Downtown Lodi a lively place

By Jennifer Pearson Bonnett
News-Sentinel staff writer

Revitalization is defined by Webster as “to give new life or vigor to.”

Many would believe this is what has been poured all over downtown Lodi in recent years.

Today, the area is a bustling six blocks of commerce and culture housed in old brick buildings built around the turn of the century. From the construction of cobblestone walkways to the anticipation of a new cinema, the downtown district has seen a number of changes in recent years.

It was all part of a $4.5 million revitalization project first hatched by city officials in 1994.

Four years later, Lodi officials marked the rebirth of downtown with a new arch over School Street. The illuminated green and purple structure, complete with intricate steel grapes hanging above, is now commonly known as the Gateway Arch to distinguish it from the historic welcome arch located several blocks away.

The 1999 unveiling of the cobbled streets and yellow sidewalks downtown furthered the revitalization of the once-decaying district. The redevelopment, which included installing park benches along the sidewalks, was the result of a $4 million project by the city.

The same year, the historic train depot on Sacramento Street was lifted and moved a block south to be remodeled. New signs were erected and bus shelters installed as a part of the redevelopment project.

Today, the bright yellow transit station welcomes passengers off city, county and regional buses. Greyhound and Amtrak buses also make regular stops there and Amtrak train service is expected at the end of 2001.

Sacramento Street went through a sort of reawakening at about the same time when a handful of businessman bought dilapidated buildings and set out to refurbish old storefronts and sell them to new tenants.

Since then, a number of new businesses have successfully opened and continue to boom. There are currently about 250 businesses downtown.

Another downtown building, at the corner of School and Walnut streets, also enjoyed a rebirth when was unveiled in April. It had been vacant since 1997.

The $350,000 renovation project will soon become the new home of an insurance firm and financial services company expanding into Lodi. The construction work, which began in December, is set to be completed in May.

Also in April, city planners continued their revitalization efforts when they broke ground on a three-story parking garage set to provide much-needed places to park downtown.

The Sacramento Street facility, set to open early next year, will have 342 parking spaces. It has been in the works since 1998.

The construction on the $7 million garage goes hand in hand with the roadwork now being performed on Elm Street between Church and Sacramento streets.

The roadway’s asphalt has been removed and was being converted into a walkable path with street lamps, benches, trees and brick walkways similar to those on School Street in downtown Lodi.

The corridor, complete with a painted sun design inset on the road, may ultimately be closed to vehicles to allow foot traffic between the parking garage and a new theater. There will also be room set aside for outside dining.

The $1.18 million project is scheduled to be completed later this year.

The new theater, set to open in June, is currently under construction at Elm and School streets. With its stadium-style seating and state-of-the-art sound, it is sure to bring patrons from all around.

By attracting an estimated 10,000 to 13,000 movie-goers a week, the theater is expected to become an anchor for the downtown area. It is being built by a private company from Stockton.

The new theater, planned to house an unknown number of new retailers on the building’s ground level, will join the commercial attractions now located downtown.

From a barber shop to a health food store, a flower store to a clock shop, and antique shops to bookstores, the area is also home to a variety of restaurants offering everything from Mexican to Chinese to American.

Trendy furniture stores and clothing boutiques also sit along the tree-lined streets.

By night, downtown is home to a handful of taverns including Legends.

The Pine Street Pub and Garry’s Lounge, both also located downtown, offer live music and dancing.

Revitalization aside, downtown Lodi has always had an historic appeal.

The Pine Street arch, at Sacramento Street, is believed to be one of the oldest standing arches in the state. It was built in 1907 to celebrate the city’s first Grape Festival — an annual fall event still held to mark the grape festival.

The bear that sits atop the welcome arch was removed earlier this year to have a hole in its back patched and to be recast in 23-karat gold leaf.

More history can be found at the train depot on Sacramento Street. Although remodeled in 1999, the infrastructure of the building is original, having been built in the 1860s.

And the historic Hotel Lodi is still standing on School Street and is now being used as a motel for long-term tenants. It was refurbished in 1998.