They moved a bunch of inconvenient valet spaces

There have been some changes with the Coconut Grove valet, I guess until most are taken away, there will always be what the Miami Parking Authority calls "a challenge."

On top of the loss of parking in so many valet spots, they are widening the sidewalks to accommodate drainage and ADA regulations by taking parking spaces away giving us less spaces to park.

Parking spaces removed to widen sidewalk.

Two spaces were taken away in front of Jaguar recently to improve drainage in the area and four are being taken away on Grand Avenue where the old Johnny Rockets was for the same reason.

Restaurants on Commodore Plaza have hogged spaces at the western end for a long time now for valet service. Strada and The Cruz Building are the worst offenders. That street is a lost cause if you're looking for street parking. Another valet service was added near Lulu's, this was a valet on Main Highway that only serviced up to three cars a day. Talk about hogging valuable spaces. Maybe it will do better at Lulu's. But it's unconscionable to tie up spaces all day for three cars. Ironically, that end of the street lost four parking spaces a few years ago when the sidewalks were redone. More lost parking.

On Main Highway across from Lulu's there are spaces reserved as a loading zone, for large trucks, only people don't know it and there is a mini-industry of towing going on there. Tow trucks literally lurk in that area, picking cars up one by one like an assembly line. It's almost a game to try to find parking in Coconut Grove.

A friend told me that his dentist told him out of the blue, that he and his wife used to love the Grove, they met here, they got married here, but they avoid here now due to lack of parking. People don't want to spend an hour driving in circles looking for parking, it sort of ruins the whole buzz of a night out. Ironically, a few decades ago, this was ticketed and called cruising. You were literally given tickets for circling the blocks long ago, now it's a must in order to find a parking spot. Most people don't valet. Anywhere, not just the Grove.

Glass & Vine has a valet service that screws up traffic on the turn on McFarlane Road, where cars always have to bottle neck to get by because the valet takes up too much space.  That turn there is the worst possible space for a valet service, yet they are keeping it there. The valet at Harry's Pizzeria will only be there during the days Monday through Friday, as there was no call for it at night and weekends, so it will be open then for metered parking.

Those useless valet spots near the elementary school have been removed it looks like. They wasted up to five spaces during the day, now they are back to metered parking and across the street near Maya Hatcha that valet looks to be gone for good, too. That took up to four spaces during the day for non-existent cars.