On-Demand Valet Parking Seemed Like Such a Great Idea. It Wasn't
Zirx and Luxe are shifting away from the on-demand model
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Venture capital firms bet tens of millions of dollars that startups offering affordable valet parking to harried urbanites would flourish in the on-demand economy pioneered by Uber.
Parking valets working for companies with names like Luxe, Zirx and Valet Anywhere became a common sight in the congested precincts of San Francisco, Chicago, New York and other U.S. cities. With a few taps on a phone, customers could summon a valet and avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot and then squeezing into it. Once they'd finished shopping, dining or taking a meeting, the valet would drive up with the vehicle.