Did parking meters do the Chop House in?

Sarasota restaurateur David Arnold has had quite a sour summer.

First, he says he stood helpless while his business, First Street Chop House, took a hit under the city of Sarasota's schizophrenic parking philosophy. First meters were out, then in, then widely lambasted, then taken out again, sort of.

Arnold says on day one of the meters, May 23, the Chop House, in a prime downtown Sarasota location next to the Sarasota Opera House, sat empty for lunch. And while some customers trickled back in June, the restaurant never recovered.