Third Avenue is Chula Vista's historic downtown corridor, a several-block stretch of low-rise commercial buildings from the early twentieth century that has been gradually revitalised into a walkable neighbourhood of independent shops, restaurants, and cafes. It is the best place in the city to get a sense of Chula Vista as a real, working community rather than a collection of suburban shopping centres.
The Village Association organises a Thursday farmers' market along Third Avenue, which has been running for years and draws a good cross-section of local residents. Several of the restaurants are Mexican or Mexican-influenced, reflecting the city's demographic character. The street art murals along some of the side streets are worth finding.