This Fresno brewery’s expanding to Merced, into the historic building sharing its name

After 12 years of building its brand in downtown Fresno, Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company is expanding into another Valley city’s downtown.

The brewery announced on Friday it will open in Merced later this summer.

“We get asked all the time about when and where we are going to build a second location,” the brewery’s president Michael Cruz said in a news release. “We have found a city that we feel has tremendous potential, like values, passion for community, a university on the rise and a downtown that is in its beginning stages of revitalization.”

They also found a location that has obvious benefits to the company’s branding.

The new brewery/tap room will be part of the revitalized Hotel Tioga. The 73,670-square-foot apartment building on N St. was built in 1928 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Renamed as simply The Tioga, the building is one of several ongoing renovation projects in downtown Merced, along with the the Mainzer Theater.

Along with its core product — Half Dome, General Sherman and 99 Golden Ale — the brewery will create beers exclusive to the Merced location.

It will also look to build entertainment and nightlife in the area.

At its Fresno location, the brewery has served as a catalyst for growth and entertainment on the southern boundary of Fulton Street. It is home to the annual FresYes Fest block party and hosts other monthly events (Fresno Street Eats) and live concerts (Gwar, for example).

“My team and I thrive on growing with and embracing our community and I’m proud to say downtown Merced is where we’d like to call our second home,” Cruz said.

This is the second company to expand from downtown Fresno and into downtown Merced.

In December, the tech hub Bitwise announced it would open an 8,000 square foot workspace on M St. It is expected to open early next year.

This story was originally published February 7, 2020 at 1:42 PM with the headline "This Fresno brewery’s expanding to Merced, into the historic building sharing its name."