Anther stop on last weekend's "Fresno Nostalgia Tour" was my old stomping grounds,
Fig Garden Village.
This outdoor shopping center was about 5 blocks from the house where I grew up, and I spent MUCH time there over the years, both as a child and as an adult. I still visit once a year on our annual visit to Fresno. It is still pretty with flowers, and places to stop and sip a coffee or grab a treat from the bakery.
It is amazing how many fun memories came flooding back from just walking through the parking lot! Easter shoes, celebrations at the ice cream parlor, and the first time I was "old enough" to cross the busy intersection and walk here by myself! That was a BIG rite of passage!
Fig Garden Village was much smaller when I was growing up, but it had "everything" we needed and liked. There was a Foodland (upscale grocery store), a nice restaurant (where my parents held a graduation party for me), a library branch, where I spent many Saturday mornings as a child, a bakery, a small department store, a Woolworths, a clothing and shoe store, and best of all, Annie Laurie's ice cream parlor. I could walk or ride my bike there, and spend the day. During high school, we could walk there during lunch. Every Christmas, the Santa's Village was where I had a Santa photo taken.
Now Fig Garden Village has a Whole Foods, Chicos, Ann Taylor, Coldwater Creek, Coach, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Banana Republic, Talbots, and more specialty shops. There is a Starbucks, 8 chain restaurants, and 4 upscale bistros. There is even a We Olive (olive oil and condiments) like the one in Paso Robles! How cool is that!
It is still a lovely place to shop! Ciao until our next visit!
Comments (6)
That sounds like a great shopping center reminding me of Stanford with the flowering plants and the stores you mentioned.
At first glance I thought it was like a Sunset Gardens, perhaps due to "Fig" in the name... :)
Posted by Eden | April 17, 2009 8:44 AM
Posted on April 17, 2009 08:44
Ah Palma, that's what I miss about California. Its so easy to find anything there!(sigh)
Posted by Kendall | April 17, 2009 8:45 AM
Posted on April 17, 2009 08:45
What a great place to have grown up near. Your childhood years sounded so wonderful. No wonder you grew up to be such a well balanced and happy individual. I loved the image of you being able to go there by yourself for the first time. Will you post a photo of you as a young girl? I'd love to see one.
Posted by Barb Cabot | April 17, 2009 11:03 AM
Posted on April 17, 2009 11:03
It sounds like the fig garden has grown right along with you.
It still has everything you might need or want!
Posted by sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | April 17, 2009 3:41 PM
Posted on April 17, 2009 15:41
I love foxgloves! Thank you for posting that photo, Palma...they are one of my favorite flowers of all.
Lovely warm memories, thank you for sharing!
Posted by Brenda | April 17, 2009 11:26 PM
Posted on April 17, 2009 23:26
Glad you enjoyed your stay in Fresno. I hope Brad had fun being a part of your blast from the past. Fig Garden is at it's best in the Spring. It was great to see my hometown on your blog! Thanks.
Posted by Denise | April 19, 2009 9:03 AM
Posted on April 19, 2009 09:03