Ala Moana Parking Space
It’s at a Premium
Parking at a busy mall is always an issue. Even a bigger issue is shopping revenue. One would think that the business done in the mall is more important than parking control, especially with so many retailers crying the blues about a lack of business. This being said, whenever I go to the mall to shop or to help retailers do more business I always park as far away from the crowded parking lot as I can. I can use the exercise and I don’t like dings in my car doors.
Huh!
You can imagine how upset I was today to find a General Growth Properties bicycle patrolman issuing me a “Courtesy Traffic Notice” at Ala Moana Mall for parking in this spot for “more than four hours.” The rent-a-cop told me that they don’t want store employees parking there all day. I told him that I am not a store employee. He said, “I’m sorry, I am only doing my job, but don’t worry about it, nothing will happen anyway.” Right!
May 5th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Ron, That happened to me once too. Is it unimaginable that a shopper would spend four hours there?! And where ARE the employees supposed to park? Does anyone out there know?
May 5th, 2010 at 9:48 am
More and more, shopping at Ala Moana Shopping Center is less and less enjoyable. I often combine lunch and shopping and am likely to be there longer than four hours. The longer I am there, the more of my hard earned money is left behind with the mall and the merchants.
Walking the kiosk gauntlet of Dead Sea Monsters, Hair Straighteners and Dress Attack Ladies is a real pain. Thank God the Spinner Folks have gone to Waikiki.
As for employee parking, they should reserve covered spaces up front for them, but I am told they must park way out in the boon docks where the sun bleaches their cars and melts their upholstery for 8 hours. I am afraid that General Growth has not learned the meaning of the word “Aloha” yet.
May 5th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Look at that photo where Ron was parked and imagine the stupidity involved to write a parking ticket. Better would be a “Thanks for spending so much time at our mall” note.
Parking is and always has been a hot topic for shoppers. It should be totally hassle free. Throwing out the baby with the bath water is pretty dumb. That car doesn’t look like it belongs to a free loader who is taking advantage of free parking while out shopping elsewhere or gone to the beach. CRAZY!!!
May 5th, 2010 at 11:31 am
That’s a pretty crafty worded “ticket:” Courtesy Traffic Notice. To me it says, “Go shop somewhere else. We value our cement more than your money.”
May 5th, 2010 at 11:36 am
I actually would prefer to see these security dudes doing a better job of enforcing the no smoking law. This mall has numerous stink spots; Longs, behind CPK and most entrances to the parking garage. If I know where they are smoking, why don’t they? Is it because they don’t want to offend shoppers? LOL!
May 6th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Ron,
Your story reminds of when I parked at Ward Centers a few years ago.
I “backed” into my stall, which is exactly what their signage said NOT to do.
When I returned to my car there was a “nasty-gram” from a security droid scolding me.
I mailed the nasty-gram to mall management with a note as to how upsetting it was. I didn’t expect a response and they lived down to my expectations.
Oh, and I also stopped backing in …
Aloha,
Pete Martinez
http://www.eBizHawaii.com