BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - For the first time in more than three decades, longtime downtown restaurant owner Rami Cerone said he walked into work Monday morning and saw something he'd never seen before: empty parking spaces directly in front of his business."This was the first time in 31 years I walked into work this morning, and the front row was empty in front of our building," Cerone, owner of Caffe Capri, said.

"That's never happened, so it was surreal to see."City leaders say that kind of open curb space is exactly what they're trying to create more often as Bryan begins enforcing two-hour timed parking in parts of Historic Downtown.

The new rule applies to 139 free, on-street spaces in front of downtown storefronts along the perimeter rows of Main Street from 23rd Street to 28th Street.