Whole Foods Tows Disabled Teen’s Car From Handicapped Parking Spot
If you park at the Whole Foods parking lot on Canal Street just south of downtown, don’t leave the store or your car will be towed–even if you’re parked in a handicapped spot with a legit disabled placard.
According to CBS 2, that’s essentially what happened to a teenage girl with cystic fibrosis when the girl and her mother briefly left the Whole Foods lot after parking to grab a cup of coffee before returning to shop at the upscale grocer.
Whole Foods had the van towed off the lot because they thought the vehicle owner left the premises.
In the meantime, the young lady began having problems breathing and went back to the car to get her inhaler and prescription medicine. But, when they returned to where they were parked–no car.
Whole Foods is now trying very hard not to look like jerks, the Illinois State’s Attorney is investigating and at least one state representative who’s considering legislation.
Make sure you check out CBS 2′s full report where they also get in the face of drivers who are parking illegally in handicapped spots: “2 Investigators: Disabled Teen’s Vehicle Towed From Handicapped Parking Spot.”
How simple is it? You can only park in THEIR PARKING LOT if you are visiting THEIR STORE. Otherwise you risk being towed. If having her car towed is such a horrible thing…why on God’s Green Earth would they risk it…for a Starbucks.
Yet another example of selfish people thinking the world owes them something. Personal responsibility folks.
BTW, funny how she needed to park in a handicap spot, yet she was able to walk all the way to the Starbucks for a coffee. Seems a bit odd no?
story is misleading. I doubt whole foods called in a tow truck. they probably contracted with a tow company who has someone sitting there waiting to tow. the way some of these tow companies go is out of control.
wait a minute, the Starbucks is IN THE SAME BUILDING as the whole foods. I just went on google maps to see how far away they went. this is that newish building at canal/roosevelt with whole foods, DSW, Michaels, etc in it. That makes this even more bullshit.
last summer I was at the Blick art store on Kingsbury just off North Ave. When we came out, a couple people were arguing with the jackhole who had booted their car. A couple minutes later, 2 other people came out of Old Navy to find their husband/son arguing. Turns out 2 people had gone into Old Navy and 2 had gone to Starbucks. But, that didn’t matter to the cro-magnon idiot who claimed he couldn’t just un-boot the car even though it was obvious that people using the lot were, in fact, in Old Navy.
They were of course from out of town and probably missed their flight. Not sure if they ever got it sorted out.
Greetings from Chicago, suckers !
And yet….The City gives Operating Licenses to these Puckers.
Is it a shock? The only time that I ever had my car hooked up for a tow was at the old Jewel at Belden and Clark. I drove a friend home. We parked in the lot and I went into Jewel. She went home. When I came out they were backing a tow truck up to my car. They claimed that since we BOTH didn’t go into Jewel it was clear that I was “abusing” their parking lot. I got in the car, knowing that they cannot tow a car with someone in it. They screamed and yelled and threatened. I didn’t get out and told them to get a cop. When they backed off for a second, I drove off.
And I never went back to that Jewel.
And I told Jewel this.
And that is the best way to deal with a car-towing thug: get inside the car. They know they can’t tow with you in it and they sure aren’t going to wait around for the cops to show.