In an effort to stimulate growth in the downtown and compete with suburban malls, the first outdoor pedestrian mall in the U.S. was created by closing three blocks of Burdick Street to automobiles in 1959.  Two blocks of the Mall were reopened to limited vehicular traffic in 2000 as part of a major redevelopment of downtown.  The Mall now features a variety of specialty shops, salons, galleries, and restaurants.  Floors above many of the street level businesses have been renovated into residential condos and lofts. The vitality and energy of the Mall continues to stimulate the downtown urban environment of Kalamazoo.