Draft:Valet Parking Service

Valet Parking Service was a valet parking business existing in Los Angeles, California from 1946 to 2016. It used a business model featuring formality with smartly uniformed attendants, changing valet parking in Los Angeles from a casual service to a more respected profession. It began operation in 1946 as a single parking concession at Lawry's The Prime Rib restaurant in Beverly Hills. Founder Herb Citrin noticed that most parking attendants "at the time were dressed in dungarees and sloppy shirts". He dressed his workers in war-surplus Air Force Officer uniforms and called them "valets". By 1960 his valets were uniformed in distinctive red vests with black ties. By 2003 the business serviced over 200 locations, and numerous high-end events such as the Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy awards.

History

 * Founder Herb Citrin, "Mr. Valet", began the business in 1946 after returning to Los Angeles from service on a World War II US Navy submarine.
 * The first client location was Lawry's The Prime Rib restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. Parking attendants were outfitted with war-surplus Air Force Officers uniforms and called "valets". Citrin ran the parking concession, and also worked as Lawry's doorman.
 * In 1960 Citrin introduced a new Valet Parking Service uniform featuring a red vest with black tie.
 * By 1960s Valet Parking Service had parking concessions with numerous Los Angeles businesses, restaurants, hotels, the Los Angeles International Airport, and private events including the Oscar, Emmy & Grammy awards.
 * The 2002 Valet Parking Service website displayed at the top: "They named the industry after us" Valet Parking Service, since 1946.
 * By 2003 Valet Parking Service grew to more than 200 locations with 1,500 employees.

Current business

 * In 2016 Valet Parking Service was purchased and is now operated by LAZ Parking.