$15 Validated Valet Pilot Launches Aug. 22 to Support Old Sixth Street Revitalization

Valet stand debuts at 500 San Jacinto; funded by Pecan Street Owners Association, operated by Next Level Valet

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Visiting Austin's Historic Old 6th Street District just became easier. Austin-based Next Level Valet & Parking will pilot the city's first permitted "valet district" operating in the public right-of-way.

On Aug. 22, the company will launch a $15 validated valet program serving the entire Old 6th Street District – from I-35 to Congress Avenue – beginning with a valet stand at 500 San Jacinto (between 5th & 6th). The initiative is funded by the Pecan Street Owners Association and operates under a permit from the City of Austin's Right-of-Way Management Division.

"Getting to the many amazing restaurants and entertainment destinations on historic Old Sixth – and home again – should be the least stressful part of the evening," said Andies Shepherd, CEO of Next Level Valet & Parking. "With support from the Pecan Street Owners Association and coordination with the city, we're organizing curbside valet so guests can park once, enjoy their night, and retrieve their vehicle in seconds through our text-to-request system – or even pick it up the next morning if they choose to rideshare home."

Launch details:

• Location – starting at 500 San Jacinto (between 5th & 6th) Adding another location in the district soon.
• Initial hours – Thursday–Saturday, 4:30 p.m.–3:00 a.m.
• Pricing – $15 validated with a same-night purchase at participating Sixth Street businesses • $25 standard • $45 overnight
• Overnight pickups – Vehicles left after 3:00 a.m. are secured and available starting at 7:00 a.m. the next day through the valet at The Driskill, 604 Brazos St.
• Vehicle retrieval – Upon drop-off, guests provide a phone number and receive a valet ticket. They then get a text message from valet with their ticket number, review link, pay link, and request link – all in one.
• Safety first – Next Level encourages patrons still out after 3:00 a.m. to rideshare or take a taxi home and collect vehicles in the morning, promoting responsible travel and safer streets.

"For nearly five decades, we've watched Sixth Street through our front window. Organizing the curb is part of making the district welcoming – less circling for parking, more butts in seats when the lights go down. This pilot shows businesses pulling together to enhance the guest experience," says Shannon Sedwick, co-founder, Esther's Follies.

The initial stand at San Jacinto also offers walkable access to the Red River Cultural District, providing guests a seamless experience across both vibrant nightlife corridors.

Participating businesses validate guest parking through a QR code located inside their establishments – no new app required – keeping tenant administration light and guest departures seamless.

Next Level will track parked vehicles, overnight volumes and staffing hours throughout the pilot to guide expansion. Pending results and permitting, organizers will evaluate additional valet stands near Neches & Sixth and, in the long term, a district model allowing guests to drop at one stand and pick up at another – an approach used in Fort Worth's Sundance Square, San Antonio's Riverwalk and The Woodlands Towncenter.

"Across the country, great entertainment districts use valet as part of a seamless arrival experience. This pilot is our opportunity to bring that same level of service to Old Sixth Street – to raise the bar, create a cohesive brand experience, and make sure guests know the moment they've arrived in Austin's most iconic entertainment district," says Blake Thompson, Pecan Street Owners Association.

"Our guests show up in groups – birthdays, bachelorettes, conferences – and getting everyone in and out smoothly matters. A $15 validated option keeps the night simple and affordable: drop at the curb, sing your lungs out, then stroll back when you're ready. That kind of convenience brings locals back to Sixth," adds Corey Urbach, owner, Pete's Dueling Piano Bar.

Private security contracted by individual Sixth Street businesses through Next Level Security – a sister company to Next Level Valet & Parking – complements the pilot. Records show a 19 percent decline in violent and property-crime incidents since January 2024, further supported by the street's January 2025 re-opening to vehicle traffic, a pilot successfully led by the Pecan Street Owners Association.

About Next Level Valet

Next Level Valet and Parking designs and operates premium parking experiences for hospitality districts, hotels, mixed-use developments and major events across Austin, Dallas and Houston. From technology-enabled retrieval to district programs, Next Level helps cities and venues move guests safely and efficiently. Founded at Capital Factory, the company is part of a family of city-experience brands led by CEO Andies Shepherd.

About the Pecan Street Owners Association

The Pecan Street Owners Association is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization created to maintain and promote the East Sixth Street National Register Historic District. The Association's mission is guided by the following objectives:

• Educating and communicating for the preservation and enhancement of the district's unique historic character
• Creating a vibrant mixed-use district so that locals and visitors alike will utilize its diverse offerings; and
• Making Sixth Street an important economic and cultural asset to the community for today and future generations.

SOURCE Next Level Valet