Fresno City Council Approves Lease for Café in Historic Water Tower

The Fresno City Council unanimously approved a lease for Frida Café to operate in the historic Water Tower in Downtown Fresno on June 4. The water tower has been a landmark for over 130 years.

The city’s work on the water tower is complete. Frida Café owner Albee Sanchez is now working to restore the interior of the space, with plans to open the café this fall.

Sanchez said construction costs have increased significantly since the project began. “From the time that we first got a quote for this build out, it has gone up almost four times,” Sanchez said. The café had to close its Fulton location while working on the water tower site.

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The local coffee shop has launched a fundraising campaign to complete the interior work. The shop is seeking community donations through its social media channels.

The Breakdown

• The Fresno City Council voted unanimously on June 4 to approve Frida Café’s lease of the historic water tower space
• The city has finished its work on the 130-year-old structure
• Frida Café must now complete interior restoration work before opening
• Construction costs have risen nearly four times from initial estimates
• The café plans to open in the water tower location this fall

What This Means for You

Downtown Fresno residents and visitors will have access to a new café in a restored historic landmark once the interior work is complete, though the timeline depends on fundraising success.