Little Italy communities throughout the United States have symbolized the tremendous contributions Italians have made to this country. Unfortunately, many of these historic business districts are disappearing due to growth of other adjacent neighborhoods or due to the dispersion of Italian families from these districts.
Little Italy in San Diego is different. A stable ethnic business and residential community since the 1920’s, Little Italy represents Downtown San Diego’s oldest continuous neighborhood business district. At one time, more than 6,000 Italian families lived in Little Italy and toiled to build San Diego into the center of the world tuna industry.
With the decline of tuna fishing on the West Coast and loss of land due to the construction of Interstate 5, Little Italy suffered nearly thirty years of decline. In the early 1990’s, local property owners and family businesses decided to take their fate into their own hands.
Today San Diego’s Little Italy is rebuilding its greatness. New Italian American and non-Italian business owners alike are seeking retail and professional space. Creative builders and architects are constructing beautiful new developments, and the local redevelopment agency is funding street improvements on the main commercial corridor, India Street.
Little Italy San Diego is serving as a model for the handful of Little Italy associations remaining throughout the country.
To learn more about this vibrant community, please visit our website at http://www.littleitalysd.com/splash/index.asp
