The Tower Theatre has been a fundamental feature of the Tower District in Fresno, an area of town known for its unique culture and popular bars and clubs, since 1939. 

But as of late, controversy around the sale of the theatre has had some people petitioning against it.

News broke out of the sale of Tower Theatre to Adventure Church in Dec. 2020. In early Jan. 2021, the Save the Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee “coalesced,” according to committee member Jaguar Bennett.

“We first started with creating a community letter to the city council and the mayor outlining our objections to the possible rezoning of the Tower Theatre. Then we started weekly demonstrations, starting on January 10,” said Bennett.

Opened initially as a 20th Century Fox Movie House, the theatre is now restored and used as a center for the performing arts. The iconic design of Tower Theatre is well-known and loved by the community.

Tower Theatre has hosted various events over the years, including film screenings, concerts, plays and awards shows. The venue has also been used recently for church services by Adventure Church, which was founded by Pastors Anthony and Mandy Flores in 2010. 

Anthony Flores is an avid supporter of recalling Governor Newsom and against vaccine mandates, according to his Facebook posts.

Flores also has faced backlash for including sexist comments in sermons in the past. 

In one recorded sermon preserved by the Save the Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee, Flores is heard urging women to wear more clothes to the gym while he is working out because “you can’t stand there at the buffet and not sample – hello!”

While Adventure Church currently has another location only half a mile from the Tower Theatre, Pastor Chris Williams of Adventure Church said they “continually felt the pull not to leave the Tower District, but to continue to invest in the community where we started and where a large percentage of our parishioners call home. Our home.”

After using the Tower Theatre to host services before Williams said, “It seemed to be a perfect fit to expand in the neighborhood that we had already called home for close to 10 years.”

In a letter sent to city officials on Dec. 7, 2020, Adventure Church said it will utilize the theatre to operate various types of events, ranging from concerts, theatre and performing arts shows, city events and community functions.

Flores said in the letter that church services would happen on Sunday mornings and occasionally once a month on Wednesday nights, if no other event is scheduled.

The possible rezoning is the heart of the issue for most supporters. 

“There are so many sensitive businesses in the Tower District. The economic heart and foundation of the Tower District are its many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, all of which have liquor licenses,” Bennett said. “There is a city ordinance that says a liquor licensed establishment cannot be within 1,000 feet of a church, school, or park.”

“It would not affect these businesses immediately. Their existing licenses would be alright. But it would endanger future licenses,” Bennett said.

“Any time that a new place wants to open and get a liquor license, any time that a bar or restaurant changes hands, or the liquor license has to be transferred to the new owner. We’re looking at the long term economic health of the Tower District.”

According to documents sent to the city in December, the church said about 15,000 square feet of the theater space would be used for church services.

The issue is, however, Olive Avenue is zoned as a commercial main street, which means only 2,000 square feet are allowed for religious assembly, according to a Dec. 10 response from Fresno City Manager Thomas Esqueda.

The church argues that events will be the primary function of the theatre. They aim to start with a 2-to-1 event ratio but hope to increase it to 3-to-1.

Another potential downside to the purchase is that it’s “bad for the culture,” committee member Haley White said. 

“The nightlife is part of what keeps the Tower District a very free, independent, kind of bohemian community. The gay clubs are important centers for the LGBTQIA community,” added Bennett. “These bars are also performance venues for music acts and important events like the Rogue Festival. Anything that threatens the bars is going to threaten not just the economy, but the nature of the Tower District as an arts center.” 

Tower District is often seen as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community in Fresno, due to the presence of gay clubs and bars alongside flourishing arts community, Bennett said. 

Adventure Church, as a Foursquare church, initially had a doctrinal statement on their website citing biblical passages that condemn homosexuality and gender transitioning. 

This statement has since been removed, though a record of it is alleged to be preserved on the Save the Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee’s website.

The committee has accused Adventure Church of being anti-LGBT due to these sentiments, and argues a church with such policies runs contrary to the values of the neighborhood.

Adventure Church was asked to respond to these allegations, but has not replied at this time.

Many share the Save the Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee’s concerns.

The committee’s weekly demonstrations attract at least 50-60 people every week, according to Bennett, and can fluctuate based on weather and media attention. 

“We have been focusing on keeping these demonstrations sustainable,” Bennett said, encouraging supporters to take breaks and pace themselves because “we don’t know when this will end.”

Lourin Hubbard, a demonstrator and 2013 political science Fresno State alum, moved to Fresno from Bakersfield in 2007 and is now running to represent California’s 22nd congressional district against incumbent Devin Nunes. 

Hubbard grew to love the Tower District after moving to Fresno, and has attended 24 of the 30+ demonstrations so far.

“[Tower is] a cool, welcoming, happening place. It’s where the happenings happen,” Hubbard said.

When asked for the church’s thoughts on the protests Williams said, “Although we may not agree with the message of the protests, we do agree with their exercise of free speech and the constitutional protection to protest.”

The Tower Theatre purchase has been complicated by various other issues.

It is currently in escrow, as fellow Tower District business Sequoia Brewing Company argues that their rental contract includes the right of first refusal to purchase the Tower Theatre and that they did not receive that in this instance.

Many community members, such as the Save the Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee, hope to see the restaurant succeed in court. 

Sequoia Brewing Company’s next court date is not set until early 2022, according to Haley White.