Tyler encourages East Texans to shop downtown during construction

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – The fist phase of Tyler’s three-year Downtown Improvement Project is underway but since construction started, businesses on the downtown square are reporting a drop in visitors.

“A lot of people complain about it, not finding any parking, we’ve definitely been slower,” Crema manager Madeline Jones said. 

Inside the Plaza Tower, Crema Coffee Company said the main issue customers are having with the construction is finding a spot to park.

“They didn’t really know where to park their car, parking all the way down the street in that parking garage,” Jones said. 

The City of Tyler is encouraging everyone to not let the construction keep them away from visiting downtown.

“Now is crucial to come and show support monetarily to your local businesses that depend on us to thrive and survive,” City of Tyler employee Lindsey Froneberger said. 

The city points to public parking options like inside the Fair Plaza parking garage, the new Smith County garage and the Plaza Tower parking lot.

“You can actually enter that parking lot and then get your ticket validated if you come into one of the retail tenants on the plaza tower,” Froneberger said. 

She also recommended trying the city’s public transit service for low-cost transportation.

“The city of Tyler has this great new program called micro transit, it’s like a city Uber,” Froneberger said. 

For restaurants, the city is also making menus and a list of eating options available on the city’s website, in hopes of keeping open signs on, while construction prepares a new and better downtown for everyone.

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