I like the Scene in Glendale, but parking there is a big fat pain in my vor. (Do I really need to translate that for you?)
There is a lot right next to the club. I pulled in there and guy told me immediately that it was not for the Scene. I didn't ask, it's just that I have indie rocker written on my face in the form of thick-framed glasses. He said that I could park there, but it would cost $10 (the sign reads "Valet $5"). I said, no thanks and left. Then I parked three blocks down Colorado Street and walked to the beat of MidEastDisco that was blaring out of the hookah bar.
Inside, I ran into my friend Johnny, who told me that the guy actually offered me a discounted rate. He tried to charge Johnny $20.
"Shit, he must have give me the Armenian discount!" I exclaimed. "And it was still double the cover charge."
Can parking lots gouge potential patrons like that? If the sign says that it is $5 to park, shouldn't it remain $5 even if you aren't going to the designated venue? In Los Angeles and even overpriced West Hollywood, the lots generally function as parking for four or five different venues and no one ever asks where you're going. Maybe it depends on whether or not the lot is actually owned and operated by the restaurant it served, but since he did say that I could park there, I imagine that isn't really an issue. Regardless, though, the lot was, at best, half-full, so from a business aspect it would make sense to park the Scene cars there as well, instead of making up random price tags that are bound to cause your average dive bar denizen to flee the scene in search of street parking.

Labels: Parking