Parking it in Red Bank with Valet Service

What's to not like?

That was Red Bank Mayor Pat Menna's take recently about the evolution of valet parking in the borough.

In a town that has been likened to a small bustling city, with a history of patron parking woes galore, "it's just a wonderful convenience," Menna said in a recent chat about it at an event. "Rather than dealing with the headache of finding a parking spot, you just pull up, drop off the car and you can be on your way to dinner or (whatever it is you're doing) downtown."

The charge for the private contracted service, that comes at no cost to Red Bank, is $5 per car and is all set up, with the appropriate cordoning-off poles and signs on Broad Street drop-off parking spaces from the area in front of Char restaurant down toward Front Street.

"Most of the restaurants will validate for the service as well," Menna said. "So, you really just can't go wrong."

Formerly tried at a cost of $10 a couple of years ago, the plan did not work. But now, Menna said, at half the price "it's really grown quite popular. It's worth it to people and seems to have been met with much approval this year."

So much so that the service option was extended from an original five or so spaces by Blue Water Seafood to those by Char and over to the West Side of the borough as well.

"Only Danny's and Two River Theater are offering right now. Others on the West Side have said that they really don't need it. I think they may come around, though."

Two River Theater does have its own parking lot, Menna pointed out, but has recognized that people attending the theater may want the added convenience of the service for dining options, especially considering the circumstances surrounding West Side Lofts construction.

The major project in the works has affected issues of walking to and from parking spots, due to sidewalk revamping in the area and general construction activity.
 
At peak dining time on a Friday night recently, the service was steady and flowing on Broad Street.

Take a look at the above video clip for an idea of how it works.