Village of Lewiston requests new Frontier House pay parking signs be removed

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

The Village of Lewiston has asked Ellicott Development to take down new pay parking signs installed at the main, southside entrance to the Frontier House.

“They've already been told they’ve got to take them down immediately, and they have to go through the Planning and the (Historic Preservation Commission boards),” Mayor Anne Welch said Thursday.

She noted pay parking is permitted in the private lot at 460 Center St., but the sign design and placement have to be approved first.

“They were told to remove them until they get approval,” Welch said.

Ellicott Development is the landlord for the historic Frontier House. The 201-year-old building reopened in 2025 following more than 20 years of being closed to the public. First-floor tenant Fairbanks restaurant opened in June, and Ellicott’s own upper-level rental units followed in July and August.

Thomas Fox, director of development for Ellicott Development, said, “In terms of the signs, the panels will be coming down tomorrow," as per Premium Parking, the paid parking administrator. "They are talking with the village office now and going through the proper channels for sign approval.”

Of the decision to charge, Fox said, “It has been the plan to help keep the lot clear for our tenants and patrons" to accommodate their need for convenient parking.

Fairbanks co-owner Jake Strawser said, “I can confirm that all of our employees and most importantly our guests will be able to get their parking validated when they dine with us as to not require payment.”

He added, “Our guests come first and we in no way want them to feel punished for choosing to dine with us. We’ll always make sure they're taken care of.”

About the signs

A red sign placed at the Frontier House parking lot entrance reads, “Park Here. Starting from $1.00.” The pay-parking partner listed on the sign is Premium Parking.

At the exit, a second red sign reads, “Exit Only.”

Inside the parking lot, a handful of yellow, black and white signs – mostly next to neighboring 444 Center St. – are labeled “Starspaces // Park closer, when you need to.” Below that is a CameraPay QR code and the message, “Pay the 'Star Space' Rate.” There is a text-to-pay option, as well. The signs note they are “photo enforced 24/7,” and “Park and Pay Upon Arrival. Remember your license plate number.”

Other red, yellow and white signs have similar messaging, but also add, “Vehicles parked inappropriately or without valid paid parking will be invoiced, immobilized or towed.”

Some signs in the parking lot are already reserved for rental-unit tenants (north side). Some spaces right behind the building have no designation.

Initial social media reactions to the signs were negative, but Neil Garfinkel had a different take. He operates Sgt. Peppers Hot Sauces, Etc., at 444 Center St. – right at the foot of the parking lot.

“People have been parking here, and even employees of other restaurants – not Brickyard,” he said. “Other ones are parking in this lot. Frontier House is plowing it; and they have a restaurant of their own; and people from (other restaurants) are parking here, customers. It's not public parking anymore. It's private parking.

“My customers come in and tell me, ‘Well, we were going to stop by, but there was nowhere to park.’ That's because there was a funeral or a party across the street or next door. My customers don't have anywhere to park, and it really hurt my business.

“I think this might help my business.”

444 Center St. also includes Brewed and Bottled Craft Beer Shop, Battle Flag Tavern and Queen B’s Cottage. Garfinkel said the building and its tenants are not entitled to any spaces in the parking lot, but Frontier House representatives told him, “I could use one or two.”

One plain, red and white sign was in place noting parking for Sgt. Peppers.

Garfinkel said he offered to share any Sgt. Peppers-designated spaces with Fairbanks patrons at night, once his store is closed.

He said pay parking signs would “definitely … affect me. If it's good, it's good; if it's bad, it's bad. I don't know what's going to happen.”