Downtown Visalia welcomes new businesses while celebrating century-old shops

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- In the bosom of Downtown Visalia lies the psyche of the city.

"I deliberation the champion compliment I person ever gotten is that our downtown feels similar a Hallmark movie," expresses City of Visalia Mayor Brett Taylor.

Whether it's radical looking for nutrient connected their luncheon breaks oregon shopping, Main Street is usually filled with lively crowds... supporting the section economy.

"Small businesses are truly the backbone of the economy; the bulk of these businesses are tiny ma and popular shops," Taylor says. Most businesses are owned by radical who unrecorded and enactment successful Visalia.

Among them is Brown's Shoe Fit Company, which has been astir since 1912.

"We are a beryllium and acceptable benignant of concern wherever we wage attraction to you and measurement your ft and marque definite you are blessed with the shoes that you are purchasing," explains Renee Calvo, who is the adjunct manager who has worked present for 20 years.

She's made lifelong friendships done her shoe-selling skills...

Including Janice Sartuche, who went from being a apical lawsuit to a salesperson.

Janice has besides seen generations of customers locomotion into the store.

"I deliberation it's the work and narration we person developed with our customers passim the years," mentions Janice.

Sheila Walters is besides a tiny concern proprietor successful Visalia and sees the value of supporting section shops.

"We perfectly emotion supporting tiny businesses truthful that we tin support them around," expresses Sheila.

Local shopper, Carol Lobb, echoes that, "It's a fantastic spot to shop... personalized business, they get to cognize you, you get to cognize them, it's a bully spot to store and a fantastic experience."

There are a fewer non-profits, including Downtown Visalians, that big events to summation ft traffic.

The metropolis besides continues to guarantee buildings don't beryllium bare for excessively long.

"We person a ton of caller businesses coming successful the 2nd 1 empties, similar crossed the thoroughfare erstwhile that brewery closed down, instantly we got the motion that La Piazza is going to beryllium opening," continues Taylor, "Right down america is simply a yogurt store popping up, a caller charcuterie place."

For events happening successful Downtown Visalia, you tin sojourn here, for Downtown Visalia's authoritative website.

You tin besides caput to Visit Visalia's website here.

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