We at Uptown Update just love our donuts. We're big fans of Dunkin Donuts, and we live close to the one at Wilson and Broadway. So we were glad to hear that the store there will be getting a remodel, to the tune of $220K.But we usually end up going to the DD on Broadway, just south of Foster, due to the unrelenting panhandling - aggressive and otherwise - at DDWilBro's location. We tried to go there again this weekend, and couldn't even get out of the car because the woman in the white jacket was standing, literally, an inch from the door, pounding on the window before the engine was even turned off.
So we ended up at Foster and Broadway, where we haven't had to "run the gauntlet" of panhandlers outside the parking lot, inside the parking lot, and sometimes inside the store.
Christie Hahn of Uptown Business Partners said at the Town Hall meeting that Uptown businesses can't succeed in an environment that includes the "everyday harassment of their patrons." Those patrons spend their money in a friendlier environment, as we did.
We sincerely hope that the planned remodeling of the Wilson/Broadway Dunkin Donuts includes some sort of parking lot security to make going there less threatening. We told Dunking Donuts corporate offices how we felt; we hope they were listening.
There's also a really nice DD at Lawrence & Hermitage although I guess that's more Ravenswood than Uptown.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I wish it were a Krispy Kreme instead.
I've never understood why business owners aren't more aggressive about panhandling. Don't they understand it's hurting their business?
ReplyDeleteI agree holden. Some businesses allow the same person to loiter and pan-handle before their window. Doesn't make sense.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the owners supposed to do? They can't forcefully remove them. If they call the police the people will leave and come back later. Imagine the uproar that will occur if the police are caught on video "harassing" the poor. The only way this will stop is if the high concentration of panhandlers is diluted.
ReplyDeleteActually, it's considered trespassing.
ReplyDeleteRock n Roll McDonalds downtown used to have an "intense" panhandling situation. When the new owners came in, they hired a couple security guards (one for inside, one for outside) and put out the word that there was to be no more panhandling. It stopped almost immediately.
Come to think of it, same thing happened with the McDonalds just down the street from Broadway and Wilson.
Trumansquarenbr...
ReplyDeleteI think we would all feel safer if there was a securty guard on every corner of Uptown. We could actually walk around the neighborhood without fear of being shot at or robbed.
trumansquarenabr, there is another excellent example of an uptown business owner being proactive with security and keeping their premises free of panhandlers: el pollo loco. they have a full time security guard, and i've never been harassed on their property.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that lady who is the owner/manager or whatever has been frustrated and not getting the help she needs to deter the panhandling. She's completely exasperated. I hope the $$ somehow can help her out.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine that the problem here is that this DD is part of a mall and would probably have to get the co-operation of all the business owners in the mall to pay for an outdoor security guard. But as I understand it, the law "allows" non-agressive panhandling as long as it's done on the public sidewalk and not inside the "lease line" of a building. Correct?
ReplyDeleteGayle, I don't think that's the case - just about every ordinance deems it illegal. I think in this case, the business owners will have to police their own establishment. I've noticed with the first cold snap of the season panhandling goes up.
ReplyDeleteSeems like paying for a security guard would be wise investment. Sounds like they'd make their money back if they permitted customers to actually make it into the store. Didn't know the panhandlers there were so aggressive.
ReplyDeleteI never comment, but it would seem to me if the market in the wilson L station can afford a security gaurd, why can this "mall" do the same?
ReplyDeleteThis mall is literally surrounded by panhandlers and loiterers, even a large number for Uptown. Why is this allowed here and all over the community?
ReplyDeleteThere is a very nice DD at Clark and Montrose. Parking lot, fast service, clean. Rarely panhandlers.
ReplyDeleteI was aggressively panhandled at this strip mall, but right in front of the 7-11. I had to call 9-1-1.
ReplyDeleteThere was a man sitting on the sidewalk with his back against the wall begging for money. When I said no, he began yelling curse words at me and my kids and started to walk after us when we walked away.
I told him I was going to call 9-1-1, and when I got on my cell phone, he ski-daddled up Clark Street.
I went back into the 7-11 and asked why they let the man sit there in the middle of the sidewalk and accost customers.
The reply, "He's not hurting anybody."
When an employee says such a stupid statement, ask to speak with the manager. If the manager doesn't care, then the store owner deserves his fate.
ReplyDelete