Service is Thursday-Saturday nights under 90-day pilot; special promotions tonight at bars, restaurants

After weeks of discussions and planning, Dearborn’s west downtown district will begin to offer free valet beginning Thursday for customers of participating businesses.

We’ve written several stories HERE about this plan and City Council approved it at Monday’s meeting.

The free service will be 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

West Dearborn bars and restaurants will also offer special drink or appetizer deals on Dec. 15 (tonight) in conjunction with this new promotion, with proceeds donated to the Dearborn Goodfellows.

Two valet parking drop off points in public parking areas south of Michigan Avenue on West Village Drive between Monroe and Military will give customers easy access to restaurants, bars and shops in the district.

Two more drop off points are planned for north of Michigan Avenue between Monroe and Mason in the future.

With the support of the City of Dearborn and the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (WDDDA), the participating business owners have joined together to offer this free service to attract customers to the district, especially in the winter.

Patrons of other businesses in the district will pay $5 to use the valet service.

The complementary valet service is a 90-day pilot program initially lasting until mid-March. Its success will be evaluated at that time.

The participating businesses will pay the City of Dearborn’s parking system $40 a month for each space reserved for valet. That fee is in line with the system’s monthly parking permits.

At least 100 spots will be reserved, and more are possible based on the popularity of the service.

By offering free parking and free valet service, the west Dearborn businesses will encourage customers who may otherwise be reluctant to pay for parking, or who don’t want to trudge through snow during an evening out.

Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. said the new service benefits all participants. “The parking system is still collecting fees for the spots used by the valet service, businesses are showing their appreciation for their customers and generating more traffic, and customers have the added convenience and value of free parking and valet service.

“We know there are great restaurants and bars in west Dearborn,” he said, “and we invite anyone who hasn’t been there lately, or who hasn’t wanted to pay for parking, to come back and experience a terrific meal or a memorable night out.”

Other parking is available in the business district for $.50, $.75 or $1 an hour, depending on the spot selected.

For more information, visit West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority on Facebook, visit www.dearbornwestonline.com or follow WestDearbornDDA on Twitter.

PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES VALIDATING FOR FREE VALET PARKING

as of Dec. 14, 2011

• Ciao’s

• Crave

• Don Yeyo Cigar Factory

• Double Olive

• Habuki

• iBurger

• Le Cigar Emporium

• Moose Martini Bar

• The Post Bar

• The Well