It was once an iconic Fresno music venue. Here’s the plan for the Tower District spot now

When Full Circle Brewing Co. closed the doors on its Tower District taproom it was another blow to what, for decades, had been an iconic spot for Fresno music and nightlife.

The location — at 1426 Van Ness Avenue — had played host to numerous touring and local musicians, DJs and promoters, first as the Oly, then Club Fred and Audie’s Olympic Tavern, the latter of which closed in 2016.

The brewery took over the space in 2019 and ran it as Full Circle Olympic before closing permanently in May due to the pandemic.

The spot may not sit empty so long this time.

The Artist Tree, a cannabis-dispensary-meets-art-gallery with locations in Los Angeles and West Hollywood, has leased the building and applied for a retail license there, according to Courtney Caron, an attorney representing the company.

Along with its full range of cannabis products, the Artist Tree provides free gallery space as a way to promote the arts in the areas it serves. The company has a full-time curator to oversee rotating exhibits, which are offered without commission fees.

So, all money goes back to the artists.

“Their community benefit plan is built right into the model,” says Caron, a former Miss Fresno who graduated from San Joaquin College of Law before moving to Santa Monica, where she practices cannabis law.

“They want to display art that’s going to sell,” she says.

The venue would lose its iconic stage — once covered in thick blue shag carpet — but there will be a portable stage to allow for live music and events, Caron says. The exhibits would change every three to four months.

Caron remembers the venue when she was in college and says the Artist Tree’s business model is perfect for the space and the Tower District. Already the group has a team of community partners to help connect them with artists in the area and has been in touch with the Fresno Arts Council and Tower District Marketing Committee, which signed a letter in support of the business.

Competition for cannabis licenses

Of course, any plans are contingent on the business being awarded one of two retail cannabis license allocated for District One.

And there is competition.

Seventy-four applications were received for retail businesses across the city — 13 in District One alone. That includes one from the cannabis brand Lemonnade, which is looking to open inside the old Bank of America building off Wishon Avenue.

To that end, the Artist Tree also applied for a location inside District Two. It would take over the Mariner furniture spot at the Park Place shopping center at Palm and Nees avenues.

The city’s Office of Cannabis Oversight is now in phase two its review process, with licenses eventually awarded via a “detailed scoring rubric.” A full list of applicants, broken down by district, is available on the city’s website.

Licenses are expected to be award in May.

This story was originally published January 14, 2021 at 3:00 PM.