I absolutely hate the two behemoth parking garages that sit north of the Gateway Mall in the heart of downtown. They’re big, ugly, and they are a pathetic excuse for architecture on what is supposedly St. Louis’s main street.

But rather ironically, the two garages actually have street level retail that is 100% rented, even if it is just Hooters, TGI Friday’s and Lion’s Choice.

I ran across a downtown booster site one time that showed office towers protruding from the roofs of these beasts, but that can be little more than optimism. Perhaps downtown will one day realize that there’s already way too much parking, and not enough places for people to go.

Update: The Lion’s Choice has since closed, despite always having brisk business.