Since the pandemic, downtown Menlo Park has undergone transformations through initiatives aimed at boosting local businesses and enhancing its appearance.
A non-profit organization, The Downtown Menlo Fund, started by Menlo Park residents Marine Foody, Ben Eiref, Laura Melahn, and Paul Charrette, has played a key role in supporting the downtown area’s comeback. The organization, which aims to revitalize downtown Menlo Park through creating strong business associations and beautification, was formed in response to the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce dissolving in 2023. The chamber’s closure stemmed from difficulty recovering from the financial instability caused by the pandemic and also led to the disbanding of business associations.
“All the downtowns really suffered during the pandemic, I’d say this was through the increase in vacancies of the stores,” Foody said. The pandemic limited in-person shopping, instead popularizing online storefronts. “There was also another major change that happened just slightly prior to the pandemic, and that was the advent of Amazon—the types of small retail stores in downtown has changed, and people aren’t going to buy their school supplies and their toiletries in their downtowns anymore,” she added.
In 2019, running apparel store Fleet Feet experienced a 29% decrease, and at the pandemic’s beginning in March they saw a 75% decrease. This similar pattern was reflected across other local businesses, with some even shutting down.
Flegel’s Design, an interior design firm, is one of the 19 businesses in the Menlo Park Design District. Like many businesses, it was significantly affected by the pandemic. The business had to adapt by selling items online, a major shift for a company built on in-person selection. “The designers make their money by getting into homes, measuring, checking out color schemes, and figuring out customized ways of filling a space with furniture,” owner Brian Flegel said.
The business experienced a roughly 40% decline and faced supply chain disruptions, especially for internationally sourced materials. “I wasn’t comfortable traveling across the country to North Carolina for the market. So I missed that entire year of market [going on],” Flegel said. Nevertheless, the company preserved its entire workforce by adopting digital mock-ups and virtual consultations. By preserving all their employees during the pandemic, Flegel’s was able to get back on their feet right as the pandemic ended.
This success was in part due to the help from the Menlo Park Design District, a community of design businesses united to create a collaborative and supportive network. “This is a creative industry… Talking about what’s going on out there, what are people’s clients needing? It’s just getting you into opening it up, open sourcing so that there’s a better understanding where we’re not all closed into our individual businesses,” Flegel said.
Local businesses had endured tough transitions in getting back onto their feet. The Downtown Menlo Fund aims to bridge this gap, rebuilding the Menlo Park community by bringing people together through local events and supporting local business owners. “With Downtown Menlo fund, we want to serve as a catalyst supporting [how to bring people back together] here in our own community,” Melahn said.
In an effort to beautify downtown Menlo Park, the fund has hung festive flags for the holiday season and is currently working with planters to improve the area’s vegetation. “The macro goal is building a sense of place and having downtown Menlo Park mean something to people. [Menlo Park] is a place that is cared for, that we love,” Melahn said.
Foody also explained that one reason downtown Menlo Park has become so prosperous is the opening of many new restaurants. After recovering from the pandemic, downtown Menlo Park welcomed many new and exciting restaurants, including Levant Dessert and Cafe, Bar Loretta, Clark’s Seafood, Yeobo Darling, and Cafe Vivant.
They also want to get the community more involved in the choices that go into revamping downtown. “What our group would like to do as we move forward is survey the residents of downtown Menlo Park and understand what they’re looking for in their downtown, and then to try to work with landlords and businesses alike and see if we can get a better matchup with those so that businesses can thrive and the community can spend their money locally,” Foody said.
Other local businesses have also helped grow downtown’s popularity through hosting community events. The Guild Theater, Springline developments, and Feldman Books host many events locally that consistently attract bustling crowds and enthusiastic customers.
The Downtown Menlo Fund hopes to bring even more events to downtown in the future, possibly a pet parade and a taste of Menlo event that would highlight different restaurants.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Menlo Park’s businesses and residents are reshaping it into a more connected and vibrant community. With ongoing revitalization efforts, downtown Menlo Park is well positioned for a thriving future.
