Where are the customers?

By Manny Grossman

The word on the street in the Kingsbridge shopping district is that business is down - way down. But nobody knows exactly why. Some say parking woes are to blame. Others cite lack of support from the city or competition from national retailers like Target in Marble Hill.

Cesar Tedesco, who owns Bari Pizza on Broadway just north of West 231st Street says his in-store business is down about 20 percent from last year. He cites the "hundreds of new parking meters," as a factor. "There are meters on 232nd and 234th that nobody ever uses. People used to park there and do their shopping in a relaxed way."

Yonkers has instituted "beautification zones" in its shopping districts and Mr. Tedesco feels the idea should be brought south.

"They changed the lights, they put in seats, they invested money into the area," he explained.

"Here, we pay taxes and the city only comes in to take our money," he said, adding that "ticket agents are a problem."

Mr. Tedesco said that a disabled man with a handicap placard who double parked outside his store received a ticket immediately, even though ticket agents saw the man was handicapped.

"Money is all the city wants," he complained.

Mr. Tedesco said he has been able to make up some of his lost business by expanding catering and delivery, but he says his foot traffic should be a lot more than it is.

His beliefs are shared by Ron Sookar, who owns R&S discount store just next door.

He says his business is down at least 20 percent from last year as well. "There are a number of problems," Mr. Sookar said. He, too, says parking meters deter customers from coming to his store and says the price is too high. "It used to be half an hour on the meters, now it's 20 minutes."

"The meter maids are ridiculous, too," he continued, "Tickets are $115 for people who double park [and they are working on a quota system because] they're always out here at the end of the month, especially." He says that they never listen to reason and never give people breaks.