A vacant building with no parking became a Fresno music staple. Fulton 55 is 15

There’s a tradition Tony Martin has at the start of each year, when he reads through a snapshot of the comments section of a story on Fulton 55, the downtown music venue he helped open back in 2011.

“‘I give them five months,’” says Martin, quoting a not-uncommon reaction from observers at the time.

Fifteen years later, the 500-capacity venue is a staple of Fresno’s music scene, both as a proving ground and home base for local acts and a viable stopover for mid-level bands touring California.

Just take a look at January’s event calendar, which includes a local rock showcase (Jan. 17) and fundraiser benefit (Jan. 24) along with shows from Los Angeles novelty band Metalachi (Jan. 16) and 311 frontman Nick Hexum, performing with his solo project (Jan. 31). There’s also a Cumbia Bass quinceañera dance party (Jan. 10) and the non-musical Extreme Dwarfanators Wrestling (Jan. 28).

“Some people do a birthday month,” Martin says.

“Every show in January is an anniversary party.”

That kicked off last week with Fresno ska legends Let’s Go Bowling.

The history of Fulton 55

During its run, the venue has hosted more than 2,000 shows and brought is some name acts like Los Lonely Boys and Los Lobos, the metal band Static X, bluesman Charlie Musselwhite, rapper KRS-One and the reggae band Highly Suspect, who had the No. 1 rock album in the country at the time, says Martin, who continues to book shows at the venue and serves as its general manager.

But, looking back, the naysayers could have been justified.

It wasn’t exactly a slam dunk of a business idea: gutting and retrofitting an office building that had been vacant for nearly two decades and was is an under-developed part of downtown, sandwiched between the Tower District and Fulton Mall.

This was years before the opening of the Fulton Mall to traffic and the development of the Brewery District. There were some residents in the burgeoning Cultural Arts District, just across Divisadero in fact at the Iron Bird Lofts.

But for the most part, there was no foot traffic or nightlife. Or parking.

That was a sticking point for neighbors (who feared the added congestion of cars) and potential patrons, who were unsure of how the place would function without a parking lot.

Some also worried about having a bar open and operating in the area.

But that was never the point, Martin says.

“We’re not a bar; we don’t have regulars,” he says. “We are a venue. That’s what we are and what we wanted to be.”

And the business is currently in the process of changing its liquor license to reflect as much.

The license, Type 90 as designated by the state’s department of Alcohol Beverage Control, was created in 2023 specially for music venues. It sets parameters on when liquor can be sold (two hours before and until one hour after a live performance) and also allows minors on the premises without food service (a requirement with other type of liquor licenses).

According to ABC, only two venues in Fresno (Tower Theatre and Sanctuary) have a Type 90 license, though other venues have licenses that also allow for all-age events.

The new license would allow Fulton 55 to host all ages and capture performers who might otherwise skip Fresno in their routing, Martin says.

“There are a lot of touring acts that want to play all-ages venues,” Martin says. “And a lot of those acts have bypassed us in the past because we couldn’t accommodate them.”

Fulton 55 could have the license sometime this year.

Future expansion downtown?

At the same time, Fulton 55 is looking to expand its brand.

Last month, developer Reza Assemi and Jaime Gonzalez announced plans to redevelop the historic Bekins building just off Highway 41. The project includes a partnership with Fulton 55.

Martin couldn’t share specific details or timelines yet, but the developers told The Bee they envision a space for music and entertainment on the building’s seventh floor.

It’s a jump from that opening night 2011, when violinist Patrick Contreras played in front of a sold-out crowd eager for something new downtown. Martin remembers sitting upstairs, in the days before that show and looking down at the crew at work installing the stage.

“I kind of knew from the word go,” he says.

“This is built to last.”

This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 11:03 AM.