 Valet Parking in LA
On Apr 19, 1:06 pm, "Roman King" <machocr...@m> wrote:
> Recently, we visited Los Angeles.
> One night, we went a Bijou French restaurant.
> The restaurant requires valet parking for $3.50.
> Next day, we went to a Japanese restaurant for a dinner.
> That restaurant also requires valet parking but for $7.00.
> I had a mixed feeling about this practice. I am wondering whether
> restaurants in LA are trying to get a little profit out of valet parking.
> In our city, we have never heard about valet parking for dinner.
> Ramon
In urban centers where land is expensive, retailers/restaurants have
little choice but to try and cover some of the cost of the parking
spots by charging for parking. If they were to have a free parking
lot, there is the risk that patrons of other restaurants/stores will
use the parking. By requiring valet I'm guessing that they can also
squeeze a few more cars into the lot by having the attendants arrange
the cars. I think in LA culture, mandatory valet and paying for
parking are just an accepted fact of life. Sure they could offer free
valet service, but you'd probably end up paying for it somewhere
else.
Were the French and Japanese restaurants in the same neighborhoods?
I'm guessing the price of land is going to be a big factor in the cost
of parking.
I doubt very much if the valet parking is a money maker for the
restaurant as the valet service is most likely a third-party company.
The only ones making money are probably the valets themselves off the
tips.
-Tmo
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