Max Shandeh has been frequenting Santana Row since it opened more than two decades ago to enjoy a cup of coffee or a delectable meal. When he came for his late afternoon run to a French-style bakery, he was surprised to find parking would no longer be free.
“I’m not happy with it. We come here and now it’s an extra cost,” Shandeh, 79, told San José Spotlight.
Santana Row implemented a parking fee after people shopping at Westfield Valley Fair across the street took advantage of the free parking and filled up the garages. Valley Fair rolled out parking fees in 2022 to control the number of people using its lots to park their cars elsewhere, Valley Fair management told San Josè Spotlight. They also claimed individuals were using the mall’s parking facility to avoid long-term parking fees when traveling out of Mineta San Jose International Airport.
Valley Fair employees protested when the charges were implemented and said the cost of parking took a bite out of their paychecks. It was left up to the retailers to decide if they would pay for employee parking.