AFTER MANY DELAYS, construction has begun on the new three-story Smallwood Plaza on Main Street in downtown Garden Grove (Orange County Tribune photo).

The eagle … or more likely, a labradoodle … has landed.

As I compose this, I have just arrived home from a couple of hours on Main Street in downtown Garden Grove. And as a long time local resident, I am happy as a clam.

Myself and Shadow, the wonder dog, dined outdoors in the perfect California sunshine. All around us was a bustle of commerce and community. It was Sunday, the farmer’s market was in full swing, with folks shopping for fruits and vegetables as well as less organic – still valuable – items such as a yarn-covered facial tissue box in the style of the Angels baseball team (that’s what I bought).

All the eateries were serving people at a steady pace. At Phuc Long, the coffee and pastry place across the street, came the cries and cheers of people watching international soccer action.

Where I (we) was (were) at Kaye’s Kitchen, we saw a virtual United Nations of diners up and down the street. We had white folks, Asians, Hispanics, mixed-race couples, etc. I think I may have also spotted a Babylonian.

Several of them had dogs, all sizes and breeds (or mixed breed) present, begging for food or lapping up water from bowls provided by the eateries.

Music – not too loud – was in the background. Hungry people waited patiently for an opening at the “parklets” at Azteca, Louie’s, The Wharf, etc. There was no parking available in the west lot.

For years, far-sighted people have worked to create a true downtown that could become the “living room” for the city, where folks of all backgrounds could gather and relax.

We have finally arrived at it, sort of. There’s still a lot of work to be done. There always is. But as someone who grew up not far away and watched the city’s central business district rise and fall and rise again to see the state of affairs there now is cheering.

Stanton and Westminster have struggled to create – or recreate – their downtowns and it hasn’t been easy. But the end result is worth it, and you would see it if you were there on a midday Sunday on Main.

I was so delighted I tipped $10 on a $17.50 meal. Now, when was the last time a lunch made you that happy?

P.S. Word now comes to us that the new District 1 building at Main and Acacia has received permission to open a brewery. You may want to drink to that, too.