Parking Problems Put St. Paul Restaurant On Hold

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – A dispute over parking has put a new St. Paul restaurant in limbo, making it unable to open its doors to the public.

The Salt Cellar along Selby Avenue has been ready to open for months, and as WCCO's Nina Moini explains, the owners say it's crucial to open up before Christmas to make up for lost time.

Many visit Selby Avenue in St. Paul for the food.

But finding parking along the avenue is so difficult.

Michelle Mazzara says she's come down here to eat and turned right back around!

The parking problem has delayed The Salt Cellar's opening by three months.

General Manager Blake Watson says it hass cost the restaurant and 45 employees thousands of dollars, missing out on work during what should be a busy holiday season.

"I've had a lot of staff that have left their jobs to come here and a part of this greatrestaurant," Watson said.

"Residents, businesses, neighboring businesses that brought forth issues around parking," Ricardo Cervantes.

St. Paul Director of Safety and Inspections Ricardo Cervantes says the issue is the restaurant was previously used as an art college.

Because of the new use for the building, neighboring businesses felt the Salt Cellar should provide more parking.

The Salt Cellar obliged.

Cervates says The Salt Cellar has done everything the neighbors and city have asked to fit in, adding valet services and surpassing the amount of parking required by dozens of spots.

"In this area we've seen a lot of wonderful development happening which means that these are good problems for the city to have," Cervantes said.

Watson says he can't wait to be part of the booming business, but they need the green light from the city first.

WCCO did try to speak with the business owner who filed the appeal with the city over the parking spaces, but were told they didn't want to comment.

If there are no more appeals by Friday of this week, the restaurant plans to open on Dec. 20.