City to Monitor Parking Crush at Newport Towne Square

This was the scene in the Newport Towne Square at dinner hour Tuesday night, looking south from the back section of the parking lot toward Applebee's.

Feeling frustrated with a lack of parking available at the Newport Towne Center now that the first businesses finally are open?

You're not alone.

Menifee 24/7 has received complaints from several readers in the four days since the Sept. 6 soft opening of Applebee's restaurant, which followed by a few days the openings of Jersey Mike's Subs and Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Seems everyone wants to try them out, but during peak times, there isn't an open parking spot to be found.

Granted, the approximately 160 parking spaces for three eagerly awaited eateries might be insufficient during the initial rush following each site's opening. City officials say they will be watching the situation to see if it becomes a problem.

"The public response to the openings of Applebee’s, Five Guys, and Jersey Mike’s has been tremendous, confirming the residents' requests and the market demand for new restaurant options," Economic Development Director Jeff Wyman wrote in an email. "While the immediate parking situation is impacted by the great response, this is anticipated to moderate within a short time.

"Multiple great restaurant openings at the same time can cause an initial significant turnout by residents, and this is what we are seeing now. This is similar to the response when BJ’s and Miguel’s Jr. restaurants opened in the Countryside Marketplace, and shortly thereafter the parking situation became less impacted. The City will continue to monitor the parking situation at the Newport Towne Square over the next several months to determine if there is a long-term parking issue, and will take appropriate steps at that time if necessary."

Wyman said additional parking will eventually become available as additional phases of the Newport Towne Square are built to the north of the existing businesses. He said those parking spaces would be accessible to patrons of the southern businesses "through a reciprocal parking agreement."