Damn you, Borders parking validation…

We went out to dinner tonight and followed it up with a stop at American Spoon for the excellent gelato. Dinner was at Palio, which was the first time we had been there, actually. Pretty good stuff.

Anyway, while the family was finishing up the gelato at American Spoon, I ran across the street to Borders to get my parking validated. I am accustomed to doing this when I am in this part of dowtown and I have to park in the deck there. If you buy something in the store, they will validate you for two hours. If you don’t buy anything, they will validate you for one.

Or, more accurately, they used to do this.

I went up to the register and the young person started into a well-rehearsed speech. “I’m sorry, but we no long validate parking without a purchase. If….” When he got to this part of his speech, I picked up a piece of chocolate at the register. “Oh, well thanks for doing that,” he said.

“When did you guys started to do this? And where is this posted?” I asked.

“Yeah, it sucks, doesn’t it? It’s posted here,” he said, pointing to a completely unreadable piece of paper posted far behind the register. “They’ve posted it for us but not for anyone else.”

“So, can I still get two hours if I buy anything?”

“No, just an hour now,” the kid said. “They told us it had something to do with competition from other places giving validation.”

“No one around here validates parking.”

“Really?!” said the kid, realizing that once again the corporate line from the Borders managers lied to him. At least I think they lied to them; to the best of my knowledge, there is no other restaurant or store or anything that validates parking in town. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, please.

Anyway, this will make me think twice about the need to go into Borders the next time I have to park in the deck. What’s the point?

3 Replies to “Damn you, Borders parking validation…”

  1. I worked at Borders many years ago. I was always under the impression that other places do validate, but I just never knew which places.

  2. Hopefully this isn’t too much information for you. Hehe…

    BUSINESSES THAT VALIDATE PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA
    AS OF AUGUST 1, 2005

    MAIN STREET AREA:
    Business Name Location Service Provided
    A Therapeutic Connection 206 S. Main, Ste 201 Professional Massage/Bodywork
    Abracadabra Jewelry 205 E. Liberty St. Jewelry store
    Absolute Title, Inc. 2450 W. Stadium Title Insurance Agent
    Acme Mercantile 111 W. Liberty St. Retail
    Aerostrategy 202 E. Washington St. Technology firm
    Afterwords Books 219 S. Main St. Bookstore
    Amadeus Restaurant 122 E. Washington St. Restaurant
    American Title 425 S. Main St. Title Insurance
    Ann Arbor Architects Collaborative 210 E. Huron St. Architectural firm
    Ann Arbor Art Center 117 W. Liberty St. Gallery
    Ann Arbor O’Hair 217 S. Fourth Ave. Hair Salon
    Ann Arbor YMCA 350 S. Fifth Ave. Fitness Ctr/Child Care/Youth Program
    Annekes Hair Station 221 S. Main St. Beauty Salon
    Ark 316 S. Main St. Concert house
    Aunt Agathas 213 S. Fourth Ave. Bookstore
    Bank One 125 S. Main St. Private Client Banking Svcs
    Bella Ciao 118 W. Liberty St. Restaurant
    Bella Nina Day Spa & Salon 203 N. Fourth Ave. Day Spa
    Bennett Optometry 117 S. Main St. Optical Exams/Sales
    Blue Nile 221 E. Washington St. Restaurant
    Busy Hands 306 S. Main St. Retail
    Cappellos Salon 255 E. Liberty St. Hair Salon
    Charles Schwab & Company 101 N. Main St., #130 Financial Services
    Chris Petersen Jewelers 306 S. Main St. Jewelry
    Clearweave Corporation 219 S. Main St., #203 Web Design
    Colombia Asset Management 202 E. Washington St., #500 Financial Planning
    Conor O’Neill’s 318 S. Main St. Restaurant
    Dataspace 122 S. Main St. Data support systems
    David Milling & Associates 208 W. Liberty St. Architects
    Deruyver Properties 122 S. Main St., #350 Financial Planning
    Diamond Bullet Design 315 W. Huron St., #140 Website Design
    Dispute Resolution Center 110 N. Fourth Ave. Mediation
    Downtown Home & Garden 210 S. Ashley St. Retail

    MAIN STREET AREA:
    Business Name Location Service Provided
    Dream On Futon 303 S. Ashley St. Retail Futon Store
    FCB Associates 206 S. Fifth Ave., #175 Real Estate/Management
    Fiegel’s 320 S. Main St. Clothing/Consulting/Financial Advising
    Fluent Inc. 220 E. Huron St., #470 Footwear Sales
    Footprints 217 S. Main St. Footwear Sales
    Frog Prince Studios 215-1/2 S. Main St. Photography
    Gardner & Associates 201 S. Main St., #802 Legal Services
    Generations for Children 337 S. Main St. Clothing & Toy Retail
    Genetics Squared 210 S. 5th Ave., Ste A Biotech
    Graphic Art Wholesalers 224 S. Main St. Picture Framing
    Hoi Polloi Boutique, LLC 333 S. Main St. Women’s clothing and accessories
    Inovo Technologies 202 E. Washington St. Technology Services
    John Schultz Photography 206 S. Main St. Portrait Photography
    Key Bank 100 S. Main St. Bank
    Kim Moore, PLLC 116 E. Washington, #100 Law Firm
    Kiwanis Club 201 S. First St. Rummage sales
    Lord –Aeck & Sargent Architecture 213 S. Ashley St., #200 Architecutral design & planning
    Matrix Gallery 111 S. Fourth Ave. Art Gallery
    MAV Development 350 S. Main/305 Detroit St. Real Estate Property Management
    Menlo Associates 212 N. Fourth Ave. Computer software & training
    Metamorphosis 121 E. Liberty St. Salon and spa
    Michael T. Murphy Photography 206 S. Main St., #201 Photography
    Miki Japanese Restaurant 106 S. First St. Restaurant
    Miller-Canfield 101 N. Main St. Law firm
    Nancy Hart, Ph.D. 202 E. Washington St., #400 Psycho Therapy
    Nicolette Boszik Interiors 122 S. Main St. Interior Design/Furnishings
    Northwestern Mutual 124 E. Washington St. Insurance
    Pamela’s Day Spa 249 E. Liberty St. Salon and spa
    Patricia Melnick 202 E. Washington St., #200 Psychotherapy
    Peaceable Kingdom 210 S. Main St. Gift Shop
    Performance Network 120 E. Huron St. Theatre

    MAIN STREET AREA:
    Business Name Location Service Provided
    Pointe Care Services 2020 S. Seventh St. Home Care Services
    Renaissance 350 S. Main St. Retail
    Republic Bank 122 S. Main St. Banking
    Salon in the City 119 W. Washington St. Hair Salon
    Salon Vertigo 328 S. Main St. Hair Salon
    Salon XL 208 E. Washington St. Hair Salon
    Schlanderer & Sons 208 S. Main St. Jewelers
    Second Heaven Salon & Spa 328 S. Main St. Hair Salon
    Selo/Shevel Gallery 301 S. Main St. Gallery
    Seyfried Jewelers 304 S. Main St. Jewelry Sales
    Smith Haughey & Rice 213 S. Ashley St. Law firm
    Standard Federal Bank 201 S. Main St. Banking services
    Strategic Wealth Management 214 S. Main St., #202 Financial
    Susan Miller 202 E. Washington St. Psychological services
    Tabor Hill Wine & Art Gallery 115 W. Liberty St. Retail Wine and Art
    Urban Jewelers 215 S. Main St. Jewelry Sales
    Van Goor Architects 116A W. Washington Architecture firm
    Vie Fitness & Spa 209 S. Ashley St. Fitness & Spa
    Voila Boutique 211 S. Main St. Retail
    Westside Book Shop 113 W. Liberty St. Book Store
    Wireless Toyz 200 E. Washington St. Retail-cell phones
    Youth Empowerment Project 255 E. Liberty St., #273 Youth Services

    BUSINESSES THAT VALIDATE PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA
    AS OF AUGUST 1, 2005

    STATE STREET/SOUTH UNIVERSITY AREA:
    Business Name Location Service Provided
    Arcadian Antiques 13 Nickels Arcade Retail-antiques
    Barbara Nesbitt Emerick, DDS 625 E. Liberty St. Dental office
    Borders Books & Music 612 E. Liberty St. Books/Music Sales
    Center for the Education of Women 330 E. Liberty St., 2nd Flr. Counseling Services
    Charles Beard, DDS 625 E. Liberty St. Dental office
    Christian Science Reading Room 306 E. Liberty St. Book Store
    Cottage Inn 512 E. William St. Restaurant
    Crystal Clear Expressions 220-222 Nickels Arcade Intuitive Counseling
    Dascola Barbers 304-1/2 S. State St. Barber Shop
    Datmap 211 S. State St. Software Development
    Dickinson Wright 301 E. Liberty St. Law Firm
    Dollar Bill Copying 611 Church St. Printing
    Dr. Barbara Lahood 400 Maynard St., #806 Psychological Services
    English Language Arts 219 Nickels Arcade Language training/consulting
    Great Lakes Team Apparel 309 S. State St. Sportswear-retail
    Intervarsity 203 Nickels Arcade Counseling (non-profit)
    IPS, Inc. Nickels Arcade Real Estate
    John Leidy Shop 601 E. Liberty St. Gifts
    Kate Beauchamp 320 Thompson St. Massage Therapist
    King of Queens Restaurant 1235 S. University Restaurant
    Lifetime Nutrition 328 Thompson, #203 Nutrition Consulting
    Maison Edwards 11 Nickels Arcade Retail
    Mark Kassof & Co. 527 E. Liberty St., #202 Marketing Research
    Mark Wanless Electrolysis 527 E. Liberty St. Electrolysis
    Mediation Training/Education Ctr 330 E. Liberty St., #3A Mediation & Consultation
    Michigan Theater 603 E. Liberty St. Entertainment

    STATE STREET/SOUTH UNIVERSITY AREA:
    Business Name Location Service Provided
    Middle Earth 1209 S. University Gift Store
    New Age Salon 347 Maynard St. Hair Salon
    Nexcess Net 304-1/2 S. State St. Software/Web Hosting
    Professional Clinical Massage 328 Thompson St., #202 Massage Therapy
    Red Hawk 316 S. State St. Restaurant
    Sadako Japanese Restaurant 1321 S. University Restaurant
    Shaman Drum 313 S. State St. Book Store
    State Street Alterations 336 S. State St. Tailor Shop
    Structural Design 275 E. Liberty St. Structural Engineering
    Studio Sixteen 16 Nickels Arcade Jewelry Store
    Totoro Japanese Restaurant 215 S. State St. Restaurant
    University Flower Shop 7 Nickels Arcade Flower Shop
    Van Boven 17 Nickels Arcade Retail Shoes
    Village Corner 601 S. Forest Ave. Party Store
    Wayne Collquitt, DDS 625 E. Liberty St. Dental office
    Wazoo Records 330-1/2 S. State St. Retail-records
    Zanzibar 216 S. State St. Restaurant

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.