Here's the breakdown, based on my original list.
1. Another brewery
"We were hoping for just a brewery but accidentally snagged a restaurant too," Blair says.
He's referring to the winner of the business plan competition, Sanger brewery House of Pendragon, which teamed up with Visalia's Pita Kabob on a collaborative gastropub. House of Pendragon will provide the beer and Pita Kabob will provide the food at this 7,000-square-foot space at Van Ness Boulevard and Inyo Street. The brewery/restaurant is scheduled to open in February.
My take: If the restaurant is anything like Pita Kabob's gastropub in Visalia, it could quickly become my new favorite spot.
2. Gym
A full-service gym is an obvious amenity for anyone who lives or works downtown.
Until now, it was also an untapped market.
There are three gyms planned for the area, Blair says, including Fitness 365 (scheduled to open in the new City View building on Van Ness Avenue), Xcelerate fitness (in the basement of the new Bitwise South Stadium building) and a possible Downtown Fitness Club (set in the the old YMCA building, which has been vacant since 2009). There is also the just-opened Heartbeat Boxing, even though it is not a traditional gym and might technically be outside downtown proper. It sits at Van Ness and Los Angeles Street.
My take: Getting these kind of amenities downtown is a direct reflection of the growth in residential density and a positive change in attitude about the area.
The Downtown Fresno Partnership is self-funded by property owners and advocates for changes to help revitalize the city's urban core.
3. Pizza place
"We keep searching for the perfect tenant mix that includes a pizza place or two," Blair says. It just hasn't happened yet.
In the mean time, Pita Kabob will have flatbread pizza.
Also, Zamore Pizza Truck is hiring and might be opening a new restaurant that could end up downtown. That's according to the pizza truck's Facebook page anyway, Blair says.
My take: I'll keep waiting for pizza place with a hang out vibe. As long as Diciccos delivers, I'll be fine.
4. Book store
Blair agrees that downtown would benefit from having a brick-and-mortar book shop. While there are no official announcements he knows of, he points out the Facebook and GoFundMe site for Fulton Booksellers, which appeared in September and got some people (myself included) excited with its pictures of a vast collection of books.
"Maybe there is something there," Blair says.
My take: Fresno can support a bookstore downtown. It's just a matter of time. For the doubters, keep this in mind: There are now three records stores in the Tower District. Who would have though that was possible even three years ago?
5. Art-house movie theater
I envisioned this as a full-time Fresno Filmworks in one of downtown's vacant theaters.
"All I can say is maybe next year," Blair says.
My take: It was last on my list because it is the least likely to happen.
Please know we really are working hard in downtown Fresno to fulfill your wish list.
Aaron Blair, President and CEO, downtown Fresno Partnership
While the score is two of five on the TeeHee challenge, Blair notes that there are plenty of businesses outside my list that are in various states of development. They include The Republican Bar and Bistro in the former Downtown Club; the Bitwise South Stadium project and with it Xcelerate fitness, a UPS store, Cafe Corazon and a new, expanded location for Mabel's Kitchen; the community general store Root, which opened next to Peeve's Public House last week; Workspace at the PSW Building; The Stacking Shed, where the sandwich shop Packing Shed used to be; Raw Fresno and the Tree of Life Café.
Joshua Tehee: 559-441-6479, @joshuatehee
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