Just weeks after the activation of Plaza Central in downtown San Diego’s Civic Center Plaza, the crowds are sparse but enthusiasm is high about the new outdoor, mid-week lunchtime gathering place.
“This is my path, so I think it’s a great idea,” says downtown resident Jim Dietz (no relation to the former SDSU baseball coach). “I’ve been walking through here for three years. Been attacked twice by druggies. I like the music here. Everything’s clean – no dog crap anywhere. This is off to a good start. I hope word gets around.”
On October 9, Plaza Central kicked off with a party attended by Mayor Todd Gloria, City Councilmembers, The Prebys Foundation and the Downtown San Diego Partnership. Confetti and bubbles were in the air. The kick-off for Downtown Dreamin’ featured roller skaters, street tacos and music.
“This bold new direction is a people-centered approach built for San Diegans and reimagines the heart of downtown as a vibrant, welcoming, cultural crossroads,” Downtown Partnership President & CEO Betsy Brennan said in a press release.
The Plaza Central activation features elements designed to help the community reimagine the Civic Center as something different than non-welcoming and closed off. The Prebys Foundation, Downtown Partnership and other civic entities have an eye on developing the buildings (City Hall, Golden Hall, etc.) that surround the, until now, widely underutilized space.
In its third week of activation, about 30 people sat dining on colorful tables listening to a soloist play music in the afternoon.
Perla Servin has been an administrative aide at the City’s Public Works Department for one year. She takes the trolley to work from Chula Vista and usually brings her lunch. Today, it’s lasagna in a rectangular Tupperware.
“We got an email letting us know this was going on,” Servin says. “I saw all this two weeks ago. “I really like it because before this setting was out, whenever I wanted to come out to the sun for a bit I would just stand out here and eat my lunch. I also have the choice to eat in the break room, but I don’t like it. It’s small and has no windows and is very dark.”
The first time Servin came out to Plaza Central the space was full of people. “This time there’s less people but I don’t know why,” she said. “Maybe a Farmer’s Market set up would be nice. All I know is this makes my time at work run smoother, with breaks.”
Bailey, who declined to give her last name, works in Civic Center Plaza and was lunching with two friends. “I love this set up, it’s awesome,” she said. “I’ve wanted an outdoor seating area out here for a very long time. I brought my own lunch today but sometimes some of us will get food from the vendors.”
One of two food vendors here today is Natapong Thamcharoen. His Sumosize booth sells Japanese street food like rice bowls.
Today is the second time he’s participated in Plaza Central. “The first time was much better,” he says. “There were maybe 50 to 80 people here and I did about 20 sales in two hours.”
Thancharoen pays to be here, and for now says he’ll come back again. “I’d like to see where this will go,” he said.
So would a lot of downtown executive leaders with lofty plans for the area.
Plaza Central is open from Tuesday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. SDSun
