After two years of extensive renovations, Harrison Avenue — the heart of downtown Panama City — has fully reopened to traffic and pedestrians, breathing new life into the historic district for 2026.
The multi-million-dollar streetscape project, which widened sidewalks, added new lighting, landscaping, buried utility lines, and improved drainage, officially wrapped up several weeks ago. Since then, shop owners and restaurants along the corridor say they’ve seen a noticeable surge in foot traffic.
“It’s like night and day,” said Mary Yarborough, Assistant General Manager of the newly reopened House of Henry, an authentic Irish pub that has pints on draft and regular live music. “We’ve been waiting for this moment for two years, and now that Harrison is open and looking beautiful, people are coming back downtown in droves. The energy is incredible.”
With twinkling holiday lights now strung across the avenue and storefronts decked out for the holidays, business owners wasted no time capitalizing on the renewed excitement.
“We’ve got a packed calendar through the holidays,” Yarborough added with a smile. “Special events, extended hours, live music on weekends — we’re ready to let it rock and roll. Downtown Panama City is the place to be!”
City leaders say the project, part of a broader effort to revitalize the area following Hurricane Michael, marks a major milestone in the ongoing recovery and growth of Panama City’s historic core.
Whether you’re shopping for unique gifts, grabbing dinner, or just soaking in the festive atmosphere in the new year, Harrison Avenue is open for business — and Panama City is ready to celebrate.
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