“Surge” Pricing Want a nice (or not-so-nice) compare-and-contrast between St. Paul and Chicago? Back in 2010, the City of Chicago sold its parking concession to a private corporation that immediately raised rates and extended hours. The latest wrinkle? So-called “surge” pricing for high-demand periods (top photo). “Minnesota Nice” By contrast, St. Paul’s street parking is still run...Read More
Playing Downtown Minneapolis Parking Roulette “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?'” –Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry The confusing, contradictory parking sign — make that signs — might as well have been hieroglyphics (or maybe an especially sadistic SAT question). But the choice parking spot directly in front of Black Sheep Pizza (in the...Read More
“Penny $2.50 Wise, Pound Foolish” To raise truly piddling amounts of revenue — I paid $2.50 to park for 90 minutes* or so the other week — downtown Minneapolis merchants are easily foregoing 3x or even 10x times that in sales revenue (my very conservative estimate). So, instead of navigating the maddening system of remote...Read More
Missed Marketing Opportunity? I suppose there could be a liability issue, but if I owned a downtown parking ramp with a prime view of tonight’s fireworks, I’d put up this sign: “Best Fireworks View! $10” Then, I’d have cars park below the top level, which I’d leave open for watching the fireworks. Maybe even sell some...Read More
Dumb Tax Idea #27, or, “The (In)Convenience Store Tax” Did you know that the city of Minneapolis just slapped a 50% surtax on small purchases such as ice cream, coffee, dry cleaning, pet grooming, etc.? OK, so they’re not calling it that — but that’s effectively what it is. What I’m referring to, of course, are...Read More
