[PAA-Discuss] [MANDELL] Parking at Havens Center

[Lee Loe]

i THINK THAT WE SHOULD TALK WITH THE CHURCH ABOUT PUTTING UP LIGHTING IN
THEIR PARKING LOT, WHICH I REMEMBER AS BEING QUITE DARK. I THINK THAT WOULD
HELP THE VANDALISM PROBLEM. LEE L

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From: discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org] On
Behalf Of Ron and Kris Graham
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 10:57 AM
To: MANDELL at yahoogroups.com; Discuss at paa-tx.org
Subject: Re: [PAA-Discuss] [MANDELL] Parking at Havens Center



James, you said, "Before one castigates a family trying to make a serious go
at fine dining in the 4th largest city in America, one should try running a
restaurant first."

 

I'm not too worried about a family trying to make a go of "fine dining" in
this city, James. I'm glad you enjoy the restaurant, however, they should
have a sign in that lot that says "for Divino's patrons only" instead of
putting little notes on people's windshields. If folks want to pool their
money and pay an off duty cop to watch their cars in the parking lot next
door to the Havens Center that's fine with me. I won't be parking there
unless there is security because the last time I did my car window got
smashed and all my CDs got stolen. The window cost me $400 and the CDs were
worth at least $300. That little meeting I attended was an expensive one
indeed. 

 

I am more concerned about people's vehicles than I am about some restaurant
owner having enough parking space for his patrons. If I had been towed I
would've been mighty pissed off since there was NO SIGN WHATSOEVER telling
me I could not park in that lot.

 

Kris

 

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From: MANDELL at yahoogroups.com [mailto:MANDELL at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
James Schriver
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 10:31 AM
To: MANDELL at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MANDELL] Parking at Havens Center
Importance: High

 

If y'all want a real treat sometime, you should try dining at divino.  They
truly live up to their name!

 

Running a fine restaurant comes with a whole other bag of stuff, one of
which is public relations;  another major one is PARKING!  Since y'all were
not towed away, but given a polite message, I think you were fairly treated.
Likely the elder Mr. McCray put the message on your car, while his son was
cooking in the kitchen.

 

I am an occasional patron of divino, and they constantly have to monitor
against people who go to Chocolate Bar and other businesses on "the other
side" of the street -- who also try to use their lot -- to ensure that their
own patrons have a place to park.

Before one castigates a family trying to make a serious go at fine dining in
the 4th largest city in America, one should try running a restaurant first. 

 

I recall that when Havens hosts an event, arrangements would be made for a
uniformed officer to provide security for vehicles parking in the church
lot, due to the number of incidents there.  It costs about $35 an hour for
this service.  I am happy to provide a contact number for an HPD officer who
books off-duty uniformed officers, if y'all need this.

"Walk a mile in my moccasins..."    http://www.divinohouston.com/   

 

On Feb 22, 2008, at 9:39 AM, Ron and Kris Graham wrote:


Last night after our Clean Elections Meet Up, I found a note in a Ziploc bag
on the windshield of my car which was parked in the lot across the street
from the Havens Center. This is the lot we have been parking in for some
time now. It is NOT the restaurant lot. Anyhow, the note said we should not
be parking in that lot because it was being used by Divino's Italian
Restaurant patrons during the dinner hour which runs from 5:30 p.m. until
11:00 p.m. I'm really surprised the proprietor of the restaurant didn't have
Charlie and me towed, but I think they knew we were not aware of this latest
development. Charlie had a note on his car, too. It looks like people are
going to have to park in the church parking lot next door. As you will
recall, my car has been vandalized in that lot as well as Jim Berry's car
and Ron Brewer's truck. I don't like parking there, and I won't park there
unless there is a guard in the lot while we are meeting or showing a movie.

 

I just wanted to give you guys a heads up. The restaurant won't continue to
just put notes on our cars if we park across the street. Eventually, they
will call a tow truck. I did not see a sign saying that lot was reserved for
Divino's customers, so I think it really sucks they are doing this.

 Kris

 

 

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