Stockton's Historic Miracle Mile: Still Charming After All These Years

Story by Clay Nutting
Publication: Valley Views, Fall 2004 Issue

Located in the heart of All-American city Stockton, California, the Miracle Mile has charmed it's patrons for generations, including one newcomer in particular, author Clay Nutting.

Having recently moved from New England to Stockton, I have learned a great deal about myself. Most of my teachings have come from experience. However, I was surprised to find out how much I've have learned from the geographical differences between former and current residences.

The first thing I found, on a positive note, is that I will probably never find myself buying a shovel for purposes involving ice or snow. This is a good thing. If you could imagine waking up to prepare for your morning commute only to discover that the car you had parked the night before has been replaced by an embankment of snow, you know what I am getting at. Secondly, I learned the hard way that having a working air conditioner in your home and car is an absolute necessity.

And finally, I learned that you can never truly know more about your city until you spend time talking amongst its people (particularly in its most historic places). When you grow up in New England, you think you know everything there is to know about that area. But considering the things that I learned on a recent trip to Stockton's historic Miracle Mile, I began to wonder how much I do really know?

On a stretch of West Pacific Avenue, just past the University of Pacific campus and extending to Harding Way, you will find the Miracle Mile. The Miracle Mile is a shopping oasis with over 100 unique stores, restaurants and businesses with a history that lends to the district's charm.

During the 1900's, Stockton's downtown area bustled with business and the increased use of an invention called the automobile. As traffic increased, so did the development of businesses and suburban housing. One of the first developments was Tuxedo Park on Pacific Avenue. This area had been Lower Sacramento Road until the University of Pacific moved to Stockton in 1925. The development of Tuxedo Park area was influenced by the coming of the UOP campus. Soon, this business and suburban area become known as the "Miracle Mile" on Pacific Avenue.

Since moving to Stockton, I have perused the shops, businesses and restaurants of the Miracle Mile on several occasions. Each experience has been pleasant but none was more delightful than the time I spent getting to know some of the business owners on the 'Mile'.

I spent several days weaving in and out of the stores trying to find that perfect moment when a business owner wasn't chatting with their customers or busy amongst their inventory, but my patience finally paid off and I was able to inquire about life on the 'Mile'.

One of my first encounters was at Borelli Jewelers, a beautiful shop that ha been family-owned on the Miracle Mile since the 1950's. Perfect! I spoke with Michael Borelli, a gemologist and a jeweler about his memories on the Mile. "My father open this store in 1952. The Miracle Mile has always been good. There were always things going on, almost a street faire environment.

We talked about the Miracle Mile as if it was an attraction, and it is in many ways, even for businesses as well as people. This was the case for Atsuko and Russel Takeda, owners of Co Co ro Restaurant, new to the Miracle Mile. Russell said that he grew up in Stockton and was always familiar with the Miracle Mile. He knew the Mile for its history but also for its charisma, one of the reasons he and his wife decided to open up their contemporary Japanese bistro and sushi bar on this stretch of the Pacific Avenue. "Co Co ro, means heart, and since this area has a lot of heart, it seemed like an ideal place for us."

Heart and charm is a familiar theme among patrons, workers and owners that call the Miracle Mile home. In a divine melding of business and suburb it's easy to see how the visionaries of this historic district saw a miracle in the mile.

Although I had spent many days before this story enjoying the Miracle Mile, I found that even if you think you know everything about an area, each experience is unique and whether it's your first time or your hundredth, the Miracle Mile is a district worth discovering over and over again.

If you have a Miracle Mile experience you would like to share with everyone here at the StocktonMiracleMile.com web site, please contact Teejay at 209-463-1023 or send him the story to his e-mail at teejay@iamteejay.com.