Yes, but only if you choose a true commercial-grade street bench, not a light-duty residential bench or a decorative bench meant for quiet patios. On a busy downtown corner, people will sit on the armrests, stand on the seat, drop bags and bikes against it, and generally treat the bench hard. A properly built heavy-duty bench is designed for exactly that kind of daily abuse.
Look for a frame made from heavy-gauge steel tubing, cast ductile iron, or thick cast aluminum. The armrests should be welded into the main frame or through-bolted with tamper-resistant hardware, not simply screwed into wood slats or clipped onto thin metal panels. Better commercial benches use continuous steel armrest bars or reinforced cast aluminum armrests that can carry repeated sitting without bending, cracking, or loosening. Hot-dip galvanized steel or stainless steel fasteners help prevent rust, and a UV-resistant powder coat protects the surface from weather, scratches, and graffiti.
Installation matters just as much as the bench itself. Surface-mount benches should be through-bolted into a concrete pad with heavy anchor bolts, not just set on the sidewalk or held down with small screws. In-ground models should be set in concrete footings. If the armrests are part of a one-piece metal frame, constant armrest sitting is much less likely to loosen them over time. Avoid benches with thin aluminum tubing, plastic armrests, exposed wood fasteners, or lightweight residential construction.
Look for product descriptions that say commercial, heavy-duty, parks and recreation, streetscape, or vandal-resistant. Ask for a static load rating of at least 750 to 1,000 pounds per seat when possible. With reinforced armrests, a strong steel or cast metal frame, and proper anchoring into concrete, a good street bench will hold up for years even on a high-traffic downtown corner.