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DART getting mixed reviews from downtown Plano merchants
01/07/2003

From Staff Reports

Downtown Plano merchants are giving DART light rail mixed reviews so far.

The trains rolled into town one month ago, prompting high expectations. Business owners are counting on DART to bring them new customers - but some merchants are frustrated.

Richard Simmons owns the Coffee Haus, just down the street from DART's downtown Plano station. Simmons describes business generated from train riders as "fair."

"From my perspective, I say it has not met expectations to this point," Simmons.
Since the agency opened its Red Line rail service to Plano, ridership has been high.

"I do know that when I see the trains, they're pretty full," said local businessman and former Plano Mayor Jeran Akers. "There's a lot of people that are riding them."

Simmons believes most of those riders boarding DART in Plano are heading south, to downtown Dallas. He isn't sure people from other cities are traveling north to shop in Plano.

"I would not say that it's a very high percentage of those that ride the train that make downtown (Plano) a destination," Simmons said.

Another downtown merchant, Nikki Tuttle, disagrees.

"We've had a couple come from Fort Worth, we had a couple come from Arlington, and we've had some ladies come from Mockingbird," Tuttle said. "Some of our customers told us they're going to get on the train at Garland and come here."

Tuttle owns Nikki's Gifts and Specialty Cards. She believes downtown Plano's charm, mixing old buildings and new development, will attract new shoppers.

"I think anything takes time," Tuttle said. "But with this being what DART calls a 'destination station,' there's a reason for people to come to this station."

"We just need to find a way to get more interesting things to do in downtown on a more consistent basis," Simmons said.

DART officials told News 8 it will take time to make downtown Plano a destination of choice.

Some other merchants agree with Simmons' assertion that the area needs more restaurants and other types of entertainment to give customers a reason to stay when the stores close.