Heard someone say downtown Amarillo parking is fine as-is

Was grabbing coffee at The 806 last week and overheard a guy telling his friend that parking downtown isn't a problem. Said people just complain too much. I disagree hard. I run a small shop on Polk Street and my employees have to park three blocks away on busy days. Lost two good workers this year because they got tired of walking in the heat or getting parking tickets on street sweeping days. The city needs to add more lots or reduce meter rates. Our customers mention it too. One lady told me she drives to the mall instead because the parking is free. Has anyone else seen their foot traffic drop because of this issue?

2 comments

2 Comments

victorbutler3d ago

That "parking is fine" comment drives me nuts. People who say that probably live in the suburbs and drive in once a month when the stars align. But for those of us who are downtown every day, it's a constant headache. The problem isn't just about convenience either. It's a pattern I see everywhere. Storefronts are shutting down because people don't want to deal with the hassle, and then the city wonders why the downtown area feels empty. I think parking fees and limited spaces are a big reason why small businesses are struggling more than they need to. You can't run a shop if your customers and staff can't get to you without a headache every time.

the_alice3d ago

@victorbutler you're right about the patterns. Ive actually noticed our lunch rush gets hit harder than evenings because the 30 minute spots fill up by 11am. My regulars started going to the food trucks on 6th instead.