FOR MORE INFORMATION                        Jennifer Whitney:
(415) 747-6052
[email protected]

BISHOP, CALIF. – A group of investors, real estate professionals, business owners, and economic development strategists recently gathered to discuss what could be a pivotal moment in the history – and future – of downtown Bishop.

Jennifer Whitney, founder of River Queen Holdings, LLC, brought the group together late last month to once again share her vision for a reinvigorated downtown core that not only attracts consumers and visitors, but also other entrepreneurs. The meeting also served as a brainstorming session for the locally assembled think-tank as it explores ways to make Whitney’s aspirations a reality in the current economic climate.

The lynch pin to helping develop a thriving commercial corridor is the restoration and transformation of what’s affectionately known as “the Ben Franklin building” in the middle of the city at 162 N. Main St. Once the project is funded, the building will be developed and reopened as River Queen Provisions after an eighteen-month to two-year construction project.

The project is being funded by River Queen Holdings, a group of investors taking advantage of the relatively new Opportunity Zone (OZ) designation for the Bishop area. An OZ is an economically distressed community, as certified by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and under certain conditions creates a variety of tax benefits for investors.

Introduced with heavy bipartisan support and passed in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, OZs were designed to incentivize new streams of private capital investment in distressed areas, by giving decision-making power to states, cities, and individual investors for long-term investments in new economic activity and housing. To date, they have been established in 8,700 communities and as of 2022, had attracted more than $100 billion in private investment.

Successful development of River Queen Provisions hinges on continued OZ investment as well as community support – of which there is plenty in a variety of sectors.

The historic, 7,000 square-foot building at the heart of the project was originally erected around the turn of the 20^th century and housed the Arcularius City Market and an upstairs boarding house. From 1964 to 2021, the building was home to the popular Ben Franklin variety and craft store. Ben Franklin closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and Whitney purchased the building in 2021 and began development plans. Relics from the early 1900s to 1960s, including a mysterious mural of an idyllic river, still remain inside the structure and renovation efforts continue to reveal treasures of the past.

According to Whitney, preserving that history is a major priority. Whitney hopes to meld the past with the future by bringing back the farm-to-table grocery shopping opportunities of yesterday with a restaurant and unique retail space emphasizing sustainability, health, and regional products – all aimed at creating jobs, supporting local entrepreneurs and ag producers, building a stronger cultural presence, enhancing community wellness, and achieving self-sufficiency through economic and food sovereignty.

Whitney believes the community will benefit just as much as the business owners selling their goods in River Queen Provisions.

The two upper floors will house a modern, indoor and outdoor meeting space desperately needed for conferences and celebrations, educational and cultural events, co-working, and other opportunities for community engagement, as well as guest rooms that will attract young professionals visiting or traveling through the area –  a demographic currently overlooked for potential contributions to the economy.

Excitement for River Queen Provisions’ potential, meanwhile, is evident.

“I love encouraging anything around that looks like it builds a community,” said David Kuznitz, craftsman and owner of DK Woodworks on East Line Street in Bishop. “I love the cities that I visited back in the days, the towns that focused on fine craftsmanship, great food, music. And that fine crafting, I think, in a small community is a beautiful thing to cultivate.”

Elaine Kabala, former planner for the City of Bishop and current executive director for the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments, said the project has the potential to not just revitalize downtown Bishop, but also serve as a model – and catalyst – for other projects striving to do the same.

“It’s a really wonderful project in part because it’s a historic preservation project for one of the oldest and most substantial buildings in downtown Bishop, and maintaining and investing in our history and our culture is such an important part of the economic and community development opportunities in the Eastern Sierra,” Kabala said of River Queen. “To preserve and celebrate that unique heritage is one of our assets and one of the things that we really value and cherish in this region … I see it as an opportunity to set a standard for the possibilities for the future of all of the wonderful communities we have throughout the Eastern Sierra region.”

For more information about investing in River Queen Holdings and its projects, visit riverqueenbishop.com or email [email protected]