where Barnes & Noble, Ca Pizza Factory & the Elephant Bar are located

more stuff in the back, Koffeheads used to have a locale until it went under

It doesn't seem like it's being torn down. After watching the Old Fresno Hofbrau be torn down and removed from site in about a day and a half, it seems if it was being town down they could have easily done it by now. Granted this building is in a busier area and it is a two story building.

Still holding out hope that it's just being renovated.

Thanks for the history on the building Joe.

Another side note, in reference to a post by Joe on mindhub, I couldn't believe the difference lighting made on that old Ford Building in Detroit.

John Tutelian developed (or started developing) Civic Center Square. Cliff is his son.

I just went by to look at the building after work. I don't think it's being torn down. Looks like it's being gutted right down to the frame. I could be wrong though.

Is he part of Civic Center Square?

The roof did not collapse due to fire which is what I had originally thought, but was due to only neglect. It is an eyesore for sure. It would be nice if Cliff Tutelian would do something with it. It does look like something has recently been started but I am not sure what: repair or tear down

I did some more searches, and came up with the following:
-It was built around 1923/1924, and was known as the Droge Building.
-The first major tennant was the California Fig and Peach Growers Association.
-A lot of government offices were located there from the 1930's thru the 1950's, including the WPA, the Fresno County Welfare office, the Bureau of Reclamation, the VA, etc.
-In 1944, Kroesen Manufacturing Company opened up, making uniforms there for the US Navy.
-The Growers and Shippers Association had their private club there, which was a front for illegal gambling, and then finally, at least for a while, a legal cardroom.
-After Saris moved out, by 1977 it was an adult bookstore.

I'm not sure what the status of the construction is. I know that the building has literally had no roof for some time. (see above)

The address is 802 Van Ness. Bill McEwen wrote a while ago that it had been a pool hall called Dino's Sports Center. He also reported a few weeks ago that it's currently owned by Cliff Tutelian.

In the early 1960s' it was a place called Saris Pink Cloud, a niteclub and smograsborg, they had jazz and latin music. It was owned by Frank and Verna Saris. Before that it was known as "Hamburger Heaven" which opened there in 1954.

In 1964 the building was remodeled with the white rock walls on the first floor. It was still Sari's Cocktail Lounge at that point. The remodel cost $20,000, and thee building was owned by Mr. Lawrence Droge. I've found an old photo, and the sign said "Mr. Steak" on the Van Ness side.

In 1958 the 2nd floor was occupied by the Growers and Shippers Association clubroom. At some point it also housed a laundry service:

okay, I may be all wet here, but I think this is a building that actually had a fire (quite some time back,) -and has the roof caved in in spots..

It was spray painted tan, just to make it look presentable on the outside, (I think this is the one.)

I do recall Joe Moore knowing more (no pun intended,) about the shell, and the buildings history... it's come up in earlier conversations...

I'm glad that they're doing something with it. (no offense, even if it is being torn down,) ---Buildings that have had fires in them are often very unstable (heat/structural damage,) and, aside from being an eyesore, --they can collapse due to traffic vibrations or their own weight -without notice,,, and this critter's been sitting in this state for quite some time...

It'd be nice if they save it, -it'd be nice if it was also just returned to some sort of harmless state either way.

(Joe: you got yer ears on??? Paging Dr. Moore to the information desk... hello... Joe,,, you out there?)