Tower District businesses unite to beautify their Fresno storefronts

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Business owners in Fresno’s Tower District who came together to spruce up and refresh their storefronts say they feel like they are “part of a movement.”

The owners of Component Coffee were repairing the damage done by repeated vandalism by planting flowers in front of the store. At the same time, local artists were working on painting the outside of the nearby Spectrum Art Gallery.

Fresno artist James Gearlds said the feeling on Saturday morning was different – and a sign of more to come. He was among the group painting the Spectrum Art Gallery.

“It’s one thing when you’re up at 6:30 in the morning getting ready to paint at 7 or 7:30,” Gearlds said. It’s another thing when another establishment is working alongside you in conjunction – it just increases the energy and the vibrance.”

“Someone who sees a big blank white wall is more likely to do graffiti on that than if they see a colorful spectrum of hue and chroma across a local exterior.”

The artists designed and painted a mural that they said was a “spectrum of color to reflect the spectrum photo gallery.” Gearlds said the team wants the mural to be the first of many and encourages other business owners to reach out on social media to coordinate mural painting on their walls too.

Component Coffee’s Kelly and Greg Amend say anyone thinking about beautifying their own business in the Tower District already has her support. Even one of Tower Yoga’s meditation coaches, Carlos Diaz joined in and helped plant some flowers.

“I’m just happy to get my hands dirty and get this beautiful garden out here and see it blossom,” Diaz said. “Like the community [is blossoming] as well.”

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