A popular Fresno dinner spot that closed earlier this year appears ready to open soon — with local business owners leaders backing the homegrown chain.

A new liquor license hangs in the window of Sequoia Brewing Co. in the Tower District with the business name Second Growth Brewing, LLC attached.

A look at the California Alcoholic Beverage Control shows Second Growth in possession of the liquor license for the location at Champlain and Perrin avenues, too.

The ABC did not have a new license listed for the Visalia location.

The names behind Second Growth?

Attorneys Ian Wieland, Joseph Doerr, business owner William Avakian, Fresno Economic Development Corp. CEO Will Oliver, and Gazebo Gardens owner Scott Miller.

Miller, who leads the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, is a co-owner of other popular Tower District spots Howlin’ Wolf and Goldstein’s Mortuary and Delicatessen.

Miller did not have a comment for GV Wire except to say that they don’t have an opening date, but hope to have one soon.

Related Story: Fresno Chain Sequoia Brewing Closing All Three Restaurants

Busy Restaurant Closed Suddenly in February

With little notice, the owners of Sequoia Brewing Co. shut all three locations of the popular dinner chain in February. Former employees and a source familiar to the matter told GV Wire that  mismanagement plagued the often busy brewery and eatery.

Owners Jeremy Smith and Allison Richtel Smith bought the chain from long-time owners Michele and Craig Kendall in 2020.

The Kendalls turned it into the Sequoia Brewing many are familiar with today, rebranding it from Butterfields.

The restaurants often had live music to go with the dinner fare and drink menu.