Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp Quarter is a historic district downtown centered on Fifth Avenue, bounded by Broadway and L Street. Not so long ago the area was a mostly undesirable place to visit with seedy hotels and x-rated adult shows. The district has been called Rabbitville, Flea Town, New Town San Diego, Davis' Folly, Stingaree, Chinatown, S.O.B. (South of Broadway), and finally named the Gaslamp Quarter. Buildings from the 1880s through the 1920s have been renovated and are now surrounded and occupied by hotels, trendy restaurants, sidewalk cafes, theaters, jazz and dance clubs, boutiques and other shopper-tunites. The photo is of a sign attached to a directory of businesses for the district.