'Side Walk Show' aims to breathe new life into Downtown Vallejo

Funky sidewalk beats, roaring engines, and live interviews on Ozcat Radio's 89.5FM set the stage Friday for "a night out on the town.'

Downtown Vallejo.

Radio host and Vallejoan David Marteller Jr. - alongside a growing group of local volunteers, artists, business owners, and community members - hopes this new effort will become a weekly staple, further igniting the city's downtown.

"I'm too tired of my garage being the only cool place to party in Vallejo," Marteller joked.

The long-term vision is to encourage foot traffic by creating opportunities for local performers, artists, cultural vendors, and businesses to participate in these once-weekly events.

"The vision is the waterfront and the downtown operates like a venue itself," he said. "And that's where it's entertainment, music, concerts, festivals, there's art walks - where you have all of these businesses doing something really interesting."

The group plans to continue gathering every Friday from 5-7 p.m., with live radio broadcasts, music, and community engagement serving as the foundation for its growth.

For now, its working title is a "Side Walk Show."

While the event's name, much like its vision, remains a work in progress, the initiative is most certainly there.

"We want to make it consistent," Marsteller said, "so that every Friday, people will know we're going down to go see the radio show and whatever exhibits they pull."

At its debut event on Friday, June 19, organizers drew roughly 50 attendees -a number Marsteller believes will continue to climb.

He partnered with the Vallejo 220 Motorcycle Club, alongside club founder and president Deano Bass, and local supporters to host a live sidewalk broadcast near the corner of Marin and Georgia Street.

The event encourages bikers to "ride in and show out" for a night of music, community conversation, and a little competition.

In attendance, Brad Paul, Interim Economic Development Director for the City of Vallejo, set the scene.

Aside from the tune of old-school Rock and Blues emanating from the speakers, "there were people driving by, honking their horns ... kids dancing, and people chatting about the city," he said.

"It was the kind of thing I think we want to see more and more of all over downtown -people coming out, enjoying, spending money at the local stores, restaurants, which generates revenue and helps the small business thrive."

As part of efforts to expedite the city's development, Paul adds that a summer fellow is currently compiling information on vacant storefronts, surveying property owners interested in leasing their spaces, and gathering feedback from prospective business owners.

"We're putting together a lot of information about where the vacant storefronts are; who owns them, what are the potential obstacles, or where is the friction in helping people open these businesses?" Paul said. "So that as a city and as an economic development department, we can be helpful."

As far as the "Side Walk Shows" go, it's all an effort to stimulate foot traffic further.

It's a concept Marsteller described as an "experience-based economy" - one built around continued attraction by staging entertainment, live music, art, festivals, and community gatherings that support local businesses.

Rather than simply trying to sell consumers on the idea of a product, it's more about creating memorable experiences for the visitors.

Equally important, Marsteller said, is building on the talent and resources that already exist within Vallejo.

This idea of an experience-based economy, "it's going to completely rely on your local businesses, your entrepreneurs, your local performers, local artists, event organizers," he said. "So all that wealth stays concentrated."

Future ideas discussed by organizers include live performances, vendor booths, domino tournaments, motorcycle gatherings, family activities, and partnerships with downtown businesses willing to provide space or electrical access for performers.

Marsteller also hopes to create a network of participating businesses where artists and entertainers can easily find locations to set up and perform.

"We're trying to get people to understand how to really come and support the downtown," he said. "It needs foot traffic."

Marsteller said the growing interest from artists, musicians, business owners, and community members is reflective of a mutual desire to see more activity in the city's core.

"There's gold in our waterfront and in our downtown," Marsteller said. "It's time that we started jumping on it."

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 7:30 PM.