business costs.

“Despite this, the city persists in its negative actions against me and the nonprofit. The city should prioritize the well-being of its citizens and taxpayers instead of engaging in these counterproductive tactics against local businesses,” Frazier said.

Kyle Kirkland, owner and president of Club One, denied the parking issue had anything to do with Yosemite Falls’ problems. He said they supported the restaurant with shared surveillance cameras, and parking when sports complex events “swarm the parking lots.”

“I’m not (sure) why Yosemite Falls is closing, but we always have had a very nice relationship with them,” Kirkland said.

The eviction, business problems between Frazier and his neighbors, and public finger pointing is the latest in a years-long saga between the parties.

City Threatens Eviction Over Bills, Profit Sharing on Billboard

Fresno City Manager Georgeanne White told GV Wire in late December there is “no update” on eviction proceedings for the nonprofit managing Granite Park. The city has declined to elaborate on the matter or respond to allegations made by Frazier despite multiple requests for comment.

The city issued CVCSF a termination notice on Nov. 6, demanding the nonprofit vacate the Granite Park sports complex within three days. The letter warned that failure to comply would result in legal action. However, the city said at the time that eviction proceedings could not begin until Dec. 6, citing a required 30-day notice to the company that loaned funds to CVCSF.

White previously stated the city was unwilling to continue covering CVCSF’s unpaid utility bills, claiming Fresno had already paid $1.3 million for past-due PG&E, water, and sewer charges, as well as lost billboard revenue. The nonprofit disputed the claims, arguing the bills were not technically late and asserting the city was not obligated to make payments on its behalf.

At a November news conference, Frazier defiantly rejected the city’s demands, stating, “Hell no!” when asked if he would leave the complex. CVCSF signed a 25-year lease to operate Granite Park in 2015.

Frazier also has an ongoing federal civil rights lawsuit against the city, with the next court date scheduled for March. He alleges the city’s premature release of a 2018 audit on the sports complex’s financial transactions caused significant damage to his operations.