University of the Pacific is strengthening its partnership with the Miracle Mile shopping and dining district to provide more benefits for students, faculty and staff.

Located within walking distance of the Stockton Campus, the palm-tree lined stretch of businesses on Pacific Avenue and Harding Way includes more than 150 restaurants, retail and service shops. The full list of vendors can be viewed here.

“We have been brainstorming ways we can broaden and deepen our relationship,” said Kim Byrd ’91, executive director of the Miracle Mile Improvement District and Pacific alumna. “It is a symbiotic kind of relationship. We benefit from the university and the university can benefit us.”

First Lady Jean Callahan is working closely with Byrd. She was appointed as a member of the improvement district’s board, which includes merchants, property owners and community members committed to growing and improving the area. 

“I see opportunity with the Miracle Mile to enhance the environment and make it more of a hub for the university, students and the broader community,” Callahan said. 

“If our students, staff and faculty support the businesses of Miracle Mile more, then they will have more resources to enhance the look and feel of the Mile with landscaping, better lights and signage, all things that are needed to make it more pedestrian-friendly, which would be a win-win,” she said.

Pacific is highlighting the partnership with a special event: “Tiger Prowlin’ the Mile” during Pacific’s Week of Welcome for students and families. Pacific will provide free shuttles to Miracle Mile on Thursday, Aug. 25. Buses will depart Burns Tower every 30 minutes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and most restaurants will be offering a 10% discount with a PacificCard or ID.  Students can enter raffle contests by visiting shops in the area.

Dozens of businesses will offer an ongoing 10% discount to students, faculty and staff who show their PacificCard. Participating merchants will have a window decal identifying them as Pacific partners and are listed on the PacificCard site, which also will be updated regularly with special promotions.

Alumna Monica Odeh ’19, owner of Cuppajo Coffee, is one of the participating businesses. She took frequent trips to Miracle Mile as a student, so when she had the opportunity to buy an existing coffee shop on the Mile, she jumped at the chance.

“That idea of wanting to take some time off campus and walk down to the Mile or even take my bike down there, those are memories I cherish,” Odeh said. “I love being part of the Miracle Mile community. It has always had a farmer’s market feel, and now getting to be a part of that is awesome.”

Adds business owner Lauren Tarullo, “It has a unique feeling of discovery in the sense that there's a lot of businesses that have been there for a really long time that are niche and unique.” Her gift shop, Cena Luna, specializes in home and kitchen decor and specialty food items. 

“My target audience is in their early 20s, so I’m really trying to build a connection with university students,” she said. 

Plans are in the works to make the trek even easier for students living on campus by creating an electric bike sharing program. “The university is going to have a hub and we are going to have a hub. It will be a fun way to get students back and forth,” Byrd said.

Miracle Mile is also working closely with Pacific Athletics by sponsoring Faculty/Staff Appreciation days for the upcoming year, which allows faculty and staff to receive up to six free tickets on select game days.

Miracle Mile will be the designated pregame site for fans attending the men’s basketball game against San Francisco Thursday, Feb. 16. The Tiger dancers and Pacific’s mascot Powercat will be part of the festivities and participating merchants will offer special promotions. 

Holiday events are also in the works.