Given the amount of money that the mayors office was throwing around for his various "big bang" public works projects earlier in 2007, the city (working through the RDA) could afford to buy all three of Cohen's buildings right now and have millions left over to help subsidize their renovation with a willing developer. And those buildings, if they were fixed up, would have far more potential to "revitalize" the mall and downtown and stadium area than any water feature they could ever build.

You are correct about the RDA not getting a response from Cohen in 2007 when they were asking him about providing gap funding for his projects. Approaching Cohen with a potential sale is a different matter, especially if he sees that big eminent domain stick sitting over in the corner (not that it has to be used, but the threat might given him a little incentive to make a deal)

...I meant to say 'a stockmarket trader, falling from the observation deck can go through a person...'

(We literally had 'no diving,' labels on the window sills on one of the Money District banks I used to work in, ---well, it was only on the 5th floor... mindyou...)

Seriously?
I know (at least here in the 'hood of Shaw and Foist,)

If there is an unsanitary (hah,) or serious health threat
(furniture, garbage, appliances, cars on blocks, roaming pit-bulls or bulldogs (human and non-human,)
---even excessive tagging (spray paint, not the kindof tag you play when your like, ten?)

The 'city,' jumps on the landlords (actually other landlords jump on the offending landlord,)
---and we've had folks shut down who were even from out of state...
-It takes a while, but the old 'public safety hazard,' thing does pack a wallop if used per directions on the package...

I say:
Find out what the laws are, unify a front of writin' and violations posting, -and nail da bum.
(figuratively speakin' of course...)

If some unfortunate person were to be walking along totally diggin' the muzak that is playing over the speakers then all of the sudden whaap!!

ChaChing!!! It would be like winning the lotto! Of course you may have a massive head wound, but hey, nothing comes without a price.

Of course all of the above was said in jest.

But the city should do something about the buildings, even if it means putting a fence around them till the maintenance is brought up to snuff.

(by the way, the penny from the Empire State Building, busted on Mythbusters)

...head trauma and traumatic brain injury as a pathway to structural upkeep?

(I know you're not advocating that...)

But jeez... yah, there should be something rolling legally to prod the buggar WAY sooner than waiting for that bit of nasty business to happen.

I'm used to a world where (Empire State Building speakin') if you drip a penny from the obsv. deck? It goes THROUGH a person.
-part of a facade falling on a pedestrian
(especially some poor old duffer who cannot move that fast to react and get out of the way...)

just not cool... not cool at all.

I believe the RDA has attempted to talk with Mr Cohen about the BoI and JC Penny buildings but haven't received a response.

While it's not illegal to wait for property values to go up and make a profit. It would be nice if he would at least keep the maintenance of the buildings up. There has to be some sort of code violation when parts of the overhang are falling onto the sidewalks around the building. Maybe if someone was walking by and was hit on the head with some of the falling stucco, maybe then someone could sue Mr. Cohen. Maybe a lawsuit would get him to invest some money in his buildings?

Don't believe a word you hear from Mr Cohen about his "plans" for those buildings. He's been saying the same thing for the past six years while he continues to let his properties rot. The RDA needs to buy his buildings and turn them around to a developer who will get something done. Of course, this is probably what Mr Cohen wants to happen, as he'll make a nice profit, but what's the alternative?

Great points, and all of them worth putting money into.

As far as I am aware, via the bee, the Bank of Italy and Penny's Buildings do have plans in store by the people who own them. I read this just recently, I believe the article was about the buildings with the red x.

For ten million you could really put a face lift on all the store fronts along the strip to begin some continuity.

To quote Mr. Krugman from a Mindhub post, "what part of no don't they understand?". The water feature idea needs to stop. The things that are there already need to be fixed and made presentable before anything new gets placed in. A plan for all of downtown needs to be made. Phases of the plans implementation need to be established and the ball needs to start rollin.

See you all tonight.

Diablo

---probably several bad puns in that subject line---but jpatrick---I looked over that site a bit...esp. the FAQ bits---I saw some mention of
Albuquerque----but is there a place where some of these ideas are
being used right now---where folks can observe them and their advantages?
---Even if the answer is no, if the idea is sound, I can see the advantages of Fresno trying to get in on the ground floor of a new technology---probably do good things for the ol' economy --creating jobs and such , eh?
Please inform. (if you feel subjects too big or derailing...post it in it's own spot?)--thanks.

Consult with ATRA (Advanced Transit Association http://www.advancedtransit.org/news.aspx ) to find an appropriate “people mover” system for a modern day solution of getting people from place to place. Oh, BTW this system is already paid for with Measure C “New Tech” funds.

How about refurbishing the clock tower. Its looks like it could use some TLC.

A much smaller project would be to fix the base on the Renoir sculpture.

Aside from all the ones you mentioned above, thats about all I can think of right now.

As a late-comer to the conversation...

Joe, your point at the top about signage was right on. There's not a single sign anywhere directing anyone to the Mall. The only somewhat-exception is on Stanislaus at Broadway, where there is an overhead Caltrans sign for "Downtown Mall".

Which brings up a good point that the rest of the posts have touched on, which is, If the City had $10 million to spend on high-visibility, high-impact projects downtown, what should it spend the money on? More street improvements and linear water features?

To me this question got pretty germane after the word went out Friday about the City's plans for this (latest) Mall water feature idea. It seems like the current administration really does want to spend some money downtown immediately. Great! Perhaps our response should be, "Here's what to spend it on."

Can we build a list of 10 projects together? Remember, these City folks appear to want something concrete, not a plan to do a plan. I'll paraphrase some of the things I've seen above, then add a few...

1. Buy the Bank of Italy and Penney's buildings and offer heavy incentives to developers who will rehab them.

2. Install attractive nighttime lighting along the whole Mall -- and no need to stop there.

3. Make a bigger show of the Mall's entrances.

4. Hire a consultant (see www.corbindesign.com) to design a robust wayfinding signage system. No more getting lost on the way to the Mall, Chinatown, the stadium, the courts, the Convention Center, the Saroyan Theater, etc. Install the signage when the study is done, alas, probably not before November.

5. Install permanent, pay-per-use restrooms anywhere pedestrian traffic is desired. No more health hazards, no more ADA violations, no more creepy dark corners. Yes to maps and ads on the sides!

6. Restore the existing water features on the Fulton Mall.

7. Plant trees up the wazoo.

8. Add bike lanes -- not everywhere, perhaps, but along a few routes that will allow a minimum safe level of basic bicycle mobility.

9. Launch a three-times-weekly farmers market under the Clock Tower. That way it's close to the Courthouse Park transit depot for the people who take the bus to buy their food. Also, make it run through the lunch hour, and you've caught the whole employee-shopping-for-dinner crowd.

Hmm, I'm coming up short here, anyone care to round out the list?

I agree about the Helm Building. And if the top floors were renovated and occupied, I'd have to think that would be good for your business.

Re: Downtown banks, talk to Dennis Woods who is CEO of United Security Bank, at their dowtown headquarters on Inyo between Van Ness and L. He's a big supporter of downtown, provided the funding for the Convention Center Tower which bears his bank's name, has the loan for the renovation of the Met, etc. We had him on The Pulse on 90.7 KFSR and he said he has his desk situated right in the floor of the bank and anyone can come up to him and talk to him at any time.

BTW, there is a group looking at design guidelines for downtown, and ways to help fund improvements.

I'm in on the Joe for RDA Director.

What the others said, excellent assessment Joe. Along the order you speak of in terms of identifying areas/things and addressing them, the Helm building needs to present a uniform look to the mall. It must have 4 different tenants at least, and all those frontages look completely different.

Part of the vision feels like it should entail forming a uniform look along the mall. Much like you stated in preserving the original look of other places while updating them, I think this can be done easily. The looks of the Bank of Italy tie-in well with the Gottschalks and Guarantee building. Many other structures along the path do as well, but just need updating.

Is there a community bank downtown who's interest lies in downtown? This could be an avenue to pursue for funding much of the downtown revitalization. I'd bank with them knowing my money and interest stayed local and percentages went directly to downtown upkeep and restoration. Just an idea.

Joe's input is exactly why I waffle so much on openning the mall to traffic. There are insightful opinions that can point to other cities with a similar situation that are open to traffic. However, a friend of mine also noted that part of the benefit of having it as a pedestrian mall is exactly that, encouraging people to walk and get out of their vehicles. Mr. Moore's analysis is sound. There are works of art to preserve and aside from that, there is cost savings in keeping it as a pedestrian mall, no demolition or construction costs to pay for. Just some renovation.

Mr. Patrick, I'm with ya. Though I'm not sold that there is a mobility issue per say, identifying that as a puzzle piece and also having knowledge of how to place that piece with Measure C money makes that a big step. One I think we should take, especially since there are funds allocated specifically for that. I believe your idea helps create a draw to downtown. It makes it easier to get around, saves the environment and gives further uniqueness to the area to set it apart from the rest of the city. The Jpods, are those what are in the other post along the lines of a monorail? How does one configure that system to blend in with the existing old fashioned look?

(thanks Mr. Field. Seeing eyes open wide when they have their first great coffee is a great feeling. But when I make myself a french press and offer what I have left in the decanter to someone purchasing beans, and see their eyes bug out, that's awesome. What makes it more awesome is learning that they were regular french press drinkers and added that they could never prep a press that compared to mine. That gives a very gratifying feeling to me as a roaster. Further, there is nothing really, well ok- so I really shop for the beans and cup for quality on a level few others do, so I do have access to really fresh great coffee, different or special about how I prep my press. It's all in the details I have learned from studying the subject. I desire to have the best myself, and hope to offer the same to others. Soon I'll be giving lessons on the subject at the coffeehouse)

Diablo

places to avoid eating at:

-Yosemite Falls Cafe and Lounge:
(went tonight,) way overpriced, food not so great, small portions, waitstaff friendly, but honestly came acrossed more like a diner full of animal chotchkes and a very confused jukebox... No interest in going back, like ever.

-Spaghetti Factory:
Yep, national chain,
Yep, tries to be big on overblown 'tiffany early 'teens (as in 1913 environs, lots of overstuffed couches, heaboards at the table, AND a genuine 'RedBird trolley,' in the main eating room...
-The waitstaff was friendly, but the food took forever to come and the chicken marsalla I ordered came out like, RAW, (yep, we're talking pink, uncooked and bloody,)
-and poultry sushi just ain't a good thing.
-also way overpriced.
(I went to one about twenty years ago in Philly, and it was great, (huge too,) -but that was a different world... avoid this place like the plague.

-both venues are on Shaw (one just before Cedar, the other down just past the Sierra Vista Mall in clovis.)

-'Juno,' was good, though (interesting soundtrack, funny, poignant, believable.)

Joe, your posts are so right-on target. My question is: does anyone at the RDA have any of your knowledge and insight?

Again, I have to insist that the commerce to activate revitalization can only be drawn by convenient mobility. Measure C has a $36million fund for New Technology Transit. This is ample to support “an urban experiment” that can work to stimulate the economy of Downtown Fresno. There is no definition on how this “New Tech” money is to be spent other than “New Technology” Transit. With enough interest from local citizenry an inexpensive transit system can be found and built to serve the mobility needs of Downtown Fresno. Downtown doesn’t need a water feature as much as it needs a state-of-the-art people mover. The Measure C New Tech Fund provides the money to build it – where are the people that understand this and want to do something about it?

For me, I’ve changed my I’d to I’m.

Joe, you have my nomination for new RDA Director.

Joe, that was freakin' beautiful.

There is an aspect to the place, however that you left out, (probably because it's so new.)

Cafe Corazon

Though Leo and Liz's place is the new rockstar, it totally has staying power.
(And, to me is the only reason why I brave the hellish parking situations, and, if I'm down that way try to stop in... (It's also why the inside of my car is starting to look like the floor of a bakery, crumbs all over the place, coffee stains... (I need to make a coffee cup holder.)

What I see happening (clinically speaking) with 'Corazon that is drawing people in:

-genuine personality of the owners, genuine enthusiasm on behalf of the owners in what they do, ---and genunie love for their clientel.
--(That's all a lot of fluffy words in a scenario where every other post about something would make it sound like the Lord's return has been upstaged,)
---but in this case, it's the real deal, there is no reason to hype the place, because it's good enough to stand on anyone's personal experience.

Though I see excellent business moves being made by the owners, Cafe Corazon has heart and taste that bring it home to me, (and by the writings they get often,) other people as well.

-What I find interesting:
--They understand where they are, they understand the cultures that are there, as well as the cultures that are dropping in.

--They are reaching out to those cultures and speak those cultures in their business,
-all the while NOT pandering to them. (there's nothing fake or 'pleeeeeeeease come heeeeeeere,' about either of them or their staff.
As business presentation?, as promotion goes, there are some in this town who may be great at what they do (arts, food, whatever,) --but come across so needy, it really shoots the genuine aspect of their place in the foot, (that and seeming to find any possible way to promote their place,)
Cafe Corazon and their methods of informing people what they're doing has a lot of dignity and class. (There's something to be said about that that I hope others follow.)
There is something to be said for self-respect and how one presents even the needs of the business (to stay in business,) --sorta like fund-drives on KFSR, -no begging, just '...this is what we do, this is why we're great, this is why we care, -this is why you should care, how 'bout it?')

--Their products (so far i'm working my way around the coffee and pastries, and buying larger pants,) are excellent, and show excellent quality, presentation, and sincere knowledge of what they're doing.
(this is not some lame-assed 'we're authentic, but YOU have to contribute toooooo, sort of half baked deal.'

NOPE
It's a professional deal, no manipulation.
-you come in,
you plunk down your duccets,
and they deliver.
--You like what you get?
all the better,
---but it's a direct 'we're here to provide something in a professional and warm manner, you just be you.' sort of environment.
THAT impresses the daylights out of me.

There are no 'excuses,' in terms of what they do, and if anything will lift 'Fresno,' out of
'Not Bad for Fresno,
What do you expect it's fresNO,'
it's somebody who doesn't even need to go near that hobbyhorse, and just does their work and does it well.
-excellent product
-excellent service
-great atmosphere
'boom,' -this can be done and done in a 'mom and pop,' shop.
(That's really hard to find these days,

-like my girlfriend and I went to dinner in a place over in Clovis that 'everybody's raving about,' -the food was subpar,
the atmosphere really confusing (the menu was confusing,) the service disorganized,
the music SUCKED,
and the plastic coated menu's smelled weird, (and it was way overpriced ta boot.)
I didn't want to say anything, (cause she picked it,) but at the end of the night, she was like:
'you know that place was bad,'
and I was like:
'...well, honey, at least we got it out of the way and know that we don't have to go back there again..'

Final? (back to 'Corazon)
The atmosphere.
It's beautifully colored and toned, it is genuinely warm and inviting,
---and it's unique and very personal, ----without coming across as tacky or sooooo personal, that you think 'you need to take a shower,' or feel
'infringed,' upon.
--As a cafe?, -the place presents beautifully, and does what cafe's are supposed to DO,
provide a neutral and encouraging place to just sit and have something good.
-If I had clients in this area? (and they were like,)
'...dude, this has been a hella day, I just want to go somewhere, have a cup of coffee, get something good to eat, and then we get into business...'
-THIS is where we'd go.
(and I can tell you business would work well during and after the time spent.)

The beauty of the situation is, (that so few people 'get,')

-A business of this nature (serving the public,) is essentially a tool.
-You get stuff done there (eat, socialize, unwind, decompress,) and then you get on with your life.
-Cafe Corazon gets that...
They're not there for 'them,' they're there for the customer, treat them wonderfully,
--and do so in a manner that is uniquely theirs, not at all fake, ---and makes a strong impression.

(This is not an advert for the place, it's simply a straight up comment. (That I like the place and the place's owners has nothing to do with it, I mean, I could still think they're great people and NOT go there, but truth be told I was hooked by the coffee (legitimately,) and then got to know them, (I win both times...)

A place like this, once known,
can and WILL bring repeat customers back,
--and if they start packing in residences down in those buildings,
Leo and Liz are going to wind up in the laughing academy due to overwork,
----but they'll be rich as Rockefeller in the process, (rightfully so.)

THAT sort of thing, that sort of place, will draw folks, (once you, you know that it's there.)

As far as I'm concerned?
it's the only reason I got, so far, venue, cafe, (etc.) food wise.

(Also)
I had no idea that there was a 'free speech,' area... (So THAT's what was up with doomsday bro and his old and new testament monotone...)
THAT has to be reconfigured to modern times,
(whole concept and execution of it,)
-otherwise it's going to feel as dated as a VW Microbus three quarters of the way through following the Dead on Tour (and probably smell just as freaky...)
-How to bring THAT modern? (public space, public speaking, free speech area,) --HAS to be updated to a y2k's mindset.
-could play in, as arts and causes go hand in hand (sometimes missapropriating each other, -but hey, at least people hear the message or something... I dunno.)

(Also-Also) I noticed vacant space in the Train Station (for rent) sign sitting in the window...

?

Before anything else happens, there needs to be a new vision for what the Fulton Mall and central business district will be in terms of uses and activities. The old vision dates from 1958 and is obsolete - the Fulton Mall was going to be the regional retail center for the entire 6 county region. We're not going back to that, no matter how much we try. So will it still attempt to be retail focused, will it be a center for government offices, an outdoor entertainment venue and district for nightlife, a center for urban housing? All of those, but in specific blocks? Something else?

Opening the mall to traffic or even partial traffic won't achieve anything if that issue isn't solved. Example: I've heard many people talk about how opening the north section of the mall will help revitalize it. Well, you've got five government office buildings there all with long term ground floor space on the mall, Longs Drugs, some law firms and other legal offices. Does opening it to traffic solve anything? You have Milano all alone there and that's about it. The County Health Dept and Housing Dept, and law offices aren't moving anytime soon, so it'll still be dead at night, even if it was opened up to traffic. The sites for new development on the north side of the mall (the parking lots for Longs and the Housing Dept) aleady have frontage on a street right now.

I think there's ways to make modifications to the mall that respect the original design, much like older buildings like the Rowell Building and Santa Fe depot have been updated but in keeping with their original design. Even the Saroyan Theatre, a mid century modern design, has been updated and still maintains its mid-century character. I'm curious to hear about this proposed linear fountain, but in general I don't think that fountains and other public works items are a draw by themselves, otherwise, the Fulton Mall would be more successful than it is. Any changes have to be paired with actual projects involving mall properties. I'd start by identifying specifc sections of the mall and focusing efforts at encouraging and developing specific uses at those sections. I'd also invest RDA money more heavily on mall area projects than non-mall area downtown projects. I'd make restoring and redeveloping the existing vacant hi-rises on the mall priority #1, because they have the most potential and are the biggest eyesores. I'd reconfigure the free speech area (not a part of the original mall design but a much later addition) to be a world class outdoor entertainment venue for weekly festivals and concerts (and supply a budget and staff to support such events).

As far as physical changes, massive new lighting for the mall and mall properties, dramatic new entry plazas at mall entry points, and of course landscaping enhancements and repairs to whatever is broken or in need of repair or replacement. Parking garages would be retrofitted with new low enegry/high output LED lighting. I'd extend the pedestrian mall down Merced Street to the soon to be renovated Hotel Fresno and IRS Building through the existing parking lot, which is a visual barrier to people from those buildings walking down to the mall. Those are a few ideas of what can be done without opening the mall to traffic, or making major modifications, though I'm sure there's a lot more good ideas out there.

what would be a good way of saving what Gruen started, modifying the surrounding area (or the main shopping area itself of Fulton?)

I don't think the 'all or nothing,' approach (IE scorched earth, clean start,) thing will fly here,

Is there any way to 'open up,' what's there?

And, again, thinking of it again today...
There is this sort of '...you gotta know where to look,' to even find the mall, (and I'm not just talking 'signs,') ---which is another way of 'telling a Fresnan what to do.' (not popular.)

---What way is there to take the aspects of Fulton mall and make folks visually be attracted to it and see what it is that's there...??

I'm thinking lighting... higher trees... the police copter circling and dropping candy-bars... (notice how I didn't say 'donuts',)

What?

Realizing that this debacle has been trudging on longer than a generation, there are a ton of people who need to be introduced, -or reintroduced..
(which, in a good way, it does mean that it can be changed a bit, and nobody's going to freak out that it's been 'changed.')
(please tell me it's not going to be another 30 years before mods can take place...)

Many people will argue that Gruen and other proponents of the urban renwal in the 50's and 60's did far more harm to the urban cores of cities than they helped them. Jane Jacobs and others made a career out of battling with planners like Gruen and their plan to save cities by destroying them. Keep in mind this - the mall system in Fresno was just a piece of Gruen's plan. His plan called for the systematic demolition of something like 40 percent of all of the buildings in the central business district for parking, relocated streets and "new development." (virtually everything west of the alley behind the Fulton Mall was torn down) Many of those businesses simply closed rather than relocate. Or they relocated to North Fresno. And all of the things Gruen mentions in "Fresno's Plan" as negative things about downtown Fresno pre-mall, it was busy, noisy, chaotic, with crass and tacky neon signs, a "restrictve" street grid, "antiquated" old buildings - these are the things that to us today make urban areas unique, cool and appealing. Don't get me wrong, I like the mall and see the beauty in it today, and think it has a lot of potential as well for tomorrow. But I also see how Gruen's ideas were off the mark in some ways. It's far too simplistic to say that Gruen killed downtown Fresno, as there's all the other factors that we are well aware of in this town. But some of his ideas did not help it either. In some ways, had the city not acted with such boldness back then in adopting his plan and other revitalization efforts (destorying much of historic Chinatown, etc), we might be further ahead in terms of revitalization today.

So then it was Victor that killed Downtown Fresno. BTW, I'm kidding here.

Well, it's nothing new when it comes to the use of the term "mall." In fact, Victor Gruen who designed the Fulton Mall (designed in 1958, opened in 1964), was also the father of of the American suburban shopping mall. He designed the Northland Center in suburban Detroit, which many say killed downtown Detroit and was the birth of midwestern urban sprawl (1952) and the Southfield Center in Edina Minnesota, which was the nation's first enclosed shopping mall (1956). In fact, when he built the first US downtown pedestrian mall in Kalamazoo (1959) he boasted of how much similar it was to his new antiseptic suburban centers. So Gruen was in the subrban shopping mall business long before he was in the urban pedestrian mall business. And of course, most people when they think of "going to the mall" probably think of a pedestrian mall (there are very few left) but rather one of those suburban centers like Fashion Fair.

(not a complete list)
sorta long, but good questions bring up good answers...

1.
what works well about Fulton:

-definite 'alt,' environment (how I mean that?)
When you walk outside of a store, the ambient music (sometimes 'literally,' ambiant,) can be heard, and there is a very interesting combination of 'I'm inside, yet, I'm outside,' sort of feel.
-This happens in other malls as well, (Riverpark, with it's 'largeness,' has successfully created a 'village/nooks and crannies' feel'
(ditto) the newer areas over at Sierra Vista, Fashion Faire and Old Fig.

-The facades and aspects of Fulton that are truly unique is that the buildings 'feel,' old, and you feel more 'closed in' on a 'protected,' corridor.'

The bad of that?
-well, just like I'm quite comfortable schlepping around skyscrapers (Manhattan,) and used to crawl onto a creeper, slide under my pickup and take a nap, (and you thought all mechanics were just very quiet when working on driveshafts,)
--Local folks may feel very 'pressed in,' and claustrophobic on Fulton.
(I've heard tons of times by Fresnans '..wow, I could barely stand being in NYC, it was so claustrophobic.)
-So how to address that and give some atmosphere 'openness,' to help people transition back into it... -one for the engineers.
Hanging a bunch of flags and stuff, and adding to the clutter just takes more space, -I'm thinking better use of lighter colors, and as with all 'enclosed,' spaces, more lighting. (specifially soft but bright lighting that turns close-hard spaces into warm ones.)

(Not so good cntd.)
This kind of rides on Joe's comments:
-you need a sign to get there...
-you really can't 'see it.'

2.
I can't begin to tell you how many times, -deliberately looking to go to the mall, I've found myself riding right past it, and at a pretty good rate of speed.
-there aren't any 'turn off areas,' or 'frontage roads with parking lots.' that give a person to be riding along, a chance to be like:
'...oh, the mall,'
-and then be able to 'do,' something about it.

-I think that 'extreme need to focus on going to Fulton Mall,'
(not unlike hunting through a junkyard looking for the telltale signs of a '64 comet front grille, hiding under a mountain of crunched Taurus' and washing machines,' -puts a lot on a person and makes it too hard for most.

-These other malls?
Jeez, you gotcher floursecent and neon lights, you gotcher twirling signs telling you what's there, and you can actually SEE the thing for miles around, (one south of here has giant ants walking on it... ewww.)

Fulton? I've been around the block from it, next to a building that had a side ON it, -and never knew... (for about a year after moving here? I've actually walked down the thing, an never even knew I was 'on the Fulton Mall.' (truth.)

3.
Weirdness factor:
For me it's ambiance, and I love it.
Not for everybody.
The carts,
-old folks sitting with walkers,
-the guy with the 'gigundo roach whompin' Bible in his slo-mo apocolypse rant, sounding like one of Scrooge's ghosts come to visit.
--THAT, though I find it interesting, may freak folks out.
(Funny thing is: people have written about this quite extensively in their blogs and such when they go downtown, -and though it's true? They're seen as 'Fulton Mall Haters.')

Getting folks into a 'mall,' who have not been in a long time?
(or who have never been, and who have heard only bad about the place? (most people who I know who have 'never been downtown/to the mall.)
HAVE heard monster story after monster story.
-They need to feel like they can sample a little strangeness (or unique flavor,) but to do so slowly, and not be asked to chow down a whole elephant full at once.
It's kinda like going to Panda Express and thinking that you're eating real 'chinese food.'
Most malls are actually kind of mainstream, with accents here and there that let folks find THEM, (Fulton is pretty high-strength, direct, and up front in terms of accent, -that may spook folks.)
(too many 'unusual', things on a plate? People will feel pressured and overwhelmed

(---Couple THAT with a sense of 'this place is really enclosed, there are strange things happening (culturally, racially etc,) -and they will feel trapped.)

(An intersting aspect to 'walking the mall.'

4.
-When you hit other stores in OTHER malls, you are:
A. -afforded many ways to approach and exit the mall (altoghether,) giving a sense of control over the issue.
B. -when you walk out of a store? (in other malls,)
-you are greeted with more open space,
-usually some sort of pretty median,
-a variety of stores with inviting fronts,
-more color,
and NOT a bunch of people sitting pretty close by 'staring,' at you

(the proximity on Fulton:
-is quite close,
very: 'boom,' straight forward,
-you are facing another person, (or several persons,) sitting directly across from you, and they're up in your grille,
(they're just sitting there minding their own business, but the proxomities make it feel differently.
--AND you're coming out of a narrow storefont chute (from the door) ta boot.

---That feels VERY confrontational to a pedestrian,
(furthered by the close aspect of the architecture, that it's a narrow street, visually close in,
---you have (psychologically,) only two ways to 'get out,'
-'hard right' or 'hard left,'
-and then you have to make it down the block, to another 'close street.'

5.
There are aspects to the area that not everybody will feel comfortable with.
-Even if the place is 'clean and open,' --again, it's a 'city,' feel, (kind of like sitting in a brooklyn cafe, or lower east side of Manhattan,)
-yeah, you could be sitting nearby to a trashcan, and there may be a wino wizzing on a building around the corner,
-but (urban dwellers,) either like very 'cement/urban-mix,' of the environment, (just chillin in the human zoo,)
--or they're repelled to it.

Even in Manhattan?, there are different sections that cater to different tastes, and the wealthier (mo money, mo family,) folks often go to areas that reflect more money, have more space, and have flowers and more 'street elegance,' to them (up around Lincoln Center, Upper West Side, for example.)

--Fresnans see people who look 'shabby,'
or are slow moving (elderly, possibly physically not in the best of shape, etc,)
or who are not 'bright and polished,'
-and they think 'poverty-lower class,' and are turned off.
Other malls? you get the impression that people got dressed up a bit (tidied,) to go there.
Fulton has a very interesting (polar,) clientelle
-one group definitely does not give the 'dress up, you're going to be seen' impression.
-the other group? Corp and Bus. cas/formal. (Suit and Tie types, -lotsa fed and legal offices nearby, etc.)
---the pronounced difference between the two causes a person to look at the group of people and (you'd think,)say
'whoah, some folks dress really snappy,'
--but in reality?, it makes those who are not as well dressed appear worse than they are.
--Same can be said for businesses, -you see a nice neighborhood? All the houses look the same, and nothing catches your eye, -it's that 'one house,' that (visually,) folks notice... (It's just the nature of aesthetics.)

-Further: to get to the mall, you have to drive through a lot of areas that don't 'feel,' as 'green,' 'upper class,' or as landscaped and polished as almost all other malls.
-The fact that there are people who are 'down and out,' down there (too,) -and not usually in the other malls? Will turn off a lot of folks.
(Personally, it doesn't bother me, but I like unique environments,)

6.
--what does surprise me, however, is how, even when I'm walking down on the mall, the visuals of buildings and stores with stuff falling down, with security gates all broken and stuff,
-immediately puts me on edge (more a heightened sense of awareness like
'...okay, watch what's going on around THIS corner, keep an eye on THAT guy.') And I'm really comfortable in cities and pretty intense ones at that.
--when, in fact, you're completely right,
it's actually one of the safer places to be, and has police on it frequently.
--It does have a bit of an 'impending feel,' to it that I just react to on a chemical level for some reason. (Though I know the crime rate is higher in Riverpark and Sierra Vista, (I live right next to Sierra Vista,) I don't get the same 'vibe,' at other malls.

Final thoughts:
What works well.

1.
Well, it is a great sense of knowing who your audience is, and playing to their ears, to a degree.

-This is not a plug for your cafe', -but what I like about it IS that it has a true 'arts,' 'nurturing space,' -very origional, very warm and inviting sense to it. (And the food is excellent and not overpriced... people are cool too, but I'm biased.)
-It's the kind of place, that, when you come in, you feel relaxed, and want to sit down and eat something and just absorb it.

THAT will make a massive appeal to the regulars (at least in a 'regular employee of that area,' sense, -as it's very professional, but completely NON corporate, NON Fed, and very organic and warm feeling.
I was telling Liz it's like you're walking around in a room full of warm chocolates, cinnamons, gingers, (Etc,) and it is in complete contrast to the 'cement-stone-steel-grey,' outside.

I think other businesses that can work with that, -and who can genuinely provide 'atmosphere,' that is a part of the Fulton Mall, -and enhances it, -rather than imposes on it.
(I mean, a SUBWAY sandwich shop may be successful, -but (despite the NYC maps and landmarks,) has NEVER felt homey or warm, -ever, it's very 'go, eat, leave,')

To see foottraffic pick up, to see more pedestrians, places have to raise the barre (as you and Liz have done,)
by creating a space that encourages folks to relax, open up, and enjoy.

(Some of the other places I've seen on the mall have just been very 'quickee-mart,' flavored, have more of a '99cent store / street-flea-market,' (that smells more of urinal cakes with big cardboard signs advertising cowboy boots in black magic marker,)
-which, hey, it's direct, there and in your face,
---but too much 'in your face,' 'utility closet feel,' may turn people off.

2.
What IS brilliant is the music choice that is on the speakers outside (at least when I've been there.
Somebody did their homework.

I recall last week when leaving your shop, I walked out, having walked in via a very mixed bag of humanity and behaviors, and immediately heard Roxy Music's 'More than this,' (Avalon album.)
--The music has a very 'euro,' and very 'pick a bank of the riviera,' sort of 'diverse,' feel to it,
-so a person may be experiencing new and uncertain things (even new languages and people who look, act different, who have different styles and types of food,
---and the background tunes facilitate the transition into a more 'exotic,' mindset, and accept these things easier.

--It's VERY 'Envivo Eclectic 1.' vibe.
(far more successful of the two, far more cohesive, and diverse, really celebrated different music cultures, -yet incorporated those of the audience and the performers.)

I see THAT aspect (the genuine mix of unique, yet excellent components, (culture mash-up, foods, people, environs (some in decay, some vibrant, etc., almost like a bazaar,)
Fulton HAS and NO other mall has.

-THAT needs to be played up.

(Like, you know, once you actually FIND the place.)

Bottom line?
I think what you and Liz have done with Cafe' Corazon has given me a reason to go down there more often, (and it's even worth the hassles of finding a place to park, etc.)

No other establishment, nor establishment owner has created that for me,
I feel it on a genuine and not 'trendy,' level (I'm definitely going into a more genuine not trendy mode these days...)
--and based by the responses and inflow to your place?, I think you guys are on to something.

It is curious; are malls now all considered to be large single constructed complexes that fit in a single area such as Fashion Fair or strip malls? Has the term changed since the Fulton Mall was built? Even the City of Fresno has put the Fulton Mall into its Parks Department.

Where are the signs? There's four small ones for pedestrians at Tuoloumne, Fresno, Tulare and Inyo Streets. I don't know of any other signs that say "Fulton Mall" especially ones designed to be seen by motorists. Even people who go to the stadium will most likely not see anything about the mall, or even get close to it, as the main (and most popular) gates are on H Street. Again, no "Fulton Mall this way" signs that I know of.

they could be 16 just starting to drive and have lived in the North Fresno or Clovis area. But I bet if you did a survey of young high school students of the age 16 and asked about Fresno landmarks, the Edison and Roosevelt students would get more downtown locations correct than the Bullard and Hoover students, and they would more than likely get more correct than the Clovis Students.
But if they are young baseball fans and they have gone to Grizzly Games then helpfully they've got an Idea where the Fulton Mall is.