ERIC DAVIS WALKED down Pacific Avenue in Stockton as he began to appreciate the looks and design of one classic car after another, showcased as part of Stockton Cruise Night last Thursday evening.
However, one car, parked right across from Miracle Mile’s Starbucks, stopped the Stockton resident in his tracks as he seemed awestruck. It was a blue ’63 Chevy Impala with a white top. Its trunk was lifted up, revealing its hydraulics that came out of airplanes from 1950s. “Look at this beautiful car!” Davis exclaimed. “That’s the kind of car you would wanna take a girl to prom in.”
Started in 2019 by Justin Juencke, Stockton Cruise Night returned to Miracle Mile for its fifth season with approximately 150 cars and motorbikes. Juencke is a Stockton native who moved back to the city in 2019, and had hosted a similar event in Long Beach in the past.
“I knew that Stockton had a big classic car community and had a lot of a positive venues for people to come bring their cars out,” Juencke said.
Aphrodite, a French Bulldog, peeks out from the trunk of a 1968 Chevy Chevelle on display during Stockton Cruise Night at Miracle Mile in Stockton on June 15, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Classic cars are showcased along the sidewalk near La Palma restaurant during Stockton Cruise Night at Miracle Mile on June 15, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Orlando Molina, a children’s book artist, performs rap during Stockton Cruise Night at Miracle Mile on June 15, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
A child in a passing car looks at the motorbikes on display during Stockton Cruise Night at Miracle Mile in Stockton on June 15, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
A yellow-color Cadillac Coupe de Ville with yellow interiors is showcased along the sidewalk on Pacific Avenue during Stockton Cruise Night at Miracle Mile on Thursday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
We haven’t had this kind of spirit here since 1969… A bug’s-eye view of a row of classic cars showcased along Pacific Avenue during Stockton Cruise Night at Miracle Mile on June 15, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Andrew Corral takes a look at a 1974 Chevrolet Caprice during Stockton Cruise Night at Miracle Mile in Stockton on Thursday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
The Chevrolet logo on a 1937 Chevrolet Master on display during Stockton Cruise Night at Miracle Mile in Stockton on June 15, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
An old Chevy C10 adds a bit of rustic — or perhaps rusty — splendor to the classic car display on Pacific Avenue during Stockton Cruise Night at Miracle Mile on June 15, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local)
The seasonal event is a part of a series that takes place every third Thursday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m., May through October.
The first cruise night for this season was held on May 18. The classic cars and motorbikes will return to the streets of Miracle Mile next on July 20, followed by Aug. 17 and Sept. 21. The final cruise night for the season will be Oct. 19.
“We want to show people that Stockton has a lot of good things to offer and it’s not all about the bad negative press that we get all the time,” Juencke added.
The event is free and is open to anyone who wants to bring their car or motorbike to either showcase or cruise along Pacific Avenue.
Harika Maddala is a photojournalist based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. They are a Report for America corps member and a CatchLight Local Fellow.
