Sequoia Brewing Company, a popular Tower District brewpub, will resurrect on Halloween after months of closure.

The new ownership group of Sequoia Brewing Company announced it will reopen Oct. 31. The iconic brew pub has been closed since mid-February.

“Under prior ownership, it was mismanaged, and they had a cash shortage,” said Ian Wieland, an attorney and member of the new ownership group. “We stepped in. I mean, we were shocked to find out what happened.”

Jeremy and Allison Richtel Smith had owned Sequoia Brewing Company since 2000.

The new group paid off debts left by the previous owners, including late lease payments, taxes, and penalties, totaling at least $982,802, according to city documents.

The restaurant had the right to purchase its 777 E. Olive Ave. location under a contract with the building’s former owners, which also included the Tower Theatre.

The Fresno City Council purchased the Tower Theatre and the restaurant building in 2022. On Thursday, the council voted 7-0 to approve the transfer of the restaurant’s lease from the previous owners to the new group.

“If the Tower Theatre is the heart of the Tower, Sequoia Brewing is the soul,” said Councilmember Annalisa Perea, who represents the area.

She said saving the restaurant marked a milestone for the city.

Familiar Beers and Staff Returning

Wieland said his group is taking over payments to own the building.

“It’s an older building. There are a lot of improvements that need to be made, including to the roof,” Wieland said. “We’re excited. It’s a historic location. The employees, customers and neighbors are ready for us to open tomorrow.”

The group also took over the north Fresno location, which reopened earlier this month. A third location in Visalia does not yet have a reopening date.

The Tower District location plans to rehire about 30 of its former employees, roughly 80%. Some transferred to the north Fresno site after the closure.

One returning employee is brewmaster Andrew Ford.

“He’s someone who has worked there for more than 20 years,” Wieland said. “He started in the back of the house as a busboy, learned how to brew and worked his way up.”

Wieland said customers can expect new beers along with old favorites such as the red IPA.

Hours for the Tower District location will be 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

The New Ownership Group

Wieland joins familiar names in Fresno business: Scott Miller, Will Oliver, Bill Avakian and Joe Doerr.

Miller is president and CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. He also owns or manages Goldstein’s Mortuary & Delicatessen and Howlin’ Wolf — both in the Tower District — as well as the beer garden at Gazebo Gardens.

Oliver is president and CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corp. Avakian works in insurance, and Doerr, like Wieland, is an attorney.

“First and foremost, we’re customers, and we love the brand,” Wieland said. “We’re all Fresno guys, and we just really want to see this turn around and come back. Both locations were staples in their neighborhoods and a big part of the scene in Fresno.”