Sequoia Brewing Co. has reopened its North Fresno location under new ownership by Second Growth Brewing LLC, following a closure earlier this year. The reopening event on October 10 at 1188 E. Champlain Dr., Ste 107, was attended by local politicians, dignitaries, and community members.
Scott Miller, part-owner of Sequoia Brewing Co., addressed the crowd at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We’ve been working for a long time to make this day happen,” Miller said. “Second growth is when a forest burns down and grows back from its roots even stronger.” He added that Sequoia Brewing is deeply connected to Fresno’s identity: “Certainly, that’s what Sequoia Brewing has been to us all.”
Miller also serves as president and CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and owns Gazebo Gardens as well as being part owner of Howlin’ Wolf in the Tower District.
The brewery traces its origins to 1989 with Butterfield Brewing, founded by Kevin Cox and Jeff Wolpert. It was rebranded as Sequoia Brewing Co. in 2000 after being acquired by Scott and Michelle Kendall, who expanded it into a staple of the Tower District before opening the North Fresno location in 2005. In 2020, Jeremy and Allison Smith took over until the recent closure.
Miller recounted learning about the shutdown while abroad: he was in Vietnam when his phone alerted him to the news, prompting immediate efforts to rally support for saving Sequoia Brewing.
Will Oliver, another part-owner and president CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corp., highlighted staff continuity during the transition: “We actually brought back our two managers and brewmaster a couple months ago to get things going and get the place prepared for reopening,” Oliver said. “I think it’s very, very meaningful to be able to return a lot of our team members to continue on with Sequoia Brewing Company.”
Other partners include attorneys Ian Wieland and Joseph Doerr along with businessman Bill Avakian.
The reopening features four new beers—a pale ale, a lager, and two IPAs—alongside established favorites. One lager bears the name “Don’t F%@k With Fresno,” inspired by a remark from City Councilmember Nick Richardson during a press conference related to federal funding issues for Fresno. Richardson commented at Friday’s event: “I don’t think I’ve ever inspired a beer before.”
Oliver noted that brewmaster Andrew Ford will play an important role in shaping future offerings: “We’re really excited to start with four brand-new beers that we’re launching today, and then we’re also beginning to brew our core beers as well,” he said.
With North Fresno now open again, attention turns toward reopening their Tower District site once renovations are complete. The Visalia location remains closed for now; Miller indicated they may seek out another site there but are currently focused on operations within Fresno.
