The mixingist bar in town

The opening of the Back Alley Bar in 1999 heralded in an era of 'new urbanism' in Downtown Fullerton. No longer was the downtown area just a place you visit for gifts for your grandmother and then go home. At the Back Alley you could see local residents who lived in apartments above the ground floor come down stairs to work and meet with friends. You could see students and teachers alike studying on the open-air patio that extended onto the sidewalk.

Urban areas all over the world have been moving in the direction of new-urbanism since the shortcomings of planned urbanism, also pioneered in Southern California in places like Lakewood and Mission Viejo, have come to light. Other local areas like Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Beach, Pasadena, Long Beach and Silver Lake have seen increased commerce in their re-designed downtown areas, typified by outdoor patios and mixed-mode dwellings.

Since the success of the Back Alley nearly all new establishments have tried to include an outdoor patio in their plans. With Fullerton's proximity to the coast and the hills the nearly perfect Mediterranean climate makes it perfect for outdoor activities of all kinds even later in the evening.

Now the Back Alley has expanded to an adjacent bar which can be accessed through a long hallway. Front Street bar faces out onto the Wilshire avenue area facing Stadium Tavern. It’s location near local businesses and shops has made it a favorite place to stop after shopping or work.

Perhaps the founders of Fullerton, George and Edward Amerige, along with George Fullerton and Charles Chapman knew what they were doing when they built these buildings in the late 1800’s. Perhaps new-urbanism isn’t so new. But we can be sure that one key facet of this small-town culture is the ability to walk to the local watering hole, be served a nice cold drink and talk about the latest happenings with other locals and some out-of-towners. For many Fullertonians that place is the Back Alley.