{"id":4971,"date":"2013-09-16T11:40:09","date_gmt":"2013-09-16T15:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myparkingsign.com\/blog\/?p=4971"},"modified":"2025-02-21T05:33:34","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T10:33:34","slug":"evolution-valet-parking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myparkingsign.com/blog\/evolution-valet-parking\/","title":{"rendered":"The evolution of valet parking"},"content":{"rendered":"

What got off the ground as a luxury for only the richest of the rich, valet parking has become an unrestricted service accessible to many. These days, it’s common in many public places like airports, health clubs, hospitals, and even cinemas. So how did the humble valet make his (or her) way from the aristocratic settings of stately mansions to the parking lot of Burger King?<\/p>\n

The practice dates back to the era when people used to ride horses as their main means of transportation. The word valet has its roots in the mid-14th<\/sup> century and means \u201cpersonal man-servant.\u201d Typically a valet or valet de chambre<\/i> who served as personal attendant to their master. Taking guests\u2019 horses or carriages to the stables were additional responsibilities. The tradition of parking continued in the beginning of the twentieth century, when the servants began to\u00a0park guests\u2019 cars.<\/p>\n

The early days of valet parking<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"valet

Herb Citrin, Father of Valet Parking and founder of the company Valet Parking Service. Image by NPR.<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

The Lexus<\/a> Guide to Valet Parking has excerpts from a conversation with Herb Citrin, popularly known as the \u201cFather of Valet Parking\u201d or \u201cMr. Valet.\u201d Citrin, who died this year<\/a>, started his valet parking company back in 1946 in Los Angeles and brought professionalism to a business that was once not valued much.<\/i><\/p>\n

Citrin did not discover valet parking; but he certainly invented it. In the interview with Lexus, Critin says, \u201cMy father parked cars back in the \u201930s. A month shy of my 16th birthday, I started helping him out.\u201d Citrin\u2019s father ran the parking concession at Lawry’s The\u00a0Prime Rib on La Cienega Boulevard in LA. Citrin\u2019s introduction of natty uniforms for valets in 1946 was noted, and most of the other 20 dining establishments on La Cienega Boulevard asked Citrin to manage their parking.<\/p>\n

After restaurants, Citrin moved to office buildings and department stores. Later on, his company<\/a> also began handling valet parking for airports, the Academy Awards, Emmys, Golden Globes and other major Hollywood events.<\/p>\n

The valet parking industry is flourishing<\/b><\/h2>\n

From opening doors for the who\u2019s who to saving customers’ time when parking is scarce \u2014 which can be nightmare in closely packed cities \u2014 the nature of valet parking<\/a> has changed tremendously over time.\u00a0 Once a mark of affluence, valet parking has now emerged as a well-organized and fairly common service.<\/p>\n

The surge in valet parking jobs over the years is a proof of its successful journey. The National Parking Association records an estimated 200,000 people working as parking attendants in the United States. About 61 percent of Americans use valet parking, with Northeasterners relying on it the most. Just 27 percent said they never use a valet.<\/p>\n

New options in valet parking <\/b><\/h2>\n

Recently, valet parking has evolved from just parking cars to other vehicles like bikes and boats. Bicycle valet parking has\u00a0gained popularity in the last ten years with more and more people choosing to peddle to their destination. For those who love to cruise, a valet parking option is now at hand for boats<\/a> too.<\/p>\n

\n

Like this topic? Check out our related products:<\/h3>\n