Parking in the back for a retail property?

[Dan C.]

I am a residential landlord beginning my learning about commercial properties.

For a property with a storefront, how much of a negative is it if parking is in the back (so not visible when driving by)?

What type of tenants are OK with this, what type would you be missing out on?

In this case the parking lot in back is actually a public lot for the benefit of businesses in a quaint downtown of a suburb. The area has some foot traffic from people visiting a handful of restaurants and bars and small retailers in the area.

I am comparing a property like this with ones that are a mile or so away that have small parking lots in front. These properties are typically newer, so they were built in the automobile age. Or an old property was torn down and there was room to surround the new one with a parking lot.