Fulton Mall’s Makeover: Recreating A Haven For Bustling Business

Listen up family business owners: Downtown Fresno’s Fulton Mall is in for a huge makeover and you may be able to benefit!

In 1964, Fulton Street was the hot spot in Downtown Fresno. When suburban growth occurred in the 1940s and ‘50s, the street was turned into a pedestrian mall to keep up with the times.

It was not until the 1970s when stores began to leave.  Ever since then, the mall’s business and foot traffic has declined dramatically.

But last year sparked good news for the mall and business owners! The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery 2013 grant, also known as TIGER, granted the city of Fresno with $16 million for the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan. Another $4 million will also be supplied by local public and private funding for the plan.

The $20 million for this Fulton Mall Reconstruction Project will do a number of great things:

  1. Reopen Fulton Street for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
  2. Improve the state of the buildings along Fulton Street.
  3. Improve parking and transit.
  4. Bring back a multitude of businesses, from restaurants, cafes, clothing stores and even local produce markets.

We are hoping that the reopening of Fulton Mall will bring back the flavor and culture that downtown once had – a flavor that we know some of the family-owned local businesses are full of!

Not only will the “new” Fulton Mall create a huge boost for the local economy, but will (hopefully) bring back a sense of pride in the neighborhood.

What can you expect it to look like? Think Downtown San Luis Obispo or Downtown Santa Cruz. Exciting, right?

The city plans to break ground in 2015 and aims to complete the street within one year. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for the Fulton Mall and family-owned businesses in Fresno!

To learn more about the awesome changes for downtown, click here.

Erica Heinisch, Account Assistant