Galveston restaurateur tackles seawall parking shortage Spot owner builds own parking garage

A surrey is pedaled along Seawall Boulevard Monday, March 16, 2015, in Galveston. A surrey is pedaled along Seawall Boulevard Monday, March 16, 2015, in Galveston. Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close Galveston restaurateur tackles seawall parking shortage 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

GALVESTON – The owners of one of the most popular restaurants on Galveston Island believes he can capitalize on a parking shortage that often leaves tourists searching for a spot near the beach.

Dennis Byrd, owner of The Spot Restaurant on Seawall Boulevard, said Thursday he is planning to build a 3 1/2-story parking garage with 185 parking spaces behind the restaurant.

Tourists will be willing to pay for a secure place to park that is near the beach, Byrd said. The new garage also will make parking easier for the 4,000 patrons a day who visit The Spot and four bars that Byrd owns in the same building.

Parking on both sides of Seawall Boulevard is often full, he said, forcing tourists to hunt for spaces in residential neighborhoods or in lots reserved for patrons of local businesses.

Some percentage of our parking is taken up by people going to the beach," Byrd said. "It poses a challenge to other guests who may not want to go to the beach but just come in and get a meal."

Byrd is also planning to build a five-story Holiday Inn Express with 106 room on a lot adjacent to The Spot on its west side.

If there are no problems with the permitting process, Byrd expects to complete the $2 million parking garage next summer and the $15 million hotel by January 2018.