Discussions

Why do some people think it is acceptable to use a parking lot when they have no intention of eating or spending money at that particular restaurant/business?  
 
Frankly I wouldn't have the nerve to do such a thing!  
 
It must be hard to have a thriving business when your parking lot is full, people driving by might think that the place is too full and not bother stopping.  
 
People, use the parking lot of the place where you are going to! Or park on the street!

I've actually driven by businesses and seen the parking lot was packed and just kept driving. Did that once at the barber and came back a few hours later and the parking lot was still full, but went in anyway and no one was in the barber.  
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2017-05-18 20:08:56

I have done this at Marion's do to their very small parking area. I can't think of any other restaurants I would frequent where it would be a problem

Yep I'm assuming this is about marinos/robins as recently when I parked at robins (right behind marinos) I was asked to move. Not sure how Marinos is going to get any customers with a very small parking lot and limited street parking. I always thought up against the building in Robins parking lot was for Marinos customers.

In most cities there's signs stating that the parking is for x business customers and people parking there who aren't patrons of x business will be towed, so I'm surprised that's not really a thing in Brandon so far.

ka712 said "Yep I'm assuming this is about marinos/robins as recently when I parked at robins (right behind marinos) I was asked to move. Not sure how Marinos is going to get any customers with a very small parking lot and limited street parking. I always thought up against the building in Robins parking lot was for Marinos customers. "

where do you think Robins customers should park? Over at the Liquor store?

It's no different than the steady stream of vehicles driving thru Clay Pot's parking lot to go to Giant Tiger!! They are moving way to fast when they go thru, especially the taxis. It's only a matter of time before there's an accident with someone backing out. Use 26th Street and Victoria Avenue people, that's what they are for....

If both restaurants are in the same strip mall I don't see any issues with it. I don't see how one restaurant can claim the parking stalls of a strip mall first street comes to mind. If they are two separate buildings not part of the same development then I don't understand the reason for parking in one parking lot and going to the next restaurant

Robin's has a very large parking lot, there will always be a few free spots. Plus there's no 'Robin's only parking' and there used to be a 'for Marinos customers' on the side of the building I do believe.  
Marinos and Robin's are going to lose out on buisness. Marinos because of limited parking, and Robin's because of how I was treated when asked to leave.

ka712 said "Robin's has a very large parking lot, there will always be a few free spots. Plus there's no 'Robin's only parking' and there used to be a 'for Marinos customers' on the side of the building I do believe.   Marinos and Robin's are going to lose out on buisness. Marinos because of limited parking, and Robin's because of how I was treated when asked to leave. "

that Marinos has to worry, the restaurant is always packed and plenty of take out going thru the doors.  
 
Marinos does advertise for their customers to feel free to park at the south end of city hall after 5:10.  
 
I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for the owner of Robins to see people parking in their lot to go to another business, not just Marinos but the liquor store too.  
 
Did you feel a bit guilty when you were asked to leave Robins lot? I know I would feel like a kid that got caught with their hand in the cookie jar, lol

I guess if I were to visit your neighbour or go to a yard sale on your street you won't mind me parking in your driveway.

ka712 said "Robin's has a very large parking lot, there will always be a few free spots. Plus there's no 'Robin's only parking' and there used to be a 'for Marinos customers' on the side of the building I do believe.   Marinos and Robin's are going to lose out on buisness. Marinos because of limited parking, and Robin's because of how I was treated when asked to leave. "

I meant to quote ka712. Businesses pay for their property. Shouldn't blame the business you are not supporting by using their property any going somewhere else. Ridiculous.

I'm not blaming anyone. When I was asked to not park there I simply left. I just always thought up against the restaurant was for Marinos as that's how it used to be.

Funny how it works sometimes, because the first place I thought of is Applebee's and Joey's.

ka712 said "I'm not blaming anyone. When I was asked to not park there I simply left. I just always thought up against the restaurant was for Marinos as that's how it used to be. "

The blame sits squarely on the city and the developers. The planning board sets the guidelines with parking (like one stall for every four seats at a restaurant or one and a half stalls for a one bedroom apartment), but it's the bloody applications and careless approvals of zoning variances that screws everyone around. Apartments, businesses or homes... It doesn't seem to matter. Unless there's an very vocal and/or determined o:bjection brought forth before and during the the city council meeting, it usually gets read and rammed through. ...Mainly because the city wants/needs that tax revenue from the new build.  
 
I hate the set-up for parking for a lot of places. Either they're too few or they're short and narrow compared to the older lot spaces. Just compare the mall or the old Fields/Sobey's at 34th to the Walmart or the any of the Tim Hortons spaces. ...Bit of a tighter fit with these newer lots don't you think? There are lots that I dare not attempt to go in to park with the minivan, let alone with the crew-cab half ton truck. Both vehicles are bigger then the full size cars from the seventies (not by much, Dads Olds 88 was 18 feet and Moms wagon measured 19.5 from stem to stern), but somehow in the last forty years the stalls are getting fewer and smaller. And that's because we've been letting them get away with it by slowly changing the by-laws over the years and now-n-days... just change or ignor it all together when it needs to suit the developers.  
 
We see this problem come up almost every other month here on eBrandon in many different ways. "The new apartments has filled my street" or "These big trucks are taking two spots" or "Snow clearing can't get properly done" or "I got boxed in and waited over and hour to get out" and "Thank's for the door-ding 'ya dummy". All of these are usually rooted to variances approved for developers who are trying to squeeze in as much as they can by giving up designated parking space. The city needs to be more accountable for how property gets developed. That i:ncludes the functionality of the parking required for the business/property.  
 
As for the Marinos and Robin's deal? ...Neither one should have been approved without revisions or additional property assigned for parking, especially Robin's with that tight drive through set-up. And the Clay pot just needs a speed bump or two to fix that problem.  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I frequently park at the west side of the Walmart parking lot and then do business at Dollarama and Moore's.  
 
Hang me from the highest tree...

HighTechRedneck said "I frequently park at the west side of the Walmart parking lot and then do business at Dollarama and Moore's.     Hang me from the highest tree... "

don't compare this situation to the massive parking lot for WM. Unless it's the Christmas season there are plenty of empty spaces for cars!  
 
I'm talking about small parking lots.  
 
No hanging needed, lol

Some of these places we are talking about have massive parking lots for the number of customers.

ka712 said "Robin's has a very large parking lot, there will always be a few free spots. Plus there's no 'Robin's only parking' and there used to be a 'for Marinos customers' on the side of the building I do believe.   Marinos and Robin's are going to lose out on buisness. Marinos because of limited parking, and Robin's because of how I was treated when asked to leave. "

There was most definitely a marinos parking sign on the north side of the parking lot facing the south side of marinos, I'm guessing the signage is gone now?

I was gonna say the same thing as Trevor...  
there are actually quite a few places like that in town, that share parking. Not only restaurants but other business's as well.  
I worked for a lady who wanted cars parked in front of her business as it made her look busy. Just funny how it works!

Hummerduck said "I don't agree with whoever mentioned strip mall businesses not having their own space - I work at Pita Central, and it's a huge issue for us! When you park in front of our store and then walk over to Fat Panda, it drives us crazy, and it takes parking away from people who ARE coming to the business you parked in front of. I can't complain about it too much outside of 12-3pm, seeing as how we aren't all that busy outside of the lunch rush, but when it's busy, please don't park in our spots... "

hope this isnt the place you plan to phone about on monday lol  
 
as far as strip mall parking, i always thought as long as you are a patron of that mall you can park in any available spot, unless it in your rent to have dedicated spots then really its your view point that is the issue, not the customers of fat panda

traveller said "    Hummerduck said "I don't agree with whoever mentioned strip mall businesses not having their own space - I work at Pita Central, and it's a huge issue for us! When you park in front of our store and then walk over to Fat Panda, it drives us crazy, and it takes parking away from people who ARE coming to the business you parked in front of. I can't complain about it too much outside of 12-3pm, seeing as how we aren't all that busy outside of the lunch rush, but when it's busy, please don't park in our spots... " hope this isnt the place you plan to phone about on monday lol     as far as strip mall parking, i always thought as long as you are a patron of that mall you can park in any available spot, unless it in your rent to have dedicated spots then really its your view point that is the issue, not the customers of fat panda "

Funniest thing I have read for a while.

Hummerduck said "I don't agree with whoever mentioned strip mall businesses not having their own space - I work at Pita Central, and it's a huge issue for us! When you park in front of our store and then walk over to Fat Panda, it drives us crazy, and it takes parking away from people who ARE coming to the business you parked in front of. I can't complain about it too much outside of 12-3pm, seeing as how we aren't all that busy outside of the lunch rush, but when it's busy, please don't park in our spots... "

I like convenience so if parking is an issue, I just don't stop at the business.