“Gourmet Alley” opens a pedestrian-only plaza in downtown Gilroy

After over two years of planning, delays, and construction, Gilroy celebrated the transformation of a back alley into a public pedestrian plaza in a move that officials say will bring new life into downtown and serve as a hub of activity in the city.

Earlier this year, Gourmet Alley was a narrow street in downtown Gilroy, mostly serving to house dumpsters and access parking. Now, the space has been converted into two blocks of newly-paved, pedestrian-only space, lined with trees, public seating, planters and lighting.

“This project has been a long time in the making, and while we have faced our fair share of challenges along the way … creating more pedestrian-friendly spaces like this one is a great move toward revitalizing our downtown,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Carol Marques at an event celebrating the opening on Friday morning.

The alley abuts a series of bars and restaurants which will be able to open their back doors to the space, which Marques hopes will bring about “bustling outdoor dining, musical performances, art displays” and community gatherings.

The city was originally awarded $3.9 million from a Caltrans Clean California grant in May 2022 to beautify Gourmet Alley and nearby Railroad Alley. After the design was completed in October, however, no construction companies responded to the city’s call for bids. A subsequent search found bids coming in over a $1 million over budget, so city staff worked to downsize the project.

This March, the city approved a downsized plan, and construction began in April by Trinchero Construction. Though the city is still completing the financials of the project, city manager Jimmy Forbis says the project is set to be within budget.

Forbis calls the construction “Phase One” of the project, saying that he hopes to see more  projects to bring public art and additional activity into the space.

“Now it’s up to downtown … to really activate this space and to really give it life and to turn it into what Gilroy has always dreamed of,” said Forbis. “It’s just the start for this area, but it’s a big start.”