Local businesses short-changed
By Catherine Rogers

   Six months ago, 25 cents went a lot further on the sidewalks of Somerville. When the price of parking meters doubled ‚Äì from 25 cents per half hour to 25 cents for 15 minutes ‚Äì drivers were forced to dig deeper into their pockets and car seats for spare change.
   But when a backseat excavation fails, more and more drivers turn to local businesses for quarters.  Some Somerville businesses are reporting that people ask for change two or three times a day, but workers at Diesel Caf√© in Davis Square feel a noticeable strain.

  ‚ÄúWe run out of change a lot, so I have to make more trips to the bank,‚Äù said manager Craig Debarge. Since the new parking prices went into effect July 8, he estimates he requests up to $200 in extra quarters each week.
    With more people waiting in line and approaching the cash register to ask for change, it might become difficult for businesses to turn away change-seekers without implementing a set policy.
Currently, Diesel lacks rigid guidelines for changing a dollar here and there. Debarge cited a “loose policy” for giving no more than $2 in quarters at a time.
     Outside of Davis Square, other small businesses have noticed a higher-than-average demand for quarters, as well. At Ball Square Fine Wines and Liquors, managers Chris Lianos and John Savvidis said each day, two or three people ask to change dollar bills.
     ‚ÄúI give them the change unless they are rude,‚Äù said Savvidis. That a person who asks for change might be a potential customer is enough to keep both Lianos and Savvidis dolling out quarters to almost everyone who asks.
     While Debarge said he hasn‚Äôt turned anyone down yet, he is conscious of whether the patrons are there for a cup of coffee or for some quarters.
    ‚ÄúI don‚Äôt mind so much if it‚Äôs a customer, but if they walk in and out, it‚Äôs annoying,‚Äù he said.
    ‚ÄúI wouldn‚Äôt say it‚Äôs a pain,‚Äù said Kevin Taylor, manager of Sound Bites BBQ & Grill, where only a few people ask for change each day. He added he would only turn down a request for quarters if his register was short on change.
    ‚ÄúIt‚Äôs not our business if they don‚Äôt have change for the meters,‚Äù he said.
    While the workers at Ball Square Fine Wines and Liquors do not make extra trips to the bank for quarters, Lianos said action might be necessary if certain small businesses are affected negatively. He suggested the city could install change machines around the metered-parking hubs.
     Until then, shoppers and diners in Somerville will just have to reach further into their cushions and car seats to pay for their parking.