The Pueblo Downtown Association is a membership organization devoted to raising awareness of Pueblo’s historic Downtown as a unique and attractive place to live and work. The Pueblo Downtown Association was founded in the early 1950’s by department store managers in the bustling retail center of Southern Colorado, the Pueblo Downtown Association brought shoppers to local stores and restaurants with community events such as Krazy Days and Moonlight Madness. Many Pueblans remember stopping to enjoy a sandwich or salad and an ice cream soda at Woolworth’s, J. J. Newberry’s or Kress while shopping for everything from baby clothes to automobiles after cashing their paychecks at one of the palatial banks that graced Downtown Pueblo. The advent of shopping malls and big box stores changed the face of downtowns everywhere. Pueblo was no exception. Pueblo Downtown Association membership dwindled as department store anchors Joslin’s, J. C. Penney and Montgomery Ward left for the trendy new Pueblo Mall. Tough times followed as several area industries closed their doors or cut back. The stampede toward malls and then big box stores led a number of building owners to board up their facades or worse yet, to demolish historic buildings. Fortunately, in the 1980’s a number of civic-minded retailers, restaurant operators and media-types rolled up their sleeves and fought to save and revive Pueblo’s downtown. Association members and city residents rallied behind an idea to use a tiny portion of sales tax revenue to build a new hotel and an impressive convention center. Soon we voted to created our gorgeous Riverwalk. When almost an entire block of historic buildings on Santa Fe was scheduled for demolition, the association convinced city and county fathers to work together to spare the buildings and use vacant land for a needed parking lot. By supporting a new and forward-thinking Urban Renewal Authority, we have encouraged the renovation, restoration and reuse of a number of historic buildings and construction of new structures that compliment the elegant old Victorians. Attractive new condos and apartments are bringing new life to our area. Because so many retail stores and restaurants had abandoned Downtown Pueblo, the association turned its attention from less-effective promotions to sprucing up the area with attractive wrought iron planters, trash receptacles and benches and then an ambitious project to put sculptures on the sidewalks within 5 or 6 blocks of the Marriott Hotel and the Pueblo Convention Center. Our latest project is the placement of fanciful new bicycle racks to promote fitness while encouraging visitors and city residents to shop in locallyowned shops and snack or dine in unique coffee shops and restaurants. Downtown Pueblo is becoming a vibrant place with lots of things to do. Little theater groups and galleries have joined the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center and El Pueblo History Museum and Rosemount Museum and our own Art & Soul of Pueblo Street Gallery in reviving cultural activities. The riverwalk, kayak course and ice arena offer fun and exercise. The Pueblo Convention Center hosts trade shows, glitzy social events and even boxing matches and yoga classes. Downtown Pueblo is once again the heart and soul of our city!
