Photo by Joseph Bell
Michele Ritter, owner of The Pennsy Restaurant LLC, discusses the recent placement of four signs restricting parking on the Elk Creek Bridge next to her establishment. Despite the new restrictions, Ritter said she does not foresee any immediate business problems due to a loyal clientele.

 Ritter claims Penny Restaurant still getting crowds.

By Joseph Bell

Staff Writer

 Despite four newly-placed signs restricting parking on Elk Creek Bridge in Ridgway, Michele Ritter, owner of The Pennsy Restaurant LLC said she has no immediate concern regarding the recent sign placement.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” Ritter said. “I did talk to Marty (Schuller) about it and I believe he thought it was more of a weight limit concern.”
But despite what Ritter believes to be nothing more than a minor setback, she has remained positive.
“Customers haven’t complained about the parking, not really,” Ritter said. “I’ve only owned it for 15 months now so they really haven’t said too much.
“Some of them like to walk, they don’t mind parking wherever and walking here.”
But with the latest parking restrictions, Ritter said she is worried about taking parking away from other businesses.
“I know the place next door, I haven’t verbally heard from them, but since this has all happened, we’ve been taking some of their lot,” Ritter said. “I don’t want to make waves there.”
On weekends, patrons flood the popular North Broad Street hotspot.
“I know on Sunday, it was jammed,” Ritter said. “We were lined up almost to Bob’s Beverage, our parking, and they were all in here.
“PennDOT is PennDOT and you can’t really overrule them, so what are you going to do? I’m not going to fight it because I don’t want to slam the Pennsy, I’m here to make money.”
According to Ritter, in the immediate future, she hopes people will get used to the new restriction.
“I think people will get used to it and I don’t think it will hurt business,” Ritter said. “The people come here for the atmosphere and the food’s so good, we still have the recipes from 40 years ago, and that’s what they’re coming for, and the service is still good and prompt.”
Parking alongside the building across from the railroad tracks, Ritter said patrons can park as many as three (vehicles) deep.
“But (in the past), they were pulling up on the sidewalk,” Ritter said. “Some of the vehicles were hit, their mirrors were taken off by semis.
“If they didn’t get onto the sidewalk, that’s what would happen, or at least that’s what I was told.”
While Ritter said she feels that PennDOT officials are singling out small businesses, she said she supports the new signage if it’s solely due to weight concerns.
“If it’s not, let it go because it’s for people,” Ritter said. “This place, I would say 60 percent of the customers are elderly, old, maybe in their 80s.
“So if they want to get closer, let them.”
And despite a 25 miles-per-hour speed limit sign clearly posted along the roadway, Ritter said she does worry about her patrons being struck by vehicles while parking along the bridge.
“They could get hit by a car because they are elderly and don’t move that fast,” Ritter said. “They may not be aware that someone is coming.
“I would definitely think that they could get run over, hit, or have their vehicle hit.
“But in time, I think people will get over the fact that they can’t park there.”