Recently revitalized, Old Town on Ventura Boulevard provides charming shopping and dining alternatives for visitors and is also the site of the weekly Farmers' Market. Several other key shopping districts round out the offerings with a mixture of chain stores, restaurants and locally owned businesses. Parking throughout the City is plentiful and free.

The Old Town revitalization effort began in 1999 with the Ventura Boulevard Streetscape Improvement Project which transformed Ventura Boulevard from a wide asphalt paved thoroughfare to an inviting, pedestrian friendly street that continues to see improvements in both public and private realms. The transformation has been beneficial to Old Town businesses as evidenced by the increased foot traffic and a growing number of sidewalk cafes and specialty retail stores.

Old Town’s transformation was also assisted by a Facade Improvement Rebate Program that has been successful in revitalizing close to forty commercial storefronts. This program which recently came to a close was not only successful in revitalizing those storefronts but had the added effect of reducing vacancies and increasing investments in the Old Town area. Parking which is an integral part of any Old Town revitalization effort continues to be a priority and as such, the CDC is continually engaged in monitoring and planning for new parking areas in Old Town. Old Town is evolving and although there has been significant progress made in the revitalization effort there is still much work to be done. Over the next five years the CDC is planning to invest an additional $10M in Capital Improvement Projects within the Old Town area. Funding for these projects is made available through the Redevelopment Agency.