‘There’s no allure to downtown Fresno.’ Huge turnout for FresYes Fest proves otherwise
“Have you been to downtown Fresno after business hours??”
So began an email reply to a recent column about the Courtyard by Marriott proposed for the Fresno Convention Center — the one that looks like it was designed by East German architects from the 1950s.
And, yes, one question mark evidently didn’t suffice.
“Do you tell your friends let’s go to downtown Fresno and hangout?” the email continued. “No, I am guessing. There is no allure to going to downtown Fresno.”
If the writer is correct and downtown Fresno indeed has no allure, someone forgot to tell the estimated 21,000 people in attendance for Saturday’s FresYes Fest — the largest turnout in the event’s history.
Equally uninformed, apparently, were the 12,000-plus at Chukchansi Park for last week’s LigaMX friendly between Chivas de Guadalajara and Pumas UNAM.
Which only goes to show there are a whole bunch of people willing to visit downtown Fresno after business hours and on weekends, if they are given a reason to.
I’m guessing the emailer, a 60-year-old man who lives in Clovis and whose identity I’ll keep under wraps, wasn’t among them.
Too bad. He sure missed out on a fun party.
The annual FresYes Fest is a collaboration between Tioga Sequoia Brewing Co., one of downtown’s biggest stalwarts, and Fresno Street Eats, the local organization that creates food-centric events around Fresno and Clovis. Saturday marked the event’s return following two years of pandemic-forced cancellations.
The robust turnout — organizers handed out 20,000 wristbands to attendees over 21 who wanted to consume alcohol — even caught organizers by surprise.
“I was expecting way less,” Fresno Street Eats founder Mike Osegueda said.
The FresYes Fest stretched all the way from Tulare Street to Mono Street and also included sections of Chukchansi Park. Fulton Street itself was lined with food trucks and local vendors. The empty lot behind the stadium and across from Tioga Sequoia served as the main stage for musical acts.
Despite the crowds, everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves and, apparently, behaving themselves as well. No arrests were reported.
Based on my own observations, I’d say most of the adults in attendance were 35 and under and more than half, if not two-thirds, were Latino. That, folks, is Fresno. Young, vibrant, multicultural and proud of their city.
The only common complaint was the long lines for beer. Waited almost an hour in one before giving up. (For those like me with leftover beer tickets, Tioga Sequoia will honor them for two weeks.)
Downtown Fresno challenges remain
I’m not saying downtown Fresno doesn’t have a heap of challenges and headaches. Nearly five years after long-neglected Fulton Mall gave way to Fulton Street in October 2017, numerous empty storefronts and unoccupied high rises remain.
When Fulton Street reopened, nearly $5 million went to restoring and relocating 19 sculptures and fountains. Regrettably, three copper sculptures (that look really cool at night when lit up) were removed from their installations near the Kern Street entrance to Chukchansi Park and placed into storage after being repeatedly targeted by metal thieves. Per orders of Mayor Jerry Dyer and the former city manager, I’m told.
Another sculpture, this one made from brass, was literally sawed off by a would-be thief who then discovered it was too heavy to carry. It also remains in storage for safekeeping.
Sure would be nice if Fresno could actually display its public art rather than hide pieces out of sight for fear they’ll be stolen or vandalized. The city does have a police department, right?
Another thing I noticed (and was pointed out to me on social media) was the continued absence of the removable bollards purchased to close Fulton Street to cars for such events.
So while it’s great the 48 short metal poles purchased with $71,000 in public funds are no longer “missing,” putting them to their intended use would be even better.
Judging by the reaction whenever I write about downtown, there are still some who seem to enjoy deriding the place. Those folks are free to spend their time in shopping centers and strip malls. Goodness knows we have enough of them.
Just don’t tell me there’s no allure to Fresno’s urban core. Give people a reason to come downtown, and they will.
