A new company is offering valet parking services for private business or residential events in Naperville that will allow guests to avoid the headache of parking when attending a restaurant opening, private party or similar large gathering.
PRK Parking will make its debut at two upcoming events this month — Party on the Parkway, a Sept. 7 downtown benefit for Bridge Communities, and the Sept. 14 grand opening of new downtown business Face Foundrie at 225 S. Main St.
PRK cofounder Tommy Halkyard, of Wheaton, said the business concept was born when he and his partner Josh Haddad were both 15 minutes late to a breakfast because they couldn’t find parking on their school campus, Hope College in Michigan.
“We were both complaining and thought there has to be some sort of solution to this,” said Halkyard, before quickly realizing they could create parking management software that could be the answer.
They started targeting higher education locations using software that focused on permit parking before deciding they weren’t thinking big enough. They switched to a concept in which valet parking service could be provided for any kind of event for which the businesses could cover the cost so it was provided free to guests or guests would be charge a flat rate at no cost to the business.
With the ability to provide the service to hotels, country clubs, restaurants and other types of business, their mission is to make parking seamless for the guest, Halkyard said.
“It’s the first impression you make whenever you go somewhere and you drive up,” he said. “Imagine if the first impression is negative because you can’t find parking.”
In downtown Naperville, the cars left with valets will be parked in free city parking decks and lots located throughout the district, Halkyard said. While anyone can park their car there as well, he said, the service takes the hassle out of trying to find a spot and then walk to a destination, especially during inclement or cold weather.
The open spots and car locations are tracked using software Halkyard and Haddad created.
Halkyard, who graduated college in May, said he walked away from the job he had lined up so he could devote himself to his start-up parking company. It was launched in November 2022 and signed its first clients in May.
The service can be arranged for residential events as well — weddings, large birthday parties, private company gatherings and similar functions to which a lot of people have been invited and close parking spaces quickly filled.
“Parking is stressful and can be really hard and we are here to make it easier for everybody,” Halkyard said. “We want it to be a positive experience for whatever big event they are attending.”