Patrons of a popular Thai restaurant in Sydenham are being turned away on weekends after the 50-seat eatery was slapped with restrictions to prevent shared parking spots being overrun by its customers.
Brimbank council has told Caroline Thai restaurant owner Prin Phuengchetsaga that he can seat only 15 customers at a time on Friday and Saturday nights, after six other businesses complained about parking availability.
Mr Phuengchetsaga said it means on weekends customers see empty tables they are not allowed to sit at.
“People get angry and all we can do is show them the permit and explain the situation,” Mr Phuengchetsaga said.
“It’s also unfair for people who live in the area and walk to the shop.”
The restaurant on the corner of Hume Drive and Kings Road can seat 50 patrons at other times, and shares 58 car spaces with 11 other shops, which include another restaurant, five takeaway stores, a convenience store and Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins’ office.
“We pay rent for the biggest shop in the centre and, even though we are not happy with all this, we have to go ahead with running it because of our five-year lease,” said Mr Phuengchetsaga.
“The carpark isn’t full every weekend; sometimes there’s 20 spots left but people aren’t allowed to sit in.”
Regular customer David Micallef, of Taylors Hill, said it was frustrating.
“It’s pretty sad that a thriving local business has been reined in like this. Punished for doing well. It’s anti-competitive and wrong,” Mr Micallef said.
“How can a business that seats 50 people be expected to survive on these restrictions?”
Brimbank council city development director Stuart Menzies said the restrictions, made in September last year, were informed by a traffic report and assessment by council officers.
“[On] Friday and Saturday nights, car parking was highly utilised. There was insufficient available car parking to allow the restaurant to have additional seats without impacting on other existing businesses,” Mr Menzies said.
“Council officers have been in communication with the restaurant operators to ensure that they comply with the permit conditions relating to patron numbers, and will continue to do so,” he said.
Bali Sharma, who owns nearby Indian restaurant Priya Cuisine, said he blamed council for the parking problems.
“It’s only a small centre, and council allowed in another restaurant knowing the parking was limited,” Mr Sharma said.
“People are losing business because customers can’t find parking, and they just drive off.
“Or people are fighting for a space. It’s so bad, they argue and then they come to the same restaurant.”
“The council needs to provide parking on the side of the roads close by and stop pitting us against each other,” Mr Sharma said.
