This place was okay..but then the landlord(s) raised the rent on existing stores, causing at least my favorite Vietnamese place to go out of business. And then the City began to cut down all the lovely old pine and other trees, leaving no shade for passersby and no shelter for the squirrels. Now the squirrels scatter around aimlessly between your feet and the playgrounds in the center of the mall where moms would take their little ones to play..well those are gone right now too. Construction has also made a royal mess of the place. It is a feat alone if you can navigate the "do not enter"," all businesses open during construction," and "no parking" signs. I know it will take a while for those in charge to be able to realize their dream for what this place may become some day...right now, it is a menagerie and a mess of construction, forced out or dying businesses, and displaced families who used to allow their kids to play along the mall but now must guard their children from falling tree branches. I really hope the City puts in more urban parks around the area to ensure these citizens are properly cared for. read more

Fulton Street - Cutting down all the lovely pines....multi day process. - Shopping Centers Near Me - Fresno, California

I'm not a Fresno native so here is a take on someone not from around here who has seen the Fulton Mall before the renovation when it was actually a mall, and have seen it now--with the streets. On paper being the Fulton Mall seems like a great idea. Place for people to hang out and walk around, do some shopping and grabbing a bite to eat. When I first saw the Fulton Mall prior to the renovation project about 3 years ago--downtown Fresno just felt like a downer. The Fulton Mall was dead with businesses who didn't seem to care about the looks of their store front, several vacant spaces, and very little foot traffic. The businesses that were there were flea market type joints and just not something that would bring people in. The feel in downtown was that of a place no one would even want to go to. This was a similar feeling of downtown San Jose long ago where I am a native of. So it felt familiar, the reputation of high crime, homeless, and no reason to go downtown is what I felt in downtown Fresno and what many locals seem to be vocal about. Once the project started there was a lot of backlash from many locals. Already hating on the entire project before it even finished--heck even before it started. Which made me scratch my head and ask myself is there anything Fresnans like? They hate on downtown all these years, and they hate on projects the city is doing to try and improve it? As the project went underway I noticed more support through pro-downtown groups and campaigns on social media. The high speed rail also contributed by fixing/improving/building infrastructure in downtown so it also help the aesthetics of some parts of the area--I believe the Tuolumne Street Bridge. Whatever was going on was working. There was excitement in downtown and I could sense pride for it--which was heavily lacking years prior. I recently went before the official opening of Fulton as a Street and no longer a mall, but a good portion of it was already open to cars. The new street pavement, new lights, refurbished art, cleaned up store fronts, it's a nice fresh start and I can't help but just feel optimistic and good for downtown and the city of Fresno. It's too early to say how things will be long term, but it's already better than it was before. Honestly, even though only time will tell how successful this project is, right now as it stands renovated, it is already much better than it was before. Now it's up to the businesses downtown to attract people from the suburbs of North Fresno, SE Fresno, and Clovis. The community also has to start showing some support and pride for their city. Unfortunately everything has to be in sync. If investors and businesses see no one wants to come downtown, then no cool things will open there. But at the same time then no people will go. Go to ArtHop and you can get a glimpse of what downtown Fresno could be on a regular basis. read more

Oh, y'all scared gringos can just go to the Diablo. I loved my trip to Mexi-Fresno, and this pedestrian mall was my favorite part. Cheaper than a ticket to Mexico City, folks...and about as authentic as visiting San Miguel de Allende. Loved the thrifts, Mexican markets, and quince dress shops. Seriously, though...gorgeous Art Deco and mid-Century architecture awaits you at the Fulton Mall. read more

Fulton Street - gorgeous art deco architecture awaits you at Fresno's Fulton Mall - Shopping Centers Near Me - Fresno, California

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The Fulton Mall is a beautiful spot in Fresno to walk and enjoy gardens, fountains, and sculpture. It is not, unfortunately a place to eat or shop. The potential is there, but until shops and restaurants that appeal to upper middle class shoppers come along, buildings will remain shuttered and vacant. Such a waste of real estate. read more

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Located in downtown Fresno. Fulton Mall is not a typical mall. It is not an indoor shopping mall. Instead it is a six block Pedestrian mall. There are no big name stores here. Probably the biggest names are Subway, CVS Pharmacy, and Goodwill. It is made up of mostly small family owned businesses, offices, and restaurants. Fulton Mall has been needing a major facelift for years!!!! Maybe one of these days it will improve. At least it does not seem to have deteriorated any more from several years ago. read more

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Well.....the Fulton Mall is gone, and the street is back. Millions of dollars spent (wasted) for a pet project of a blonde lady who is no longer mayor and a city council that always salivates when "other peoples money" is thrown at it. Yes, I can say these things. Downtown Fresno is my neighborhood. Fresno is my city, my home and I'm not leaving. I like it here. Well, I am always called a "dink" and unfashionably negative, so let me first say the "good" about the new street. *Artwork and fountains they did fix, refurbish and place on the streetscape. Yes, I am pleased. Yes, I am glad they are not in someones backyard, and I am glad they are not in a museum. Downtown Fresno is their "home" and applause to the folks who did "fight" for this (you know who you are) *Sidewalks. Yes. It was a "nod" to the 'save the mall crowd' who wanted the spirit of The Fulton Mall saved. I was pleased with this aesthetic and touch. I was pleasantly surprised by this aesthetic when I did go down after the construction, reopening and "gladhandling" by the local politicans was done. Fresno politicans think so highly of themselves. With that said..... Already plenty of business's have closed or are closing (I don't know the details, but I can BET the rent vastly increased for many of the tennants). Also, PARKING METERS. LOL! The crew selling Fresno this NEVER mentioned metered parking, they told Fresnans "it's gonna be so cool when you just pull up to your favorite place and go in". I brought this up several times.,,,metered parking tyhat is. One blowhard at a planning commission meeting said "I was making that up" Truth is, I was telling the truth all along. 20 plus million dollars for 122 parking spaces is not worth the cost, and for 20 plus million, it had BETTER be free! Already, you are seeing "city / county" employees throwing that placard in the window that says they are a city employee and taking up a valuable retail parking space all day. Also, "handicapped" placards are up in many cars (so the parking is free.....for them) Finally the street lighting. For ALL the money spent, the time put in, the input, the meetings, the (cough) experts they could not even make the consistant lighting in the downtown area MATCH. You mean to tell me they could not have had LED lighting in old style lamp posts to MATCH the REST of the downtown area, and even connecting streets such as Kern? Aesthetically, the street lighting is the biggest fail for me. The homeless are already camping again. The trash cans some mornings are dumped and picked through (just like when The Fulton Mall was intact). The stench of urine is already back, and people won't shop downtown with parking you have to PAY for when there are plenty of place to shop where its free throughout this fair city. I wish the new street success, but as for the former mayors statements that the "phone is ringing off the hook daily about when the contstruction is going start on the street and people are so excited for Fresno" *the contractors were the ones calling more than likely. read more

On a Monday, my friend and I were passing through around lunch time and thought to pop into downtown Fresno for a walk and lunch. The mall was clearly once a grand idea in its heyday, but now it's dirty, grungy and a poor substitute for a zocalo or other town center with old men milling about on benches with shopping carts full of dirty possessions and nattily attired street preachers with gold chains talking to the empty plaza bordered with umbrella topped hot dog carts. The whole mall is lined with shops selling crappy, tacky cheap clothing made with synthetic fabrics in China, advertising "we buy gold and pay cash immediately!" (in Spanish), bad music blaring from overhead sound system that is totally out of sync with the current demographic of the place - it's just another miserably failed town center experiment. Even sadder were the stray kittens we saw, mewing and begging for scraps, climbing up into the wisteria arbor to hide, peeking down at us as though we were both their best friend and worst enemy. A metaphor, perhaps, for Fresno's downtown. read more

A 6 block span of streets with restaurants, shops and business that you walk thru. Seems pretty deserted but looks nice. I think they are trying to revitalize the area. Lots of places to eat. I haven't made it but there on a Thursday are Fulton Plaza Thursdays, free music performances, 5-9pm http://www.fresnofamous.com/node/3287 read more

Currently as other reviewers pointed out, the mall is a pale image of its former self. Businesses struggle in a depressed environment many Fresnan's want to visit. One positive is the wonderful art pieces throughout the mall and the fresh fruit cups available from the kiosk vendors. When is Fresno going to get serious about revitalizing this historic mall? Vehicle traffic is NOT the answer, if it were, businesses on Van Ness etc would be booming and yet they are not. My suggestions for Revitalization: 1: Free 2 hr. parking with validation. 2: Install water misters down the entirety of the mall. With the shading of the building, misters will lower the overall temperature of the vast amounts of concrete. 3: Keep the ART pieces. They are in place and add to the mall character. 4: Give incentives to convert some of the existing retail spaces into restaurant space with sidewalk seating. 5: Keep the original facade to reinforce Fresno's history. 6: Fresno was built with the efforts of a mix of Anglo-European (white), Mexican and Chinese centered around an agricultural base on the railroad tracks. These featured could be reflected in the mall perhaps even in the form of specific theme areas. Just some thoughts. Key being, maintain a pedestrian area, encourage sidewalk restaurants and revitalize the business environment on the mall. read more

I moved away during construction. We moved back. I just drove down Fulton today. It is an improvement but still needs some work. I would say 1/2 of the stores remind me of a flea market. Cheap quality products and no major department stores for shopping.There is a few dining establisments that are decent but the constant parade of homeless makes one feel guilty for spending $50 bucks on dinner. Fresno should have spent the money on the homeless situation first. They should be priority. Seems counter productive. Like showering after you get dressed. All the fancy fountains wont change the fact that there is a serious homeless issue. read more

I've lived in Fresno for 25 years and this place has always been a dump. The city has talked about doing this and that for decades but NOTHING gets done. The trees are overgrown, the fountains are all broken, the "art" is old and uninteresting but most importantly, the businesses are terrible; Indoor swap meets, wig shops, and other assorted low rent mom and pop shops. Every now and a good business comes in and gives it a go. They last about 6 months to a year and they are gone. There's just not enough down here to make the drive worth while for people. Until the city makes DRASTIC changes to the mall to attract business and make it more accessible, there will be no reason for consumers to spend time here. read more

Bring your gun for protection when you go Used to be excellent. City of Fresno can't decide what to do to it in order to revitalize the area Parking is not free most of the places. read more

I have lived one block from here for two years now at the lofts down the street. I've enjoyed my time here though. It's like Living in a modern apartment in the ruins of Pompeii. During the day walking through Fulton mall is never boring. You will see families with children buying churros and shaved ice, old men sitting on the benches under the trees in their cowboy hats, street preachers, skateboarders, bikers, dog walkers, the occasional jogger, gang members, hipsters, homeless junkies pushing around shopping carts (will ask you for change if you make eye contact), senior citizens on scooters and usually you can find "mr body fitness" an elderly gentleman who is very ripped doing excercises to the sounds of old school hip hop and if you put some change in his bucket he'll take a photo with you. Some days they have food trucks with pretty decent food. Peeves is the only other place I would eat at here. Most of the businesses are swap meet type flea markets in run down old apartment stores. If you look around you can find some pretty unique gifts from south of the border. You can get good deals on jewelry here and you'll find a wide selection of cowboy boots. The trees offer shade from the brutal heat and the fountains are cool when they are running. At night the homeless curl up to sleep among the benches and against the buildings. The trash cans will be emptied onto the pavement by junkies looking for bottles to recycle. Drunks and mentally ill people will be seen walking around talking (sometimes yelling) at themselves. Tips for Fulton mall 1. Carry mace. I've never had to use it but am always glad I have it especially at night. 2. Use the fountain water to keep your dog cool. If it's clean believe it or not. 3. Never pay to park in the lot. You can park for free on fulton st and walk a block. 4. Try to imagine what it was like in it's heyday. A lot of the architecture is historic and beautiful though in need of maintenance read more

It is great. If they destroy it they will ruin a treasure. The should seek to build on their strengths.

Not my cup of tea. They call this a mall? That should be a crime!! First of all its street parking or you can park at a lot but get charged to park anyway. The strip of the mall is unattractive and you have homeless and beggers walking around. Then the stores they have to offer are all Hispanic and I wouldn't be caught dead in these stores. They need to revive this mall because it does have potential. Put lofts above the stores and get rid of the existing stores, then put new stores that woman & gentleman actually shop at (Nordstrom, H&M, A|X, Guess?, and even a souvenir store). They need to not charge for parking. Revitalize the outside structure of the mall and landscaping. Finally they need to put a AMC there. read more

This is the first place I went to when I finally got to Fresno. The only reason I came here was because I was looking for a nail salon close by and the one located in the Fulton Mall came up on my GPS. Not being from here, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I was picturing the Fulton Mall as an actual mall so I was very confused when I couldn't find it. I asked this lady walking where it was and she gave me this look that said, "uh-oh". I followed her and found the nail place. When I was done with my nails I took a little tour of the rest of the mall. I saw run down shops and a plethora of homeless couples camping out. And they call this a mall??? I quickly ran back to my car and got the hell out of there before I got jacked. It seams that city doesn't give a damn about this place. I looks like at one point in time, It was great and all the rage. I know that money is tight everywhere, but perhaps a revitalization should be proposed? Get Fulton Mall back to the glory it may have been and drive out the bad elements. But until then: DON'T COME HERE. IT IS GHETTO AND YOU COULD LOOSE YOUR PURSE, MONEY, MIND AND LIFE. read more

I miss the Fulton Mall of my childhood. I'm old enough to remember when it was brand new and Fashion Fair hadn't been built yet. All the major department stores were there along with all of Fresno upscale clothiers, furniture stores and jewelers. About ten years after opening the handwriting was on the wall as one major store after another closed. While there are a few bright spots here and there most of it is cheap junk and small shops catering to the Mexican population. Definitely nothing to anchor a pedestrian mall of that size. read more

Positively one of the most run down places in the world that has been neglected over the years in spite of revitalization procedures and talks of drastic measures such as demoloshing the historic mall entirely. It's not the mall that is in trouble, it's the surrounding areas and businesses that reek of disaster and show no signs of what once was a thriving community. Even if they go throught the trouble of freeing the businesses from ancient mall culture and allowing vehicles to run down it's center, there is still nothing there to offer anyone who has by now grown accustomed to doing business and shopping elsewhere. The parking is the main factor. Meters are just a downfall for shoppers who are used to free parking at fabulous shopping centers with diverse upscale businesses. If they free the downtown area of the mall once and for all, they had better be prepared with a plan to bring in entirely new businesses which includes eateries, cafes, cafeterias, sports shops, salons, health centers, and novelty items. I know what downtown has to offer, and it isn't much since even the theaters have been abandoned. There is also the stigma of lower class society taking refuge in these areas, and I doubt changing the mall into a street will chase them out. I have no use for low scale shops in my itinerary whatsoever no matter how accessible it should become, especially when the internet has also given the most upscale shopping center a run for their money. read more

Its a beautiful downtown that needs a lot of help, maybe when the road opens up it would be better. But there are a number of restaurant popping up and it has potential just need more people who aren't too freaky there. There are a lot of cheap clothing stores there and believe it or not the food there is pretty good too! Try the Saigon Deli and if you like drinks go to Peeves Pub, and for coffee drinkers there is the little bean cafe. Its not dangerous, its just a little deserted, but can be lively from 9am-5pm on weekdays. read more

This place really needs to be improved, but if you go early and during the weekdays, it isn't TOO bad. Some parts are busier than others, especially the intersection near the immigration building (just an observation when I had to visit the building). I haven't tried a lot of the restaurants, but there is a Goodwill and some cool coffee shops in the area. I have never noticed a lot of gang bangers, but I haven't been to this mall in almost two years. You probably will be asked for change as you walk down the strip though. read more

This mall is shit. Don't come here. it is just a crappy mall. Don't come here just go to the River Park mall or the Fashion Fair mall. I don't think this mall has any potential to get better. This mall feels ghetto. read more

Interesting place for out first stop in Fresno. Mall is definitely run down and lacking in variety. Customer service is hit n miss throughout the mall. Come down if you are looking for a bargain in clothing and other miscellaneous knick knacks. Hopefully next time we visit the city will have made it more visually appealing to help bring back commerce back to the area. read more

I'm torn. I love the Fulton mall and I grew up with it but now that it's on the road to, well, becoming a road, I'm sad about it. It'll basically just turn it into another street with a couple of restaurants. No more big fun festivals that take place there. read more

The closest thing Fresno has to an urban shopping district that promotes pedestrian activity (like a real city). This place is in dire need of regular maintenance, but when I heard they were planning on opening this to traffic, I literally facepalmed so hard. If their intention is to attract more citizens into visiting the place, I'm sure there are other ways to achieve that without contributing to the car culture that makes a lot of city centres in America appear so dead. read more

The moment the construction started I could see that the driving lanes were going to be too narrow. i can't even open my truck door when parallel parked without my car door halfway in the moving lane in danger of being hit by traffic. Parallel parking slots with meters, of course, are too narrow. Great! what a stupid design. Another bumbling bozo decision by the City of Fresno. Remember the Met, airport construction contractor fiasco, Running Horse, etc and now the Fulton Mall design. I'm sure all the big box stores will run back to downtown..not. read more

Love the mall. Our city officials did a great job in giving us back the mall, THANK YOU!!!

I definitely was surprised by the downtown area and the Fulton mall when I moved to Fresno. During the day it is full of people from all walks of life. It definitely is not dangerous. There are a lot of phony reviews on here based on appearance. I recently moved to downtown Fresno. And it has been the best part of Fresno that I have lived in. Maybe that's not saying much. But since most people are just here for work or court. It gets very quiet after 4 or 5pm. Not so good for the local economy. But you can take a walk in a downtown, urban area without hardly seeing another person. It's sorta "Day After Tomorrow"-ish. Being poor does not make a person a criminal. I haven't seen many homeless. Even the camps are gone. Almost no beggars. I cannot say the same for the rest of Fresno. The homeless do not really bother anyone and are well behaved compared to "normals". Even their pets are FAR better behaved than those who live in a house with a picket fence. There is so much down here that people don't know about. That's your loss. I'm pretty sure the other posters are being superficial. I've walked to and from Peeve's on the Fulton mall at night time. I was not robbed, asked for money, or even bothered once. If you want to know what's wrong with downtown Fresno, read the other comments. read more

... where to start its Fresnos fullton mall. Lol not much to say if you know the location then you already know what's here, bums and a bunch of little mexican shops that don't speak english or care to help you. read more

i have worked in the Fulton Mall for 2 years at Fallas Paredes all i have to say is its dangerous to be in that area and that store should be closed theres mildew and rats leaking ceilings and bad A/C i felt bad for my customers enter that store at your risk and theres lots of homeless and gang bangers Fulton Mall is awful read more

this mall is not good at all but if u looking to help some homeless people with money its good....