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“It’s unappealing. People don’t want to walk there,” said Back Alley Bar & Grill owner Chris Presta, who believes the pandemic-era configuration has not helped his business.
Fullerton’s controversial pedestrian plaza, the Walk on Wilshire, is no more. This news comes in the wake of a recent City Council meeting where a vote on whether or not to make the pandemic-era zone a permanent fixture of downtown Fullerton failed to garner enough support.
For those uninitiated, the Walk on Wilshire has been a surprisingly polarizing topic. It was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic as a means to create an outdoor dining area and walking space for residents by blocking off a portion of Wilshire Avenue. In 2022, it was given a temporary extension. While it was well-received by some, others—including many local businesses—felt the street closure had overstayed its welcome.
At the January 21, 2025 Fullerton City Council meeting, the vote on whether to invest another $50,000 into keeping the walk going only garnered two votes of approval—that being from Councilmembers Shana Charles and Ahmad Zahra. Mayor Fred Jung and Councilwoman Jamie Valencia voted against the proposal while Councilman Nick Dunlap recused himself.
“When I look at the wonderful businesses that we have on Walk on Wilshire, I don’t see a lot of empty storefronts,” stated Councilwoman Charles in support of the plaza. “It has done well; it has thrived.”
However, the business community sings a different tune. Chris Presta, who owns Back Alley Bar & Grill, argued that the plaza has not been kind to his establishment. “The Walk on Wilshire’s dark at night,” he said. “It’s unappealing. People don’t want to walk there.”
Beyond less street traffic, there is an argument to be made that the street closure has made an already difficult parking situation even worse, and that it would be unfair to force business owners to live with the consequences of a temporary pandemic-era configuration.
“I think the public has an urgency for things that I understand and I’m not tone deaf to,” said Mayor Fred Jung, who believes that downtown Fullerton can create better ways to establish long-term growth. “If you want to advocate for something that you enjoy—do it—but also advocate for it being better.”
Local news publication The Fullerton Observer stood firmly in support of making the Walk on Wilshire permanent and used their platform to promote the Save Walk on Wilshire group and events like the now ill-fated Chalk on Wilshire Pokémon Party.
“Closing down a street that has been an integral part of our community for over 100 years to create a Pokémon plaza (seemed) like a short-sighted and unnecessary idea. Especially when there’s a 2 acre Plaza that’s open all day and well lit at night just one block to the east,” comments one constituent in a Friends for Fullerton’s Future blog post harshly condemning the Walk on Wilshire. “It’s frustrating to see a small minority group pushing for this change without considering the impact it will have on the larger community who may not have the time to attend every City Council meeting to express their opinions.”
“The voices of hardworking residents who rely on the street for their daily commute or other activities should not be overshadowed by a vocal but disconnected few,” continued the commenter. “It’s important to consider the needs and perspectives of all members of the community before making such significant changes. This one will not be forgotten and I assure [sic] will come back to haunt Charles and Zahra.”
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