21-07-2025
19th Street's transformation has Eastchester businesses excited
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – The transformation of 19th Street continues. The area of downtown Bakersfield between K and Q just keeps getting more interesting.
Now, granted, it's not all that interesting at the moment.
The historic Woolworth's building is still a couple of months from completion, and a section of Eastchester, as it has come to be known, seems to have more for lease signs than now open. But it's getting there. As Mayor Karen Goh outlined this week at the annual State of the City luncheon, food, drink and assorted diversions are in the planning and/or construction phases.
This derelict lot will eventually look like this.
The so-called Toucan building, ravaged by fire just a few months ago, will soon look like this.
And in between those spots, Bakersfield Community Theatre — the oldest continuously operating community theater in California – will be getting new life. It's moving from a quonset hut on South Chester to the middle of the action. Jan Hefner, the executive director, took us on a tour.
'It is some very cool stuff happening,' she said, 'and that's one of the things that we were drawn to, is the chance to be a centerpiece of a new entertainment district. There's other fine theaters in the downtown area too, but with the amenities that are being built up here and the new vendors and businesses and restaurants that are coming in, we think this is just an ideal spot for us to be.'
The community theater is moving next door to the historic Toucan building, which just last year was torched by fire. It, too, is making a comeback. The theater's move might take three years. But businesses already operating in this largely shuttered commercial/slash light industrial area are ready for them.
Hector Miranda owns Adventure Awaits, a 19th Street coffee shop that's been open almost three years. It's directly across from that container park.
'Things are definitely changing as we brought in an influx of traffic as well as all the new businesses that are coming up around us,' he said. 'We're very excited to have all new neighbors.'
Hoagie's Grill is right around the corner from Bakersfield Community Theater's new location. Brianna Baker, an assistant manager, is happy about the proximity.
'I'm very excited for what downtown has to offer, especially right here on 19th Street,' she said. 'There's a lot of new things opening up. And it's really nice to see the community just show up for everybody. … I'm really excited to see what downtown has in store for us.'
She and everyone else on 19th Street is hoping excitement and prosperity are right around the corner.
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