Have you had a chance to walk down Main Street since the renovation was completed?
Just days after the official reopening, the street feels noticeably fresh. New sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, seating, bike parking, and upgraded crossings have changed one of the most recognizable parts of downtown Vancouver. At the same time, Main Street has kept its character. Historic facades, old brick buildings, and the red Kiggins Theatre sign still make it clear that this is not a newly built district, but one of the city’s oldest and most familiar areas.
The Main Street reconstruction became one of Vancouver’s largest infrastructure projects and was completed ahead of the original schedule. The city had expected work to continue into spring 2027, but the main project was finished in fall 2026, with the official reopening held on October 7. The total cost was about $26 million, covering ten blocks from 5th Street to 15th Street. City of Vancouver
The idea of rebuilding Main Street goes back decades. The city began planning improvements as early as 1993. Part of the project was completed farther north, but the historic downtown section was delayed because of funding limitations. The city later returned to the plan, only for the 2008 financial crisis to halt progress again after design work and public discussions had already taken place. It was not until years later, with funding that included American Rescue Plan Act money and other sources, that the project finally moved into construction.
Work began in January 2025. The goal was not simply to make downtown look better. Beneath Main Street, aging utility infrastructure had long needed replacement. The project included upgrades to underground systems, followed by a full rebuild of the street and surrounding public space. The city added new sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, seating, bike parking, improved crossings, and accessibility features. Main Street was also designed to function more easily as a festival street that can support public events and temporary pedestrian use. City of Vancouver
But the nearly two-year construction period was difficult for businesses along the corridor.
Restricted access, road closures, temporary walkways, and reduced parking hurt customer traffic. Karen Carlton, owner of Joe Brown’s Cafe, compared the disruption to the effects of the pandemic. Customers had to park farther away, walk across gravel and temporary pathways, and some were unsure whether the restaurant was even open. She reduced staff and employee hours. At La Fiesta Mexican Kitchen, co-owner Jose Garay estimated that sales fell by about 60%, while Love Potion Magickal Perfumerie & Marketplace reported a decline of roughly 30%. OPB
That does not mean local businesses opposed the reconstruction itself. Many acknowledged that the aging infrastructure needed to be replaced and that, in the long term, a better Main Street could bring more people downtown. The city and Vancouver’s Downtown Association tried to reduce the impact through grants, business promotion, and temporary construction pauses. During the 2025 holiday season, work was even suspended for a period to give shops and restaurants a better chance to recover sales. OPB
The story was not entirely negative. According to the city, 26 businesses opened or expanded on Main Street or within one block of the construction zone during the project. Vancouver’s Downtown Association tracked about four closures, although project officials cautioned that not every closure could automatically be attributed to construction alone.
The official reopening celebration took place on October 7 near Kiggins Theatre, one of downtown Vancouver’s most recognizable landmarks. The theater is not the focus of this story, but it is hard to ignore. Its large red sign remains a visual anchor on Main Street and highlights the contrast between the historic downtown architecture and the newly rebuilt streetscape around it. The story of Kiggins Theatre deserves a separate feature of its own.
A few days after the reopening, the overall impression of Main Street is fairly simple. Old Vancouver is still there. The historic buildings, brick facades, small businesses, and theater have not disappeared. But the street itself looks cleaner, more organized, and noticeably fresher. The new improvements do not try to erase the age of downtown or turn it into a completely new district. Instead, they bring new life to a place that has been shaped over generations.
And right now, it is simply a pleasant place to be.
Reporting & Photography: Roman Tretiakov / WE PNW
