Downtown Terrell is a vibrant turn-of-the-century Historic District that retains the charm of yesteryear with vintage lighting, wide brick sidewalks and updated historic buildings. Unique storefronts, featuring great architectural details, have been repurposed for retail, restaurants, offices, lofts, museums and specialty services.
The City of Terrell is currently working on landscaping, parking and lighting improvements. Visitors to the 1925 Iris Theater can find the next best seller or out-of-print books, browse through a ladies' upscale consignment boutique and even watch vintage movies twice a month or enjoy live plays by the Vagabond Players, sitting in the original seats.
Spectacular hand-painted murals that range from classic movie posters, a vintage biplane, antique 1899 automobile, fire engines, the Texas flag and the circus coming to town decorate building walls, providing a visual snapshot of Terrell's rich history. As you make your way from one shop to the next, notice the historic buildings and murals mapped out along the way on the Wayfinding Kiosks.
Terrell is committed to preserving the historical character of its downtown while investing time and resources into its continued vitality.
Numerous civic leaders are working to keep downtown a vibrant and vital part of Terrell. Those efforts are reflected in the formation of the Parks and Downtown Improvement Corp. (PADIC) and the PADIC Board that oversees it. PADIC’s mission is to recommend capital improvements to improve Terrell’s quality of life. The fact that PADIC’s focus is on parks and the downtown speaks volumes about the city’s commitment to its Central Business District. So does the annual investment of $844,000 in sales tax funds for use by PADIC.
Along with the advent of PADIC, the city has formed a “Downtown District” tailored specifically toward entertainment and dining, historical character, walkability, boutique shopping, and low-density residences.
Anchored by a handful of shops and businesses that have enjoyed their Moore Avenue locations well in excess of 30 years, other boutiques and businesses are following suit, taking advantage of Terrell’s unprecedented growth and ideal location along U.S. 80.
With plenty of parallel parking along Moore Avenue and additional parking on intersecting streets as well as the South Alley, visitors can easily find a place to park and explore downtown.
The downtown area also is home to several special events throughout the year, including Downtown Trick-or-Treat, Happy Days in Terrell America, Terrell Mural Walk, and Stanley Ballard Sr. Annual Christmas Parade. In addition, several festival type events take place infront of Terrell City Hall at the intersection of Adelaide and Nash Ave. These events are Terrell Taco Festival and Terrell British Bash.
