USA, CA: Sequoia Brewing expanding to Visalia

The Mar building in downtown Visalia will be the site of a new Sequoia Brewing Co. Restaurant, The Business Journal reported on August, 28.

Developer Harvey May, who heads up a local investment group that owns the former Mar Building, said: “We think it will bring in the kind of business that will keep downtown exciting.”

May said a church currently operating in the building has plans to relocate. That will make room for several months of remodelling work that will start once all permits are in hand.

Brewery owner Scott Kendall said he and wife/co-owner Michele are excited about opening in downtown Visalia, adding “the whole vibe is so much better than I thought it would be.”

The Kendalls launched the company in 2003 in Fresno’s Tower District, purchasing the former out Butterfield Brewing Co. and changing the name. They later added a North Fresno location as well.

“The Tower location is still where all the beer is made,” Scott said.

“It’s sort of natural to be coming to Visalia with the Sequoia name attached,” Scott added. “We always had Visalia in mind.”

The craft beer movement is gaining steam, with craft production up 9.6 percent last year, compared to an overall drop in the production of beer of 1.4 percent.

“Our own experience in Fresno is that business has been growing steadily at 10 to 15 percent every year,” said Scott. He said that prompted the couple to open the Visalia location this year. There are also plans for a Santa Barbara taproom in the beginning of next year. Included in that plan is a 1,600-foot outdoor patio.

Besides offering their own beer in their restaurants, the Kendalls have a different partnership that sells beer at retail and grocery locations. In 2010 Kevin Cox, former Butterfields brew master, and the Kendalls went to downtown Fresno to bottle and retail selected Sequoia beers, a partnership now popularly known as Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co.

Scott said he is not worried about expanding to the Central Coast, or locking horns with other craft brews, like Paso Robles’ 805 brand owner Firestone. “We have a good competitive relationship, but it is always friendly,” Scott said.

29 August, 2014