Downtown Fullerton

The established homes and historic buildings in downtown Fullerton belie the changing nature of the neighborhood. “Fullerton is one of the smaller, older cities in California. It has been a conservative city. But you are seeing a lot of new development going on in the community,” says Charles Lee, a Realtor with One Group Realty. In addition to housing, a burgeoning restaurant scene has been a significant part of the change. “Downtown Fullerton has been diversified. You are seeing a lot of multinationals who own restaurants, and a lot of younger residents are moving in because of the restaurants, and bringing their experiences with them.”

Residential pockets dot the neighborhood. Established housing is highlighted by quaint Craftsman bungalows. As is typical of traditional California housing, the homes feature private driveways that lead to spacious backyards with room for garages. Liberty Walk is a small subdivision of contemporary multilevel homes, town houses and condominiums. Even newer housing can be found in the SoCo Walk District, the epicenter of the city’s efforts to modernize its downtown. The contemporary loft-style condominiums and town houses offer residents easy access to an array of restaurants south of Commonwealth Avenue, the general location for which the district is named, as well as convenient transportation. “SoCo Walk is right across the street from the Metro line, so it’s attracting young professionals,” says Lee. “And a lot of millennials are moving into the area because they would rather eat at restaurants. The city’s efforts to make the neighborhood an attractive destination are paying off. “Inventory is low because there is such high demand,” says Lee. “If I list anything in SoCo Walk, I will start getting calls right away and it won’t last long.” SoCo Walk residences typically list in the $750,000 range, while the rest of the neighborhood’s housing ranges from $600,000 to $900,000.

The neighborhood is home to Fullerton Union High School, which sits on a beautiful campus populated with historic Spanish Revival-style buildings. An A-rated school by Niche, it also received a 9 out of 10 from GreatSchools for College Readiness. Academies for performing arts, visual arts and culinary arts are among the elective courses available to students. Younger neighborhood students can attend Maple Elementary School and Ladera Vista Junior High School of the Arts, a B-rated school by Niche that offers a Dual Language Academy. Fullerton College, a public community college, also calls the neighborhood home.

The SoCo District manages to successfully blend the old with the new. Heroes Bar & Grill has been a Fullerton standard for more than 30 years. The local tavern-style eatery known for the vast collection of memorabilia adorning its walls, is the anchor of the SoCo District, having moved to its location south of Commonwealth Avenue in 2002, long before the area became an entertainment hot spot. Nearby Stubrik’s Steakhouse, another neighborhood mainstay, offers the choice of an upscale meal in a relaxed atmosphere or fun with friends over pool and comfort food in its mezzanine lounge. Retail options are plentiful in SoCo, with clothing and antique stores common. A similar cluster of boutique stores and eateries is located at Villa Del Sol, a historic Spanish-influenced former hotel that is now the centerpiece of a quaint shopping village. The Fullerton Certified Farmers’ Market, one of the oldest in Orange County, takes place every Wednesday at the Fullerton Community Center on Commonwealth Avenue, and the Downtown Fullerton Market is a popular seasonal event where vendors gather at the Downtown Plaza on Wilshire Boulevard every Thursday from April through August.

The Downtown Plaza is among several neighborhood parks. When the plaza is not hosting markets, festivals or concerts, it is a popular spot for children, who enjoy its splash pad and playground. Amerige Park, named after the city’s founders, is adjacent to the Fullerton Community Center. The multi-purpose athletic facility is best known for Duane Winters Field, which hosted minor-league baseball from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s. Today the field is the home of the city’s Pony Baseball League. Independence Park is the neighborhood’s largest. It features a colorful skating facility and a swimming complex.

Neighborhood cultural attractions include the Fullerton Museum Center and the Fox Theater. The museum center is housed in the city’s original library building, which dates to 1941 and is built in the same Spanish Revival style as the buildings on the campus of Fullerton Union High. The Fox Theater was built in 1925 and hosted vaudeville shows when it first opened. In closed in 1987, but efforts to restore it began in 1997. Phase II of its restoration began in 2022.

The changing face of downtown Fullerton is sure to make you smile.

Written By

Matt Pallister

Photography Contributed By

Samuel Evans

Video By

Michael Carey