The line-out-the-door favorite known for honey saffron lattes and miso salmon bowls is expanding, with Otherside Cafe confirming plans to open a second Fresno location at the corner of Palm and San Jose avenues, right at the entrance to the Fig Garden Financial Center. The spot will take over a freestanding former bank building that most recently housed Guarantee Real Estate, and crews are already demolishing the interior to make way for the conversion.
Co-owner Rema Koligian revealed the new location in a video posted to the cafe's Instagram account, according to the Fresno Bee. The building sits just north of Fig Garden Village, tucked behind Elbow Room and Chipotle. Otherside expects the location to open by the end of 2027, though that timeline is not locked in.
From Northeast Fresno Startup to Second Storefront
Otherside Cafe opened its first location in northeast Fresno in February 2025, quickly building a reputation for its espresso drinks, food and desserts. The cafe brews its own coffee and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a menu that leans into creative coffee and tea drinks alongside light meals like the honey saffron latte and the miso salmon bowl, per the same Fresno Bee report. Fans of the original spot, at 2886 E. Shepherd Ave., Suite 101, have described regularly lining up just to get in the door, a sign of the following the cafe had built in about 20 months.
That counter-order, find-your-own-seat setup has become part of Otherside's identity. Fresyes describes the experience as walking in, lining up, placing an order at the counter, then settling into whatever seat is open, with a menu the outlet calls an all-day affair spanning pastries, breakfast sandwiches, tartines, bowls, sandwiches, soups and salads.
Backed by a Familiar Name in Fresno Dining
Otherside Cafe is owned by Brandon Smittcamp and his partners, who are also behind Saizon and Heirloom, two other names that carry weight in the local food scene. Smittcamp also owns The Lime Lite restaurant, and chef Justin Shannon built out Otherside's menu, which includes breakfast burritos, salads, avocado toasts, tri-tip sandwiches and grain bowls at the original location.
Fresyes has described Otherside as the group's latest venture, following earlier projects tied to Heirloom, Butterfish, Mayd Modern, Saizon and The Limelite. With that track record, the decision to convert a former bank building rather than build from scratch suggests the group sees long-term potential in the Fig Garden corridor, even if the exact opening date and address details are still being finalized.
