Curbing Their Enthusiasm

I work at a small, busy shopping plaza. It has a small coffee place in the corner that does curbside pickup for customers who ordered on the app.

I’m on my break, sitting outside near the entrance, when I see a woman in a large SUV pull up, and she immediately starts honking her horn.

I look over, and she’s parked directly in front of the store entrance, blocking both the pedestrian crosswalk and the spaces right next to the door.

I sigh and stand up, walking over to her window.

Me: “Ma’am, you’re blocking the crosswalk.”

Driver: “No, I’m not. I’m just waiting for my order to be ready.”

Me: “I understand, but you can’t park here while waiting. Curbside pickup is in the parking lot right next to us.”

She throws the car in park and crosses her arms.

Driver: “I don’t know why you people always make parking so difficult. I’m just trying to get my coffee. Are you telling me I have to park all the way over there?”

She gestures dramatically toward the nearly-empty parking lot, maybe ten feet away from where she’s blocking.

Me: “I’m afraid I am, ma’am. Blocking the walkway isn’t safe for pedestrians.”

She starts pointing at her watch.

Driver: “This is ridiculous! I’m not going to park so far away just for a coffee! I’ll just wait for my coffee here; it’s just a few seconds away!”

Me: “So is the parking lot!”

She seemed shocked that I suddenly raised my voice, but still didn’t move. It took me taking a photo of her car and license plate and threatening to report her for parking illegally to get her to finally move.

Her coffee was out in less than a minute.