Valet service is a 'necessary evil' in busy parts of city
Religion, politics and valet parking.
The first two are recognized throughout the world as topics best not tackled in mixed company. In Houston, valet parking can also divide friends and get blood boiling.
"Valet parking is definitely a lightning rod," said Mark Sullivan of On the Mark Communications, an agency that handles marketing and public relations for many restaurants. "It is part of going out. It is part of our social fabric."
Whether one makes use of the service or not, valet parking has a spot in the Houston area's landscape. The podiumlike stands with uniformed attendants sit like landmarks in front of hot night clubs, high-dollar stores and even joints that buzz on weeknights with regulars who would rather eat out than wash dishes.
For fans, valet parking allows elegant at-the-door arrivals that preserve heels and hairdos and create an illusion of red-carpet glamour. For these folks, it's all about the convenience and service.