About this Location

Facility Overview

The municipal parking facility at 37 Church St E serves as one of the most accessible and central public parking areas in Uptown Martinsville, Virginia. Situated directly beside the celebrated Furniture Heritage Plaza and bordered by East Church Street and Broad Street, this spacious, paved open-air surface lot provides effortless self-parking for residents, shoppers, and travelers. Designed with wide circulation lanes and standard delineated stalls, the lot features an unobstructed, open-sky layout free of overhead barriers or low ceilings. This open configuration makes it perfectly suited for standard passenger cars, large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, and high-roof conversion vans, giving motorists complete confidence regardless of vehicle size.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Anchoring the heart of historic Uptown Martinsville, this parking lot places visitors directly adjacent to several premier community destinations and cultural highlights within comfortable walking distance:

Furniture Heritage Plaza & The Big Chair: Directly adjacent. Home to the towering 21-foot-tall, 4,400-pound replica of Bassett Furniture's Centennial Chair—a must-see photo stop and tribute to Southside Virginia’s storied woodworking craftsmanship.
Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center & Museum: Approximately a 3-minute stroll (0.1 miles) west to the historic Henry County Courthouse, featuring rotating regional history exhibits.
Uptown Connection Trail & Dick & Willie Passage: Located just 4 minutes away on foot (0.2 miles) at the Depot Street connection, providing instant access to the region’s scenic multi-use rail trail.
Piedmont Arts & Gravely-Lester Art Garden: Located roughly 0.4 miles away (an 8- to 10-minute walk east), showcasing fine art galleries and outdoor sculptures.
Virginia Museum of Natural History: Just 0.5 miles southeast along Starling Avenue, an easy 10-minute walk or 2-minute drive to world-class paleontological and wildlife exhibits.
Uptown Dining, Boutiques & Markets: Steps away from Church Street and Main Street shopping, Studio 107 artisan gallery, independent cafes, and the Uptown Martinsville Farmers' Market.
Martinsville Speedway: The world-famous NASCAR short track is situated just 4.5 miles south (an easy 10-minute drive down US-220 Business).

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Navigating to and from the lot is straightforward thanks to direct street frontage on East Church Street and connecting access via Broad Street. Ingress and egress points feature wide aprons with gentle curb transitions, preventing undercarriage scrapes and allowing easy departures even during community festivals and weekend peaks. Regional drivers can effortlessly reach the facility from US Route 220 Business and US Route 58 Business, which intersect minutes from the uptown core. For those using public transportation, the City of Martinsville transit bus routes run regular service through the downtown center, connecting local neighborhoods and commercial corridors.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Paved open-air surface lot with clearly marked stalls and smooth asphalt paving.
Zero vertical clearance limitations, ideal for raised trucks, roof cargo carriers, and utility vans.
Dedicated designated ADA-accessible parking spaces with curb-free sidewalk connectivity.
Free public municipal parking with no ticketing gates or pay meters required.
Illuminated exterior pole fixtures providing clear nighttime visibility and peace of mind.
Direct pedestrian sidewalks and crosswalk connections leading straight onto East Church Street and Broad Street.

Ideal For

Sightseers and roadside oddity fans stopping to snap a photograph with "The Big Chair" at Furniture Heritage Plaza.
Uptown shoppers, diners, and clients visiting local boutiques, law offices, and neighborhood cafes.
Cyclists and walkers staging their vehicles to embark on the Uptown Connection Trail and Dick & Willie Passage.
Festival attendees enjoying signature annual events, such as the Uptown Oktoberfest and seasonal parades.
Race fans seeking quiet, convenient dining and shopping parking before heading south to Martinsville Speedway.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Because this municipal surface lot operates free of charge to support downtown commerce, stalls can fill during midday lunch rushes and Uptown special events like Oktoberfest or Farmers' Market gatherings. Arriving early during festival days ensures a quick and convenient parking spot. When setting your GPS navigation, searching for either 37 Church St E or Furniture Heritage Plaza will steer you directly to the entrance. For overnight parking regulations or extended stays, observe posted street-sweeping or municipal maintenance notices, and ensure all valuables are tucked out of sight inside your locked vehicle.