Something is different about the Gifford Park neighborhood.

Recent apartment renovations and earlier biking and gardening programs helped to clean up the area that's had its share of hard times.

Now the area locally famous for California Tacos and More has a new focus on its midtown business district located around the 33rd and California Streets intersection.

The district today is celebrating the grand opening of a women's vintage clothing and accessories shop, Maud Boutique, at 521 N. 33rd St. The ribbon-cutting will start at 4 p.m.

"It's not been one thing. It's been many things that have made the changes around here," said Daryl Hutton, a Gifford Park Neighborhood Association board member and 40-year resident of the neighborhood.

Baby steps, like a new retailer, move the community forward, said Chris Foster, co-owner of the Maud Boutique building and a 25-year resident of the neighborhood.

"You'll get people coming down for just one thing, but maybe they'll do two or three things and hopefully they'll spend their money and come back and tell their friends if they had a great experience," he said.