Downtown Lansdale Has the Events. So Why Don’t People Stay?
Survey data current as of November 2026. I’ll update this post as the borough’s Main Street work moves forward.
What did the 2026 downtown Lansdale survey find? In a 2026 Discover Lansdale survey of about 750 people, 73% liked downtown Lansdale’s special events, but 71% said it lacks the right mix of businesses. Safety and access scored well. Parking and storefronts did not.
Let me ask you something.
It’s Friday night. You want to get out of the house. Grab dinner, walk around a little, maybe get dessert after.
Is downtown Lansdale one of the first places that comes to mind? Or do you automatically think Ambler, Doylestown, or Phoenixville?
I’m genuinely curious, because I recently came across a survey from Discover Lansdale that put some real numbers behind that question. And honestly, some of them surprised me.
What the Downtown Lansdale Survey Actually Found
The survey ran from May 1 to June 8, 2026, and drew about 750 responses. Most came from the 19446 ZIP code, roughly 83%.
Quick caveat before we go further. These are the opinions of the people who chose to respond. That’s not necessarily how every Lansdale resident feels. But it does give us some perspective.
The good news
I want to give Lansdale some credit first, because a lot of this was encouraging:
- 87% agreed downtown is easy to reach by walking, biking, or driving
- 75% said downtown feels safe
- 73% said the town does a good job with special events
Those are numbers a lot of downtowns would love to have.
And if you think about it, Lansdale already has a lot going for it. The train station is right there. You’ve got Main Street, established businesses, restaurants, and community events like First Friday, Restaurant Week, and Founders Day.
One thing I thought was pretty cool. This year’s Holiday Mardi Gras Parade on November 21 is going under the lights for its 75th anniversary, starting at 5 p.m. From what I understand, it’s been more than 60 years since it was an evening parade. Illuminated floats, lights, the whole thing. I think that could be a really nice experience for families.
The point is, there are people putting real effort into bringing this community together. That’s worth recognizing.
Where the numbers flip
Here’s where it gets interesting:
- 71% disagreed that downtown has the right mix of businesses
- 53% disagreed that the storefronts are inviting
- 51% disagreed that parking is sufficient and easy to find
- 44% disagreed that downtown feels vibrant in the evening
So roughly seven out of ten people like what’s happening in town. And roughly seven out of ten feel something’s missing from the businesses themselves.
Getting People Downtown vs. Giving Them a Reason to Stay
When I look at those numbers side by side, I keep coming back to one question.
Is the problem that people don’t want to come to Lansdale? Or is it that there aren’t enough reasons to stay once they’re here?
I think those are two different problems.
Say you go downtown for dinner. Good meal, good restaurant. What happens next?
Is there somewhere you’d want to walk to? Grab coffee or dessert? Browse a few shops? Something fun to do with your kids, or something for a date night?
Or do you get back in the car and head home?
Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes dinner and straight home is exactly what I want. Trust me.
But when I think about downtowns people really enjoy, the biggest thing is having multiple reasons to be there. You go for one business and end up discovering two or three others along the way. And because of that, you start coming back more often.
That’s the part I think Lansdale can keep improving.
Some of what people want may already be here
I also want to be fair. Lansdale already has some really good spots. Places like Stove & Tap, Well Crafted Beer Company, Kub Kao Thai, and plenty of other restaurants and locally owned businesses.
So maybe some of these businesses are already giving people what they’re looking for. Maybe they just need more exposure. There could be places locals would love if they only knew about them.
The Uncomfortable Question: Will We Actually Show Up?
Here’s where I want to bring in my own perspective, because I own a business myself.
It’s really easy for us as consumers to say what we want downtown. More restaurants. Better coffee shops. More entertainment. More family activities.
I’m all for that. But here’s my question.
Are we actually willing to support those businesses?
Opening a business is expensive. Rent, employees, utilities, insurance, equipment, and a whole bunch of other costs most customers never think about. And those bills don’t stop just because it’s a slow Tuesday.
So put yourself in a business owner’s shoes. You’re thinking about opening in downtown Lansdale with your own money on the line. Would you feel confident enough people will show up consistently?
A packed store during First Friday is one thing. What does business look like on a random Wednesday afternoon in February? That’s what I’d be thinking about.
The coffee shop test
I think there’s sometimes a disconnect between the businesses we say we want and the ones we actually spend money at.
Everybody might say they want a really cool independent coffee shop. But if it opens, are we going regularly? Or are we still hitting the drive-through somewhere else because it’s easier?
I’m guilty of choosing convenience too. I’m not saying we all need to rearrange our lives to support every business in town. But if we want a downtown full of interesting small businesses, those businesses have to be able to make money. And that requires people to actually show up.
Lansdale Parking: Available Isn’t the Same as Convenient
Parking was another one that caught my attention.
51% disagreed that downtown has sufficient parking that’s easy to find. But according to Discover Lansdale, there are more than 1,000 parking spaces around town. That includes the SEPTA parking garage, municipal lots, and street parking.
So the spaces exist. People just don’t feel like parking is convenient.
That’s an important distinction. Having parking and having parking that feels easy are two different things.
Maybe people don’t know where the lots are. Maybe they don’t want to walk a few blocks. Maybe the spots closest to where they’re going are always taken. I don’t know exactly what’s driving those answers.
But convenience matters. If you’re already on the fence about going out and you start thinking about where you’re going to park, that alone might be enough to send you somewhere else. Especially with young kids you’re trying to get in and out of the car.
What I’d Personally Like to See Downtown
If I could see one thing improve, it’d be more activities that give families a reason to visit regularly.
Maybe that’s just the stage of life I’m in. I have a three-year-old son, so I naturally pay attention to places where we can spend time together.
It doesn’t have to be anything crazy. Somewhere you can grab a bite and then walk over to do something fun with your kids. Or a place where parents can enjoy themselves while the kids have something to do.
Obviously, downtown has to work for more than just families. Young professionals, couples, retirees, people commuting through the train station. Everybody’s looking for something a little different.
That’s exactly why the mix matters:
- A restaurant might get someone downtown
- A dessert spot might keep them there a little longer
- An interesting shop or activity might be what brings them back next weekend
And those businesses can help each other.
Lansdale’s New Main Street Manager
Here’s something encouraging I found while looking into all this.
This summer, Lansdale brought on a full-time Main Street Manager, David Cohen. His job includes helping existing businesses, attracting new investment, filling vacant storefronts, and improving the downtown experience. The borough is also working toward an official Main Street designation, with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center involved in the process.
I think that’s a positive step. Of course, hiring someone doesn’t mean a bunch of new businesses open tomorrow. These things take time.
But having someone focused specifically on downtown makes sense to me. Especially if that person is actually talking with business owners, property owners, and residents about what’s working and what’s missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is downtown Lansdale missing, according to locals?
In the 2026 Discover Lansdale survey, the biggest gap was the business mix. 71% disagreed that downtown has the right mix of businesses, and 53% disagreed that the storefronts are inviting.
Is there enough parking in downtown Lansdale?
Discover Lansdale reports more than 1,000 spaces across the SEPTA garage, municipal lots, and street parking. Even so, 51% of survey respondents disagreed that parking is easy to find, which suggests the issue is convenience and awareness more than raw supply.
Is downtown Lansdale safe and walkable?
Survey respondents rated it well. 87% agreed downtown is easy to reach by walking, biking, or driving, and 75% agreed it feels safe.
Final Thoughts
The survey is a good starting point. But I’d love more specific answers.
When someone says downtown Lansdale needs a better mix of businesses, what does that actually mean? More restaurants? More retail? More entertainment? Something for families? Places that stay open later? Or are the businesses already here and we just need to do a better job supporting them?
I’d especially love to hear from people who live in Lansdale or own a business downtown. You probably see things someone who visits occasionally might miss. Maybe there’s a business you think deserves more attention. A vacant storefront you’ve been hoping someone would do something with. Or something downtown that’s already working really well.
So I’ll leave you with two questions.
If you could bring one new business to downtown Lansdale, what would it be?
And how often would you realistically go there?
That second question matters just as much as the first.
