Pleasanton’s charming downtown district is more than an attractive part of the city. "A thriving downtown or neighborhood commercial district is a paramount component of each community's quality of life,” according to California’s Office of Historic Preservation, which oversees the California Main Street program, in which Pleasanton is an active member. “It provides a central gathering place for entertainment, civic life, and commerce. It supplies a focal point for community identity and pride. It offers a sense of place, connectivity, integration, and cohesion for residents. It attracts visitors and projects a healthy community image upon which industrial investors rely in part to make their location decisions. It provides small business ownership opportunities, jobs, retail sales, and property tax revenues."

Other experts agree. “Often located in the vicinity of iconic landmarks, distinctive area features, and unique neighborhoods, downtowns typically represent an area’s historical roots, cultural elements, current vitality, and future aspirations,” note the development marketing professionals at the Golden Shovel consultancy. “As cultural and social hubs, they attract residents, workers, and tourists alike. Downtown areas often provide spaces for community gatherings, events, and celebrations, fostering a sense of local pride and shared identity. Cultural institutions like museums, galleries, theaters, and concert halls in the area not only enrich the community's cultural life but also play a central role in urban renewal and revitalization efforts.”

Community Hub

While historic districts bring economic benefits, they provide additional value as well. According to Tom Mayes, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and author of Why Old Places Matter, “Old places are deeply beneficial to people because of the way they give us a sense of continuity, identity, and belonging, because they inspire us with awe, beauty, and sacredness, because they tell us about history, ancestry, and learning, and because they foster healthy, sustainable communities.”

The City of Pleasanton is one such community, with a historic downtown that acts as a vital community hub that helps the entire city as a whole. The nonprofit Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) traditionally supports the downtown area by planning special events and activities to draw visitors to the area from throughout the region. Supporting Downtown Pleasanton is good for the entire city, according to Gabrielle Welk, who became Executive Director of the PDA on March 17 after being in charge of the PDA’s events for the past four years.

“Hacienda has always been supportive of the PDA,” says Welk. “I think we all agree that having a thriving downtown area makes everyone a little happier, including people who work and live at Hacienda.”

Activities Galore

As Welk notes, there are many reasons to visit downtown, including popular restaurants, shops, pubs, the Museum on Main, and the weekly Pleasanton Farmers’ Market, which is open every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm all year around. “We have one of the largest farmers markets in the Bay Area,” she says. “I have visited many farmers markets in the area, and ours definitely shines bright.”

The Farmers’ Market is an excellent reason to visit downtown, and there are many other reasons as well. The sixth annual free Bunny Hop Egg Hunt will occur on Saturday, April 19, from 10:00 am to noon. Children aged ten years and younger are invited to participate. Pleasanton's Annual Wine Stroll on May 10 will turn various downtown locations into tasting rooms between 5 and 8 pm. Additionally, there will be live artists and musicians.

During summer, the 1st Weekends on Main program closes Main Street to vehicular traffic from Friday afternoon through Sunday night on some weekends. That allows Main Street to become a venue for special events and activities. On Saturday, June 1, for example, a wide selection of classic cars will line Main Street between 10 am and 4 pm. Hot Rod Row will also feature live music. The following Saturday, June 7, a BMX show will be held at noon and at 2 pm. This event, which features daredevil cyclists performing tricks, is perfect for families, friends, and anyone who loves extreme sports, according to Welk, who recommends subscribing to the PDA’s newsletter to stay on top of the many upcoming events scheduled for this year.

“Our events are really important because one of the things that the PDA strives to do is bring the community together and market our businesses,” Welk adds. “These events help us tackle both those initiatives at the same time. We have events for everyone, whether they're family friendly, free events during the day or our brew crawls and wine strolls during the night for the adults. We really strive to make those events fun and highlight our small town feel.”

Welk adds, “A lot of downtown businesses have been here for more than twenty years. They serve as an example of the ability to do business in Pleasanton. Many events, like the concerts in the park, draw thousands of people downtown. That shows the sense of community here.” For more information about the history of downtown Pleasanton, please visit the Museum on Main’s website at www.museumonmain.org.

For more information about the Pleasanton Downtown Association, please visit www.pleasantondowntown.net, www.facebook.com/PleasantonDowntownAssociation, or www.instagram.com/pleasantondt.