Mangan said his restaurant’s customers are not permitted to park in the parking lot outside The Tropics during Fraze and other city-sponsored events. Fraze Pavilion is operated by the city of Kettering; the restaurant’s landlord sub-leases the parking lot of the office building that houses The Tropics to the city for Fraze and other city-sponsored events, Mangan said.
Mangan said he believed the agreement gave his restaurant’s customers first rights to the parking lot, “but that did not happen.” At times, customers who have reservations at The Tropics, or who are scheduled to attend a high school reunion or other event in the restaurant, are told by guards that they cannot park in the parking lot — and that has cost him business, Mangan said.
Kettering City Manager Mark Schwieterman said the city “adhered to all clauses in our negotiated contract with the property owner, including the arrangement for parking. In addition, our staff met with both the property and restaurant owners and offered to implement additional measures, at the city’s expense, in an attempt to support the success of the restaurant.”
The venue is a particularly popular destination during Fraze concert nights. The space was vacant during the summer 2012 entertainment season after the Pavilion Grille shut down.
The Mangans — who also own the Cherry House Cafe in Beavercreek and One Eyed Jack’s in Fairborn — opened The Tropics in October 2012 following a $300,000 makeover. The restaurant seats 235 inside and seats another 50 on its patio.
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