Avenida Revolución, the heart of Tijuana’s Zona Centro, is now partly closed to cars, with roughly three blocks converted into a pedestrian promenade. The short stretch now offers vendor stalls, benches, a carousel and a lineup of holiday events aimed at drawing families and local shoppers back to “La Revu.”
Officials have closed the roadway to through-traffic to create space for pedestrians, pop-up vendors and performances. Some merchants say foot traffic has already picked up, while others worry about losing easy vehicle access, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
What the renovation included
The state government says the first phase, unveiled in October, modernized water and drainage systems, resurfaced sidewalks and added new benches, lighting and stone paving to make the avenue safer for pedestrians. Officials put the investment at about 25 million pesos, roughly $1.3 to $1.4 million, and described the upgrades as the start of a broader plan to reactivate the historic corridor, according to SanDiegoRed.
The pedestrian run also passes the original Caesar’s restaurant, a longtime landmark on La Revu, as noted by San Diego Reader.
Merchants’ mixed reactions
Local business owners are split on the experiment. Some shopkeepers and restaurateurs report higher pedestrian sales since the plaza opened, while souvenir sellers and businesses that depend on car and bus drop-offs say losing direct vehicle access hurts them…