After five years of being closed to cars, Palo Alto’s California Avenue and Ramona Street are permanently closed, following a March 10 vote from City Council.
Some store owners either aren’t happy with the change or don’t know how it will affect their business. Co-owner of Zombie Runner Coffee Don Lundell isn’t sure how the closing of California Avenue to cars will affect his shop.
“There’s no way of telling how the change of having cars versus not affects our business,” Lundell said. “Though at the very least it has a negative effect on rainy days, when being able to park nearby would be a help.”
The streets were closed to cars starting in 2020, to allow outdoor seating for diners and more space for pedestrians.
“We like the city to have tried a two-plus lane street and a parklet, before making the change permanent,” Lundell said.
Lundell says that street closures could be a problem for some people and make it harder for customers to access the stores.
“There’s the issue of older or disabled customers, who now have to park and travel a fair distance to get to the street,” Lundell said.
