Jerry Moran Needs to Control Parking Downtown For His Restaurant at Night.

[ronchamblin]

I have not read any letters sent by Jerry about the library event parking issue, but he did mention the issue to me while I was enjoying his delicious food and ambiance.  I don't always agree with Jerry, but on this issue, if my understanding of it is correct, he has a valid point.

The evening parking on Saturday event nights does not affect my business simply because we are closed.  If I were to be open on Saturday evenings, then I might attempt a persuasion similar to Jerry's.

Apparently, for most Saturday evenings, my assumption is that various entities rent or use the library, having perhaps up to one hundred or so attendees.  This places a demand on parking for several blocks around the library ... which includes south, past Jerry's place.

Jerry has customers through the evening, some having reservations, and some dropping in.  There have been instances where his customers cannot find parking on the street within three or four blocks of his place.  Typically, the driver would drop off the date at La Cena, and then look for a place to park.  Frequently the customer is not familiar with the area, and perhaps becomes frustrated to some degree.

Any retail business or restaurant in the downtown core must, of necessity, attempt to remove all "negatives", and increase the "positives" so that survival and stability is assured.

Jerry, as with any good businessman, is addressing a "negative" which plagues his business.  Negatives sometimes have more than one method of removal.  What is the most efficient?  And does the method of removing one's negative, place a negative onto another area establishment?

If one is to address efficiency of operation, valet parking is out of the question for a business of Jerry's size.  And because many of his customers are "drop ins", who might be unfamiliar with the area -- to arrange for parking in a pre-paid parking facility is unreasonable and too complicated.  His customers simply want to have a good meal, with the reasonable expectation that they can find a parking spot without having to walk eight or so blocks.

Because the events at the library are planned days or weeks earlier, and because the guests have been in contact with the planners of the event, it would be considerate to the attendees, and to Jerry and other businesses having drop-in customers, if the event planners would arrange for parking in one of the city owned lots or parking garages.  I'm not sure if this is feasible, but if so, it would be considerate of someone in the right position to entertain the idea.

If I am reading Jerry's situation correctly, this would leave at least some parking spaces in the evening for his customers; thus removing a somewhat serious negative for his business.

Imagine if the First Baptist church had services on Saturday night, and they had one or two thousand attendees, "and" they did not provide parking. Imagine if the library events had one or two thousand attendees, and they too did not provide parking.  Nothing else in the area could survive. 

Imagine if there were many more businesses open Saturday evenings in the area south of Monroe, who depended on drop-on customers ... and that they too endured the exact same  "negative" as Jerry's? ... and this, as a consequence of the events taking up all of the parking spots in the area?

La Cena is one of the greatest draws in the city core ... stable, enduring, and a wonderful restaurant for many coat & tie types.  La Cena has had some slow times ... but with Jerry's hard work, and his skill at what he does, he has survived. 

To allow a "negative", in the form of a lack of drop-in parking, to continue to plague one of the greatest evening assets in the city core, is in my view, inconsiderate and ultimately harmful to the downtown core's efforts to achieve vibrancy.

I urge anyone in the know, and in the path of action, to consider the recommendations as offered by Jerry, so that this "negative" to the area "drop-in" establishments, can be removed.

Of course, those who continually and always bash Jerry no matter the issue -- perhaps because they have failed in the core, and Jerry succeeds -- will not agree with my ideas, and will suggest the absurdity of my opinion.

Press on.     

[ronchamblin]

This is the letter sent by Jerry regarding the issue:

Select Council Members:
 
Over these last 14 years, I have licked, or at least learned to deal with, the many obstacles that come with operating a business in Downtown Jacksonville.  There is one problem, however,  that is literally ruining my restaurant, and that problem will do so to any business that elects to operate at night near the Laura Street Corridor.
 
The Main Library functions as a catering hall on most weekends, and sometimes on weekdays after 6 PM.  If you don't belong to a country club, the Main Library is the coolest place in town to get married or throw a large party. I am happy for the Library; it needs the money that the parties generate.
 
What is hurting my restaurant, is that the Library does not require in its private function contract that party-givers provide parking garage space for the attendees. (Please see item 13 of the attached document.)  The result is that virtually every on-street parking space within a two block radius of the Library is taken at an early hour, and occupied until at least 11 PM.  My patrons, accustomed to suburban parking schemes, and somewhat apprehensive about visiting Downtown, have no place to conveniently park. When making dinner reservations over the telephone, many regular guests ask if "There is an event going on..." because they know from past experience that on-street parking will be scarce.  The further away from La Cena's door they have to park, the longer the gauntlet of panhandlers and street intimidators becomes, but that's another issue. I am afraid this has become the case on most weekends.
 
What I suggest as a solution, is to require Library party-givers to provide parking garage space for their guests as a condition for use of the Library facilities.  My thinking is that it is unnatural for large scheduled functions to use on-street retail parking, that should be reserved for casual local business patronage, to satisfy function attendee requirements.  A simple "Free Parking is Reserved at the Duval Street Parking Garage, Level xx" on the Library function invitation would serve as a remedy.  Maybe parking@coj.net could offer a special deal for Library functions.
 
Please see what you can do to convince the Main Library to require party-givers to provide parking for their guests in the Duval Street parking garage.
 
Thank you.
 

[AuditoreEnterprise]

Just a legitimate side question... how many other business owners feel that their business is plagued or in peril due to the lack of parking. Traditionally in urban centers most coat and tie restaurants have valet services. It's just a part of boasting an upscale atmosphere. I most certainly would not go to restaurant on a date I felt was upscale if someone were not there to open the door for me an my date and park my vehicle. I could be misunderstanding how he is advertising his business though... I also tip about 50% on a check for average service. I wear a suit and tie everywhere I go (it can be verified from those who have seen me) even when it's in the hundreds outside... and I attend most events downtown concluding jazz fest... I guess I'm in the crowd he doesn't want there... interesting...

[mtraininjax]

Stephen, I agree with you. I like Jerry and go to his restaurant, but he cannot mandate that every Library event needs to include parking in a deck. I hate parking decks, I think they are scary and would rather park on the street. As a taxpayer, it is my right to do so. Sorry Jerry, but you have a license plate to operate a motor vehicle, it gives you a license to hunt for a space on the street.

Ron - I disagree with you on Valet. If parking is such an issue, Jerry should just raise prices a bit and cover the valet service. He is really doing a dis-service to his customers who are not familiar with Jacksonville, by insisting that THEY park their car somewhere downtown, all the while trying to figure out which street is one-way and which is not. He could do this, he chooses not to offer this as a service.

Otherwise, there are many empty retail spaces in a neighborhood that would be happy to have his business and provide free parking to his clients in a lovely surface lot.

[vicupstate]

The library has it's own garage and it is across the street, why don't the catered event attendees use that?  I'm sure some folks would not want to use them, but assuming it is well-lighted, I would think many would not have a problem with doing so.

It has been along time since I was in DT Jax in the evening, but I was still under the perception that you could play football in the middle of Laura Street.  Is that no longer the case?   

[jaxlore]

It funny how quickly the conversation goes from there are not enough people downtown, too there are too many people downtown. Unfortunately you cant please everybody and the more people that come downtown at night and realize that its a safe fun place to be there more people that are likely to come check out Jerry's restaurant that might not have before.

The reality is all it will take a handful more of restaurants closer to the core that are open for dinner to cause the exact same problems, so really this is just growing pains of a city. See if Pho will go havsies on a valet attendant at the corner for customers with a receipt or something.

[tufsu1]

The library has it's own garage and it is across the street, why don't the catered event attendees use that?  I'm sure some folks would not want to use them, but assuming it is well-lighted, I would think many would not have a problem with doing so.

I'm betting that garage is closed after the Library officially closes....therein lies the problem

[BoldBoyOfTheSouth]

Am I understanding this guy correctly, street level parking should be reserved for this restaurant?  Should be reserved for people who only want to do a drive by (or just eat and leave) ? 

Let's not stiffle downtown's growth and vibrancy because some people want preferential street parking; people I might add that really don't appear to care to do anything to help revitalize our city.

[JeffreyS]

In Jacksonville it is just bad business to have an upscale restaurant and not have valet parking it has become the expectation.  The library and other hemming proprietors could split the very low costs.

[JeffreyS]

The library has it's own garage and it is across the street, why don't the catered event attendees use that?  I'm sure some folks would not want to use them, but assuming it is well-lighted, I would think many would not have a problem with doing so.

I'm betting that garage is closed after the Library officially closes....therein lies the problem

Seems like an easy problem to fix.

[IrvAdams]

Stephen, I agree with you. I like Jerry and go to his restaurant, but he cannot mandate that every Library event needs to include parking in a deck. I hate parking decks, I think they are scary and would rather park on the street. As a taxpayer, it is my right to do so. Sorry Jerry, but you have a license plate to operate a motor vehicle, it gives you a license to hunt for a space on the street.

Ron - I disagree with you on Valet. If parking is such an issue, Jerry should just raise prices a bit and cover the valet service. He is really doing a dis-service to his customers who are not familiar with Jacksonville, by insisting that THEY park their car somewhere downtown, all the while trying to figure out which street is one-way and which is not. He could do this, he chooses not to offer this as a service.

Otherwise, there are many empty retail spaces in a neighborhood that would be happy to have his business and provide free parking to his clients in a lovely surface lot.

Well put. Especially the part that he is doing his customers a disservice by making them walk for some stretch of block(s) after they have to find their own space. Maybe after-dark businesses could join together on a valet service. Also, as stated, It's awfully cool to hear that there's actually parking contention after hours downtown. Seems to be a good indicator of a steady rise in interest and vibrancy.

I have come downtown to CoWork Jax after hours (it's on Forsyth) and had to park a ways away. It's just the nature of the beast for any downtown area. 

[Steve]

I like Jerry, I really do. I admire him for being one of the pioneers downtown in terms of upscale dining not attached to a hotel or at the landing (I think he opened in 2001)

However, this is not the way to solve the problem. Let's just say the garage was always open when the library had an event. How can you make them park in there?

Plus, forget about the library for a second - let's say Downtown was much more vibrant than it is at Adams and Laura. Parking on the street would be WAY worse.

Now, for those suggesting Jerry get a valet; I understand the idea but in many urban environments I've seen the small restaurants get together and go in on a valet service as a group. While I do like having a valet at upscale restaurants, it's tough to do as an individual restaurant, especially a smaller one. Pho doesn't seem like a Valet kind of place.

Long term, if the Trio ever gets fully developed (yes, we're likely talking 36 months at least), then between the Hotel and restaurants in there, something at Adams and Laura would make sense.

[Tacachale]

I don't think one business that doesn't provide any parking (or valet service) for its customers has much room to tell the library how to manage its parking, but it would definitely be good if we could get people parking in the garages at night.

[BoldBoyOfTheSouth]

That garage across from the library and near CityHall should be open at night.  If one even goes to a city council meeting and after seven, you can't drive into the garage and park and if it's even later, like say, nine, the garage is locked and you have to enter an area and possibly call to be allowed to your car.  It makes the whole place look deserted and scary.

Is it so much to ask that the garage stay open later? 

[IrvAdams]

That garage across from the library and near CityHall should be open at night.  If one even goes to a city council meeting and after seven, you can't drive into the garage and park and if it's even later, like say, nine, the garage is locked and you have to enter an area and possibly call to be allowed to your car.  It makes the whole place look deserted and scary.

Is it so much to ask that the garage stay open later? 

Certainly it should be open. Is this one controlled by the city? No wonder library patrons are parking on the street. Duh. We have tons of garage parking spaces downtown, no use if they're closed at night.