Parking problems for popular Main Line restaurant

WAYNE, Pa. - February 4, 2011

But local diners have reacted a lot more positively than other local merchants.

The problem is parking.

It's nice when you can come to the hottest new eatery in Wayne for lunch and get valet parking. It's not so nice for other businesses.

"It's almost impossible to get in here now. I can't make my deliveries to the other businesses that are here," said Dennis Adams.

Dennis Adams delivers water to the town center, and says it's a dangerous squeeze through a one way street.

"It's impossible to do any other business but theirs now," said Adams.

It's just one part of what local merchants are calling a much bigger issue.

"In retail you want to be able to park and go in and that's not what's happening here," said Michael Batt.

Owner of Beans, Michael Batt says ever since White Dog Cafe moved in back in November, his customers have not been able to find a parking spot. He says the valets were actually brought in to solve the problem, but it only got worse.

"The valets don't have an area to stage the cars. The valets are hired by the restaurant they care about their customer, not the other businesses," said Batt.

The valets did not take up parking spaces that were in front of Beans and the other adjacent businesses, but what they did do was begin parking the cars off the premises on residential blocks.

This issue may stem from White Dog's popularity. They were approved for 63 seats, but three weeks later that number more than tripled.

"In early December, we received an anonymous tip suggesting that there were over 200 seats in operation there," said Matthew Bauman.

Radnor community development director Matthew Bauman says instead of shutting them down, they allowed them to reduce the seating to 129 for safety.

"At 129, they tentatively meet life safety and meet parking. Since that time, they've reduced it to 118. They don't have an approved plan for 118, but the thought is let them operate at 118 until they finalize the plans," explained Bauman. "We'll work with you, you work with us."

Meanwhile, the other business owners are hoping someone will work with them.

"I think that if you get rid of the valets and have reserved parking for all of the retailers not just myself, then we'll have a better working situation," said Batt.

The owner of White Dog was unavailable for comment.

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