What’s Next? The Empty Lot Left Behind After Amarillo Demolition

Driving around Amarillo and just paying attention to things is something I like to do. This was one of those that was happening in my own backyard, my own neighborhood, so I watched it happen from start to finish.

While many locals dismissed it as an eyesore in its final years, I remember a much busier, more useful chapter of its history. I'm talking about the empty building that sat across Mockingbird Lane from Raising Cane's on Georgia Street.

From Car Lot to Graffiti Eyesore

It has been a few things over the years. Most recently, it has been a place for people to set up shop to sell things. I watched as people were doing hail repair there. Over the years, it was a car lot and a gas station.

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When I lived over on Patterson, when my daughter was about a year old, it was the first gas station I remember going to where I could pay at the pump. As a newer mom, it was nice not to have to haul my young child out of her car seat to go pay. I also didn't have to worry about leaving her in the car to pay. It was a win.

Watching History Come Down on Mockingbird Lane

Last week, I watched daily as crews tore the old structure down, leaving behind just a cleared lot and cleanup crews by a few days ago.

Naturally, locals have started asking the big question online: What is the future of that space?

While the lot isn't massive, one popular online theory suggests the cleared land might be used to expand parking for Freeze Chiropractic right next door. Honestly? That makes a lot of sense.

What’s Next for the Newly Cleared Lot?

At this point, though, it’s all just speculation. Regardless of what comes next, the graffiti-laced eyesore is officially gone, leaving behind a blank slate of empty dirt. We'll just have to wait and see how long that emptiness lasts.