Few People Know Michigan Was Home To The First Outdoor Pedestrian Mall In America
By Emily Tieman|Published April 19, 2023
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Emily Tieman
Author
Emily Tieman is a lifelong Michigander and has a love for locally owned small businesses. She is a freelance writer for Only In Your State and has her own vintage content creator business.
The Great Lake State is known for many things such as having the largest freshwater system in the world and being the heart of the American automotive industry. But back in the day, we were also known for having the first outdoor pedestrian mall in Kalamazoo, Michigan and it is still thriving to this day. Whether you visit for a bit of history or to shop locally, the Kalamazoo Mall is a must-visit.
The Kalamazoo Mall is located in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo in Southwest Michigan.
Opened in 1959 at the cost of $60,000, Kalamazoo became “Mall City” by opening America’s first outdoor pedestrian mall. The mall started as two car-free blocks of Burdick Street and eventually grew to four blocks by 1975.
By 1998, two blocks were reopened to a single southbound lane for thru traffic. But the mall is still as vivacious as ever.
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There are so many fantastic local shops to choose from including the Rocket Fizz candy shop, Bee Joyful eco-friendly store, Great Lakes Thrift Co. vintage shop, and Cherri's Chocol'art chocolate shop.
A downtown social district was created where you can grab a drink from one of the many participating brewpubs and walk around the Mall. Or listen to some free live music in the summer at the historic Kalamazoo State Theater.
You’ll always find an event going on in downtown Kalamazoo from parades to shop local events. Arguably the biggest event is Vintage in the Zoo which takes over downtown, shuts down streets for easy pedestrian access, and small artisans get to sell their eclectic vintage wares.
The Kalamazoo Mall may have changed since 1959, but the spirit of shopping locally in Michigan is still booming to this day.
For a list of upcoming events, visit the Downtown Kalamazoo Partnership website. Have you walked downtown Kalamazoo before? Let us know your favorite places to eat and shop in the comments below. If you’re visiting in the summer, make sure you plan accordingly to experience Vintage In The Zoo.
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