Nightlife in Downtown Fresno Suffers Another Big Loss

02/03/2007 (KFSN) -- A local landmark is closing down and the owners are relocating to Idaho. The Hofbrau owners have joined a growing list of those who have given up on downtown Fresno. They say it's not something they want to do, but a lack of business, a lawsuit, and the lure offered by another state made saying goodbye to downtown Fresno a good business move.

The last day of business brought a big crowd of mostly regulars. Bill and Roxanne Wagner are the last in a long line of owners. Bill says they didn't really want to close the place down. "We're sad about the situation. When I bought it back in 99, we bought it with the anticipation of you know having a kind of landmark restaurant and we wanted to continue it, but economically it just wasn't feasible for us."

Wagner says lunch business was good, but the loss of basketball and hockey at Selland Arena took away what little nightlife there is in downtown Fresno. He says, "Downtown after 5:30, 6:00 o' clock there's just nobody downtown and it's very difficult."

Another complication, the restaurant had to settle an expensive lawsuit over a lack of access for the handicapped.

"And you know for mr. Wagner, it was gonna cost him literally tens of thousands of dollars to defend the lawsuit."

But at the same time, the Wagners got an offer they couldn't refuse. Business recruiters from the city of Couer de Alene, Idaho stopped here for lunch one day, then offered to help the business relocate to their city.

"It 's kind of nice to know, refreshing there are states and cities that still welcome and appreciate small business, " says Wagner

The loss of the Hofbrau follows the recent shutdown of Fagan's Irish Pub, leaving even less to do in downtown.

And Despite pledges by the city of Fresno to revitalize the area, many downtown merchants say things aren't going in the right direction.

But the Downtown Association says other restaurants are coming, and eventual residential development will help. But right now...it s goodbye to one more downtown landmark.

The new owners of this building won't say what's ahead, but there aren't plans for a restaurant here.

If you want a piece of Fresno history, the fixtures inside the Old Fresno will soon be sold at auction. Now, it's important to tell you if you liked the old Fresno Hoffbrau, the Silver Ddollar Hoffbrau at Shaw and 41 is still going strong.

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•