LA PLATA, Md. — Opening night for Port Tobacco Players’ summer production of “Legally Blonde The Musical” came with an unexpected issue outside the theater: new $20 paid parking signs in spaces next door.
The production opened Friday, July 10. According to the Port Tobacco Players Board of Directors, the paid parking signs appeared that same day in spaces near the portion of the building that houses EMed Medical Supply.
In a Facebook post dated Sunday, July 12, Port Tobacco Players warned patrons not to park in the marked EMed spaces while the issue is being resolved. The theater said the owners of that section of the building were attempting to charge patrons who parked there, even when the business was closed.
“Last night, they also attempted to have a patron’s vehicle towed,” the theater wrote in the post.
Photos shared with The BayNet show signs marking the spaces as EMed Medical Supply customer parking only, with a warning that all others will be towed at the owner’s expense. The paid parking sign lists a $20 flat rate, valid until midnight, and directs drivers to pay through Venmo to 504 East LLC.
Longtime Shared Parking Disputed
In a statement to The BayNet, the Port Tobacco Players Board of Directors said the theater owns its side of the building, while the other side is separately owned. The board said the owners of the portion occupied by EMed Medical Supply contacted the theater’s business manager several months ago and requested that Port Tobacco Players pay a monthly fee to use what had long been considered a shared parking lot.
“The original lease fee was $250.00 per month, with a month-by-month clause indicating the rate was subject to change each month,” the board said. “While the property lines indicate that most of those spaces are on their property, the lot has historically functioned as shared parking for both businesses.”
The board said Port Tobacco Players is typically active from 6:30 to 11 p.m. on weekdays, after EMed Medical Supply has closed. On weekends, the theater said its hours only overlap with EMed on Saturdays, as the business is closed Sundays.
According to the board, Port Tobacco Players has historically handled storm and weather cleanup, repainting, repaving and general maintenance for the entire parking lot. The theater estimated storm and weather cleanup costs at about $1,200 annually.
The board said Port Tobacco Players told the building owners it was not in a financial position to enter into a parking lease. After that, the board said the owners informed the theater that patrons could no longer park in those spaces, even when the business was closed.
“We did so because we valued being good neighbors and wanted to ensure safe, accessible parking for our patrons, particularly those with mobility challenges,” the board said.
The spaces were then marked as EMed-only, according to the theater.
“Although we were disappointed, we respected their decision and updated our signage and patron communications accordingly,” the board said.
The board said the paid parking signs came as a surprise when they appeared Friday, July 10, as the theater was opening its summer production.
“The installation of paid parking signs last Friday came as a surprise to us,” the board said. “Unfortunately, it also coincided with the opening night of our summer play, when many members and patrons, unaware of the prior conversations with the building owners, were understandably shocked to see how the longstanding relationship had changed.”
The board said the building owners do not live locally and have chosen to move forward with enforcing paid parking.
“As a result, many members of our theater and the local community felt compelled to speak out in support of Port Tobacco Players, and we believed it was important to provide this explanation,” the board said.
EMed Medical Supply also responded to comments on its Facebook page Monday, July 13, saying the parking payment signs were not placed by the business.
“We want everyone to know that the parking payment signs have nothing to do with EMed Medical Supply,” the business wrote. “They were not put up by us.”
EMed Medical Supply directed questions about the parking changes to its landlord, “504 East,” the same name listed for payment on the paid parking signs. The business also wrote that “the property has made a lot of changes” and that the parking lot was among those changes.
Several commenters claimed the property owner is related to the owners of EMed Medical Supply, though The BayNet has not independently confirmed that relationship.
The BayNet has reached out to EMed Medical Supply for comment and will update this story if a response is received.
What Patrons Should Know
While the parking dispute continues, Port Tobacco Players is asking patrons to plan ahead, skip the marked EMed spaces and use the free parking areas around the theater. The theater also asks visitors to leave the closest spaces open, when possible, for patrons with mobility challenges.
“Legally Blonde The Musical” is scheduled to run through Aug. 2.
The theater also has more events coming up, including Curtain Call Cinema screenings of “Men in Black” at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and “The Sandlot” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. Tickets are listed at $5 for all ages.
Visitors can find upcoming shows, movie nights and parking information at PTPlayers.com.
Read the full statement from Board of Directors of the Port Tobacco Players below.
The Port Tobacco Players own our space, and the other side of the building is separately owned. Several months ago, the owners of the Emed portion of the building contacted our Business Manager to request that Port Tobacco Players begin paying a monthly fee to use what had long been considered a shared parking lot.
The original lease fee was $250.00 per month, with a month-by-month clause indicating the rate was subject to change each month.
While the property lines indicate that most of those spaces are on their property, the lot has historically functioned as shared parking for both businesses.For context, our theater is typically active from 6:30–11:00 p.m. on weekdays after the Emed business has closed. On weekends, our hours only overlap with theirs on Saturdays, as they are closed on Sundays. Throughout the many years we have shared the lot, Port Tobacco Players has assumed responsibility for storm and weather cleanup (approximately $1,200 annually), repainting and repaving, and general maintenance of the entire parking lot. We did so because we valued being good neighbors and wanted to ensure safe, accessible parking for our patrons, particularly those with mobility challenges.
When we explained that we were not in a financial position to enter into a parking lease, the building owners informed us that our patrons would no longer be permitted to park in their spaces, even during the hours when the business was closed. The owners of the building portion rented by Emed then clearly marked the spaces as Emed-only. Although we were disappointed, we respected their decision and updated our signage and patron communications accordingly.
The installation of paid parking signs last Friday came as a surprise to us. Unfortunately, it also coincided with the opening night of our summer play, when many members and patrons, unaware of the prior conversations with the building owners, were understandably shocked to see how the longstanding relationship had changed.
The building owners, who do not live locally, have chosen to move forward with enforcing the paid parking. As a result, many members of our theater and the local community felt compelled to speak out in support of Port Tobacco Players, and we believed it was important to provide this explanation.
Port Tobacco Players
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