-June 13,2019-
Downtown Visalia steakhouse to become Thai eatery
Visalia’s Bravo Farms Smoke house, formerly The Wagon Wheel landmark steakhouse at 400 N Willis in Downton Visalia has shut their doors and the place will now be leased by Davorn’s Place, a popular Thai eatery located right across the street.The move will come later in June. Davorn’s will more than double their space and feature a full bar as well in their new location.
Bravo Farms owner Jonathon Van Ryn says the Smoke house that opened in 2012 “never fit the mold of the restaurant type he iwas looking for, more tourist-oriented and instead he is concentrating on his three Bravo Farms locations in the Central Valley – in Kettleman City, Tulare and in Traver.
In the case of the Traver Bravo Farms location, the restaurant underwent a full remodel adding a new kitchen and re-opening about a month ago says Van Ryn. The 4000sf eatery and food/fruit store caters to tourists traveling along Hwy 99.
”What we realized is that for six months out of the year it is either 32 degrees or 110 and it makes sense to have less outdoor seating than we had figured.”
As far as the cuisine change in Downtown, Visalians will be looking at less meat and potatoes and more eggplant and poke.
Les Schwab plans Mooney tire store
Tire retailer Les Schwab plans to open a 12,49sf tire store on the southwest corner of Mooney and Visalia Parkway at a new shopping center planned there. The Oregon-based chain has stores in Hanford, Dinuba and Porterville in our area and over 400 locations in the western US.The proposed shopping center may include a new 5 acre CarMax dealership as well.
New stores opening at Visalia Mall
Visalia Mall has announced the opening of several new stores later this year.
Hibbett Sports has leased 4,330sf (former Styles For Less & Visalia Police Department Community Service center) space.The retailer has a store in Hanford. Also Crescent Jewelers will lease 1,206sf (former Things Remember) space with a 10/19 opening. Meanwhile Don Roberto Jewelers is expanding into 677sf (former Butter Boys Cookies) space. Current store will be completely remodeled into their latest prototype. Don Roberto’s will remain open in a temporary location by Old Navy. New store is slated for 10/19 opening.
Plans for Roundabout at Tulare and Santa Fe
4-Creeks engineers have filed plans for new roundabout at Tulare and Santa Fe Ave in Visalia. City planner Paul Bernla say the project is probably two years out. This would be the fifth roundabout in Visalia, most of them in the Shannon Ranch area.
New Micro Brewery for Visalia
Applicant Justin Cate has filed preliminary plans to open a micro brewery and tasting room at 1629 E Main Street, near the DMV in Visalia.The place will be called Simply Brewing Co.
Plans filed for new 20MW solar farm near Woodville
Glover Solar would be a new 20MW solar farm in southern Tulare County, the site of several other solar projects.The energy project would be located near the town of Woodville. The property ownet is Kenneth and Shirley Glover of Strathmore and the applicant is based in Commerce California. The project would also includes a 5MWhr storage component. The location of the 144 acre plan is on Ave 96 on the west side of Hwy 65, north of Terra Bella. An application to build the solar farm was filed withe county last fall.