Kimba F.
Yelp
THIS POST AND RATING IS NOT ABOUT THE SEAFOOD WHICH IS GREAT.
I was really excited to finally get to Anna's Seafood shop in Petaluma now that I have my handicap equipped van with a ramp for my scooter. But upon arrival the 3/4ths empty parking lot's only handicap spot was taken by a truck with no placard, and another truck (w/o placard) was parked over the Do Not Park stripes next to it which I need to deploy my ramp. We made do with a regular spot, hoping the space next to it would be free when we left (it wasn't, had to back the van out and block the driveway to get my scooter back in.)
I'm used to people abusing handicap spots and just rolled with it, but had a funny feeling those vehicles were company owned. An obviously not handicapped woman vacated the spot after my scooter was already out but I got a good look at her.
We went inside and marveled at all their selections and ready-to-go foods, so deserving of the hype about this place. I saw an older man in charge and asked him to step outside cuz the machines were a bit noisy. "Does that truck blocking the handicap stripes belong to you?" "Yes." No realization so I explained about my ramp and why there's a good reason not to park there. I think I got a sorry then, but he seemed more eager to offer me curb service, which is great if I know exactly what I want.
Then the same gal in the truck who'd blocked it before came back and again parked in the handicap spot. "Hi," I said, "why are you taking the handicap spot?" "Because it's my business." A shocking answer but it got worse. "Are you handicapped?" "No." "Ok, so look, I can only deploy my ramp if both are free. If I can't get in I can't make a purchase." "The spot was free". "Not when I got here. You were in it and I saw you leave after I'd given up.""That wasn't me.""Mmm, I saw you in the spot, then leave 10 minutes ago." "It wasn't me." It was, but who cares after the first comments showed she felt entitled to the handicap spot with no apologies. No one addressed the blocking truck next to the spot either. Then, "Oh we're building a new carpark with more spots." "Well, that's great!" I said, and meant it, because I wasn't looking to establish a bad relationship. Doesn't help me today though, I thought. I wanted to give her the smidge of reasonable doubt it was her doppelgänger in the exact same truck and not her, then to be saddened she was lying to me. My friend chipped in. "You should remove the handicap sticker until then." Blank stares. She then offered to move the truck. "Why? I'm already parked." But she did anyway going to the back which meant she could've always parked there, another disappointment.
At that point I should've just left but we went back inside and got what we wanted and it was great. Just rattled by the dismissive attitude, and the alleged lie was a nasty aftertaste. I've a funny feeling when driving by next time I'll see the same scenario, but I have hope she'll wake up and start doing the right thing and instructing her workers to do the same.