RIOC Initiates New Motorgate Merchant Validation Program To Help Roosevelt Island Businesses Attract New Visitors With Cars - Nisi Restaurant Owner Pleased With Idea

 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Officer Alonza Robertson reports:

It’s about to get a little easier for Roosevelt Island visitors with cars to patronage Main Street’s shops, restaurants, delis and theatre.

Beginning February 7, island businesses will be invited to participate in a pilot Motorgate merchant validation program. For $150 a night, businesses can purchase parking coupons for up to 30 customer cars that spend money at their establishments. The validation allows customers up to five hours of no-charge parking. Those businesses who’d like to offer validation every weekday and weekends for a month, will pay $500.

“Our goal is to help our businesses attract more customers,” said Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation President Susan Rosenthal. “Offering free parking for patrons, who usually pay more than $20 for the same time, is a good idea.”

For business patrons, the program will work just like most other traditional parking validation programs.

Step 1) Park at the Motorgate garage.

Step 2) Take the parking ticket from the dispenser and keep it with you.

Step 3) Validate your ticket at the participating business – Participating retailers will issue you one validation coupon to be used in conjunction with your parking entry ticket.

For more details on how to enroll, contact Cyril Opperman, RIOC’s director of transportation at 212.832.1401 or via email at cyril.opperman@rioc.ny.gov.

Roosevelt Island Nisi restaurant 

 Nisi Owners Kaie & Alex Razaghi

owner Alex Razaghi is pleased with RIOC's Motorgate Merchant Validation Program. Nisi has an upcoming Baby shower party booked that includes visitors from off Island. Mr Razaghi says that offering no charge parking at the Motorgate Garage is a tremendous benefit to off Island customers and will greatly help his business.