Currently, cars can be dropped off and picked up at 440 West Franklin, in front of the West End Wine Bar. The East side service will have drop-off and pick-up on the north side of the 100 block of East Franklin, just east of Columbia Street, in front of Kidzu Children's Museum.

"We are hopeful the new valet service can boost sales on East Franklin, during a typical slow time," said Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt. "This is just the latest good news for downtown Chapel Hill. The expansion of Kidzu, Greenbridge's opening, FRANK's (an art gallery) opening, and the Varsity's re-opening are all positive developments in Downtown Chapel Hill in recent months."

Valet service expansion was one of the recommendations of a downtown parking task force, which was formed by Town Manager Roger L. Stancil in December 2009.

The project required the cooperation of the Town, Downtown Partnership, UNC Foundation and University Square. The UNC Foundation has allowed the rear of the parking lot at University Square to be used as the satellite parking location for the service. With the help of Gordon Merklein of the UNC Real Estate Development Office, the problem of where to store cars was solved. University Square management and Walter Holt of Grubb & Ellis|Thomas Linderman Graham also supported the project.

The service will be operated by Royal Parking Inc. in cooperation with the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership.

For more information, contact the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership at 919-967-9440 or visit www.downtownchapelhill.com. For general information about parking in downtown Chapel Hill, visit www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?page=192.