Big Mama has big problems.
Brenda Franklin says she might shut down Big Mama's House of Southern Cuisine and take her signature fried chicken, ribs, pulled pork and peach cobbler to another city because parking violations have cost her more than $3,000 in fines.
"I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to figure out how I'm going to pay my rent," Franklin said. "I've been trying to hold on and maintain. But they've been making it impossible."
Franklin appeared on the CBS "Early Show" in 2008 as part of "Small Businesses, Big Rescues," a series of stories in which the show paired expert mentors with novice entrepreneurs to improve their chances of survival.
Franklin ran a take-out restaurant in the Strip District then. Her dream was to start a sit-down, family restaurant, which she did three months ago when she moved to a spot on Liberty Avenue, Downtown, across the street from August Wilson Center for African American Culture.
No one told her parking would be such a nightmare, said Franklin, a former jazz singer and grandmother of 11 who lives in Garfield.
"I want to see them give me some loading space," she said. "How are we supposed to survive as a business without that?"
Exchange Way runs behind Franklin's business and dozens of others that face Liberty and Penn avenues, which run parallel. "No Parking" and "15-minute Loading Zone" signs line the narrow alleyway.
She has received tickets ranging from $16 for parking too far in front of a parking meter on Liberty Avenue, to $94.50 for parking in a no-parking zone. Her Land Rover has been "booted" and other cars her family-run business uses were towed.
It often takes Franklin, who said she suffers from torn rotator cuffs, more than 15 minutes to unload up to a dozen 40-pound boxes of chicken and ribs when she arrives to work around 8 a.m. She has been ticketed more than once while unloading.
Fernando DeCarvalho, owner of Fernando's Cafe next to Big Mama's, said his blue SUV was ticketed in Exchange Way, as well.
He said police used to issue loading permits to park there, but after a neighboring owner copied the permits illegally, authorities ended the practice.
"We can park close enough to the wall where we don't get in the way of traffic," he said.
Police have told him they must keep the alley clear of cars so emergency vehicles can pass.
Pittsburgh Parking Authority officials said they were not aware of Franklin's complaints.
They said they're willing to work with business owners to find solutions to parking problems, but declined to comment specifically on parking on Exchange Way.
Franklin said she complained to the Parking Authority, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's office and to police Chief Nate Harper.
A police spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.
Customers said it would be a shame to lose one of the few spots Downtown that serves Southern cooking. Franklin fries chicken fresh based on the order, a process that takes 20 to 30 minutes.
"The food is good, but it takes a while. There aren't a lot of places like it," said Marva Bell of Rankin, a medical secretary who ate Big Mama's chicken, macaroni and cheese and collard greens for lunch Friday.
"It shouldn't close over parking. It seems like there should be a spot at least for the owner," said customer Adiyiah Brown, a Wal-Mart sales associate from North Braddock.
