Valet Parking Debuts Wednesday on Bethesda Row
New service for frustrated parkers will be offered outside Le Pain Quotidien.
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Don’t want to deal with parking on Bethesda Row? Federal Realty is announcing that valet parking is available beginning Wednesday in front of Le Pain Quotidien on Elm Street.
Parking on Bethesda Row can sometimes be tricky – ever have nightmares about driving in circles in the Bethesda-Elm garage? But Federal Realty says they’re not responding to a parking problem by introducing valet; rather, they want to introduce an additional service for shoppers, according to Deirdre Johnson, Federal’s director of asset management.
The service is aimed to be a convenience to shoppers especially during a season that can bring inclement weather, according to Johnson.
Additional parking is also available in Federal Realty’s lot at 4950 Elm St., and the company says it’s added an additional 224 parking spaces in that lot in the past two years.
Valet rates are $5 for one hour, $10 for two to four hours and $20 for more than four hours. The service will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and from 11:30 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday.
nancy teufel
2:36 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
With working in the parking industry, I am always for new valets opening. What is important though, is to make sure you secure not only the garage but more importantly your customer's ignition key. Here at Key Valet, we are the sole manufacturer of patented security products that immobolize any standard ignition right up to the "fancy" push button start - Smart Key/FOB Key. Our goal at Key Valet is to provide our customers with quality products and prompt service. View our website (www.keyvaletinc.com) to see how beneficial Key Valet can be to your newly opened valet service. Regards, Nancy Teufel
Marjorie Fuller
3:35 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
It's too expensive. Why don't the merchants bear the cost?
marjdonna@aol.com
Arlene K. Polangin
12:02 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
The rates are outrageous. Another rip-off for those of us who live in or visit Bethesda!! akpolan@verizon.net
cww
12:59 pm on Saturday, January 15, 2011
This is a terrible idea. They're not just picking up people's cars at Le Pain and driving them to the garage. They are driving the cars through the row (complete now with speed limit signs) and parking the cars in front of the shops. Trashiest thing I've seen since they developed this area, and really takes away the entire appeal of the pedestrian walkway that was the centerpiece of this area.
russresearcher
6:25 pm on Thursday, January 27, 2011
Agree with cww. I just read an article in the Post that says this is supposed to be in place through March at which time it will be pedestrian-only. However, Federal Realty will re-evaluate whether it should be put back into place. I don't like it- it goes counter to the whole idea of Bethesda Lane and, from what I understand, parkers are not obeying the 5mph speed limit, so there is a safety issue. Also, I believe there will be additional parking at the new development at Woodmont and Bethesda Ave that would make this more unnecessary, no? Takes away from quality of life:-(
-Diana
Bill Murray
12:26 am on Friday, January 28, 2011
Redwood will have to change their name to Deadwood. Pain can stay the same but with an English pronunciation. The whole attraction of eating on the cobblestone walkway will be ruined by exhaust fumes and parked cars blocking the view. Personally I'm thinking of parking my van there, complete with it's dripping oil, and large ads on the sides.
Let's face it...this will be over with the first stroller that gets hit by a speeding car. I've read reports of cars going as fast as 20mph down this "street". One shop owner was quoted as saying "the people who park here will have nice cars anyway..." This is good because....?