Downtown Pleasanton is at the very heart of our vibrant and dynamic city with a rich history and a commitment to an unparalleled quality of life.  We are tree lined streets, manicured gardens, and wide sidewalks that beckon for a leisurely stroll. We are dinner under twinkling lights on a perfect California night with the sound of live music in the air. We are lunch at a casual cafe, a hearty country breakfast, coffee, or a walk-up ice cream cone.

We are one-of-a-kind shops with independent small business owners. We are unique gifts, that perfect outfit, a bottle of local wine, a treat for the kids, or even your pet. We are a place where personal service not only exists but thrives. We are Downtown Pleasanton and we invite you to experience all we have to offer.

Promoting Downtown

Considering how special and wonderful the area is, it should not be a surprise that it has its own overseer. In 1984, the Pleasanton City Council created the Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA), an assessment district that operates as a non-profit organization with the aim of developing and sustaining a vibrant downtown community. In 2000, Pleasanton joined the ranks of certified California Main Street Communities, a designation bestowed by the California State Trade and Commerce Agency under the auspices of the National Main Street Center. As a nationally accredited Main Street Community, the PDA is organized under a four-point strategy that incorporates the elements of organization, economic restructuring, promotion, and design or physical appearance. Successful implementation of this strategy involves a mutual effort by the PDA staff, business owners, property owners and community volunteers.  Accredited status is Main Street America’s top tier of recognition and signifies a demonstrated commitment to comprehensive commercial district revitalization and proven track record of successfully applying the Main Street Approach™. 

Downtown Events

Prior to 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic the PDA would typically host over 20 events annually.  From Crawls and Strolls to Scavenger Hunts and evening Concerts in the Park, it has always been one of the highlights of our jobs to watch our community come together and enjoy downtown, scavenge for treats in business after business, and dance Summer nights away at Lions Wayside Park.

Unfortunately, due to the evolving situation surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic we are currently prohibited from hosting many of our annual events under orders from the Alameda County Public Health Department. While we are saddened that we won't get to enjoy these events with you for the time being, the health and safety of our community comes first and foremost.

The PDA will continue to monitor all Federal, State, and County mandates and abide by them accordingly. We are eager to hold events and bring our community together in our beautiful downtown once again and hope you will join us for a celebration once we are allowed to do so!

In the meantime, Farmers' Markets are deemed essential and our downtown market is held weekly on Saturdays at W. Angela and Main from 9 am to 1 pm.  Enjoy a delicious brunch downtown and find the season's freshest fruits and vegetables at Pleasanton's Farmers' Market, all sold to you by the very farmers that raised and harvested the crop.  Many adaptations have been made to ensure safety is at the forefront and masks are always required within the market.

Pleasanton Downtown Association's Mission

Despite the challenges 2020 brought forward our mission at the PDA has remained consistent and at the forefront of everything we do, supporting the economic vitality and hometown character of downtown Pleasanton.  The PDA is a strong community of dedicated individuals and business owners who, by cooperative efforts, community events, and activities, work to make the downtown a richly rewarding place to visit and shop.

To walk through downtown Pleasanton is to take a walk back in time, past historic buildings that each has its own riveting story to tell.  Our community keeps our local businesses thriving and vice versa. It is our mission to help support our downtown businesses, and we encourage you to help in whatever way, big or small, that you are able.

During these unprecedented times, the PDA has focused our efforts on a new campaign, Shop Small – Support Local.  In partnership with the City of Pleasanton, we have launched this campaign to encourage our Pleasanton community to shop, dine and visit local. Our newest campaign, a spinoff and extension of Small Business Saturday, promotes vitality downtown and encourages residents to support our incredible local businesses. This campaign emphasizes the importance of supporting our small businesses and why shopping local is vital, calling attention to the valuable and distinct contributions small businesses make to our community and local economy. For every $1 spent at a small business, $0.67 stays in the community*. Shop Small – Support Local celebrates small businesses ranging from retail stores and restaurants to fitness studios and salons, and everything in between.

Today, downtown Pleasanton is home to over 600 businesses, all of whom contribute to the betterment of the area through their membership in the PDA. Businesses located outside of downtown Pleasanton are still able to be a part of our Farmers’ Market and can take advantage of many other marketing opportunities.

For additional information on downtown Pleasanton or how to get involved, call (925) 484-2199, visit www.pleasantondowntown.net, or stop by the office at 333 Division Street.

We are very active on  Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Our social media channels are the best way for the community to stay up to date on all downtown matters.

*Estimate from data on businesses with under 100 employees, as reported in Amex-commissioned 2018 Small Business Economic Impact Study.