When AltaVida opened a restaurant and dance hall in the former Two Brother Brewing Building in Naperville, owners Mary Moy-Gregg and Edwin Rios quickly discovered customers were having trouble parking.
“We’ve hired a lot of people and want to have great service, and what has happened is 60% of our customers that come there have a difficult time finding parking,” Moy-Gregg said.
The restaurant owners brought their concerns to a Naperville City Council meeting on Oct. 1, hoping the council would pass an ordinance establishing a valet parking transfer zone for the restaurant.
Finding parking in the downtown area has become especially hard because of construction taking place this year which is scheduled to continue until at least early 2025. This has impacted other downtown businesses, too.
AltaVida is proposing a potential solution: offering customers valet parking for $10. Moy-Gregg says many of the customers she has asked are interested in that option.
Without valet parking, the owners of AltaVida say they are losing big opportunities to grow their business. “All of a sudden we have six events and activities wanting to take our space and rent the space out and they’re asking for valet parking,” said Moy-Gregg. These big events can help boost businesses, but they may also discourage potential customers who would come to the restaurant if there’s no spare parking spots.
Not everyone is supportive of valet parking. Naperville resident Marilyn Schweitzer shared her concerns about the impact on people who can’t afford the additional cost. “It will make drop-off and pick up harder for non-valet customers,” she said. “Not everyone wants, needs or can afford valet parking. Families with small children and low-mobility patriots deserve more accommodation, not less.”
Other residents expressed safety concerns about rideshare drivers dropping people off in dangerous areas — like the middle of a street — if the valet area would replace the usual drop off location.
After discussion, the Council voted seven to two to deny the ordinance for allowing valet parking.