A Pain in the Asphalt

Black Friday is an annual shopping extravaganza that marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Consumers flock to retail hubs in search of good deals . . . and in search of parking spots. While Black Friday is synonymous with crowded shopping centers and long lines, the holiday shopping madness often begins on the asphalt outside stores. But now, with the rise of online shopping and with stores kick-starting deals sometimes days or even weeks before Black Friday itself, the need for so many parking spots has declined. Even with an increase in overall spending between Thanksgiving and Black Friday, foot traffic to brick-and-mortar stores has fallen by more than 9% in recent years. This has resulted in a subsequent decrease in the number of stampedes and fistfights that once characterized the shopping day. It also means that retailers require much fewer parking spots.

There are about a billion parking spots in the United States, four for every car in the country. That ratio comes with a tremendous cost. Including the land it occupies, a standard surface parking stall costs between $5,000 and $10,000. This expense is wrapped into the total cost of development, which is then passed on to the consumers who shop at the retailer. Even with Black Friday’s jaw-dropping deals, shoppers pay for the hidden fees associated with developing costs.

Then, there are the environmental costs of so much asphalt. The impervious surface not only results in a greater need for stormwater management, but it also contributes to urban heat island effects and even air pollution.

So, as online shopping and e-commerce continue to grow, the need for so much parking on Black Friday may decline further. With that comes an opportunity to re-think how we design and use parking lots. While there will no-doubt still be lines on Black Friday, perhaps the shopping holiday can be less of a pain in the asphalt. And that’s something to be grateful for.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!