Neighboring business owners start parking feud forcing boss to create permanent solution: 'It's out of our control now'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Nov 22, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Sometimes, you're better off leaving well enough alone, and when someone offers you an olive branch over a petty disagreement that you're completely in the wrong on anyway, you're definitely better off just taking it and letting sleeping dogs lie. Yet, the thing with entitlement is you're probably not likely or able to do so, taking everything to its absolute limit in your attempt to get the world to finally realize that your wishes are more important than the reality of the situation.

And it's easy to sink to their level, fighting in the mud, but much more difficult to take the high road. That's what this boss managed to do, staying professional throughout the parking dispute with the neighboring landscaping business whose owners were repeatedly and consistently taking up parking that wasn't theirs; despite repeated attempts to make peace and restore sanity, the boss was eventually forced to resort to more permanent measures… There's really something ironic about using a landscaping feature to solve the problem.

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  • 01
    "The parking feud that finally got a solid solution..."
    via Stephen Andrews
  • 02
    I work at a niche retail store located in the heart of town. Our customers are dedicated and often travel from afar just to visit us, so having a clear and accessible parking lot is crucial for our business. Unfortunately, our next door neighbours, a family-run landscaping and garden supply store, have been a thorn in our side for years when it comes to parking.
    via Hieloun
  • 03
    The tension between my boss and the landscaping store owner goes back over a decade before I joined, all over something trivial. I know the landscaper once complained about a tree on our side of the lot, which was unsightly for their customers. It was the pettiest neighbour drama you could imagine, but it festered for years.
    via Hieloun
  • 04
    The final straw came after the 'rona, when the physical business in town started picking back up and our parking lot started overflowing with cars again, many belonging to the landscaping store's customers.
    via Hieloun
  • 05
    See, our two parking lots are connected. Ours is about twice the size of his, but the landscaper had decided to reserve almost all his spots for his landscaping vans. Ironically, those vans are rarely even there during business hours. As a result, his customers just parked in our lot, leaving us with few spaces for our own customers.
    via Hieloun
  • 06
    My boss, trying to be reasonable, approached the landscaper with a suggestion. Maybe they could adjust their parking setup to free up a few more spaces for customers, and that their vans were welcome to park in our lot, if their lot was ever full. But the landscaper shot down the idea immediately, insisting that it was "absolutely crucial" to reserve all of those spaces for his vans,
    via Hieloun
  • 07
    even though they were rarely there during the day. The conversation turned heated, ending with my boss threatening to put up a fence to separate the lots and enforce parking. The landscaper, practically daring him, shot back, "Go ahead." Probably knowing how expensive that would be. As you can imagine, it ended with both men storming off and not speaking for two years. Typical neighbour stuff.
    via Hieloun
  • 08
    Fast forward to recently, and we got a golden opportunity when a parking management company approached us with a proposal. They offered to install automated license plate cameras to enforce parking, allowing us to fine vehicles that stayed beyond a generous 3-hour free window, if they hadn't paid. The setup. would be free, we'd get most of the revenue and they would keep any fines issued. It was perfect,
    via Hieloun
  • 09
    especially since we were losing spaces to freeloaders, wouldn't really impact the customers of the nearby stores, and if anyone had a good reason to park there for longer, then we could give them an extension at our discretion.
    via Hieloun
  • 10
    However, for the cameras to work, they needed to cover both our entrance and the landscaping store's entrance. Being the considerate neighbour (again), my boss had the parking company rep reach out to the landscaper to explain the deal and benefits. But true to form, the landscaper didn't even let the rep finish before kicking him out, making it very clear very clear that, under no circumstances, would his lot become a paid parking zone.
    via Hieloun
  • 11
    Instead of going through the hassle of putting up the necessary expensive fence, my boss had a better idea: big rocks. One of his construction buddies had a stash of leftover rocks from a recent project and offered to place them for a great price. The parking company even agreed to front the cost, to be repaid through future parking revenue.
    via Hieloun
  • 12
    On Monday morning, before opening hours, one of the buddy's employees, a big, burly guy with arms like tree trunks, arrived with a truck and crane to place the rocks. The rocks were neatly spaced to allow pedestrians to pass with carts but completely blocked vehicle access. The landscaper stormed
    via Hieloun
  • 13
    out, yelling and trying to intimidate the worker into stopping. But the worker, unfazed, calmly told him to step back for his own safety, which made the much smaller landscaper back down and retreat in frustration.
    via Hieloun
  • 14
    The rocks weren't just a physical barrier. They quickly became a mental obstacle for the landscapers's employees. Their muscle memory kept bringing them into our lot, only for them to realize too late that they couldn't drive through anymore. We watched from our newly installed surveillance cameras, just in case the neighbour tried anything,
    via Hieloun
  • 15
    trying not to burst out laughing as their vans ended up awkwardly stuck. They'd have to reverse out and go all the way around to their own entrance, only to perform a series of painful maneuvers to squeeze into their now much smaller parking area. At one point, we even caught one of their rushing vans clipping a rock while trying to maneuver. A little bonus for our viewing pleasure.
    via Hieloun
  • 16
    The next day, the parking company arrived to install the license plate cameras and set up the signage, which took a few hours. Throughout the installation, the landscaper's family members were prowling around our lot, snapping photos and videos as if they were on a mission to find a violation. But
    via Hieloun
  • 17
    the parking company was very professional, and had done everything by the book, so there was nothing for them to report. In the meantime, my boss was positively glowing with satisfaction as he helped direct the installation.
    via Hieloun
  • 18
    Here's the best part: We noticed that the neighbour's family had started parking their personal vehicles in our lot, likely out of spite to mess with us. One day, my coworker saw one of the family members dash out of their store and sprint to their car. We thought it was odd at the time but didn't think much of it until the following week, when the landscaper's son came into our store looking a bit embarrassed.
    via Hieloun
  • 19
    Apparently, he had accidentally overstayed the 3-hour limit and received a $150 fine. The son practically begged us to waive it, insisting it was just a simple mistake. My boss politely responded, "Oh, I'd really love to help, but it's out of our control now. The parking company handles all the fines." The look on his face was priceless. He left, shoulders slumped retreating back to their store.
    via Hieloun
  • 20
    Ever since, our lot has been blissfully clear, and our customers have had no trouble finding spaces. Meanwhile, the landscapers have been grumbling as they have a harder time maneuvering their vans, still trying to pretend they're not bothered. As for my boss? He's been smiling a lot more lately. Sometimes, the best revenge is simply letting people get exactly what they asked for.
    via Hieloun
  • 21
    TL;DR: Neighbouring landscaping store took up parking, refused to cooperate. We followed their instructions and blocked off our lot and set up parking enforcement cameras. Within a week, they got fined, and came begging us to waive it. Boss simply told them it's "Out of our hands." Now, our lot is clear, and we're happier than ever.
    via Hieloun
  • 22
    MYOB3 This sounds like my father in laws neighbor. My father in laws house and the house next door share a gravel parking lot. Most of the lot is on my father in laws land. The apartment building next door has 2 parking spaces. My father in law has three.
    via Hieloun
  • 23
    The house next door was sold. New owner did not understand her property lines. Suddenly her tenants are taking up the whole lot! My father in law is in failing health. Which means, visiting nurses, home health aides, therapists... all coming by. Nobody can park.
    via Hieloun
  • 24
    Big argument ensues. Renter next door comes by and chews my husband out for taking HIS PARKING SPOT. My husband chuckles. Tells the guy, I'm on my Dads land. Shows him the retaining wall in the backyard, which has been. considered the dividing line.
    via Hieloun
  • 25
    Guy gets an attitude. HOW DO I KNOW YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH? My husband laughs. Tells him, because my dad has lived. here for 70 years pal. You have been here for 5 minutes. Renter storms off. My father in law puts up parking signs to mark his parking spots. Renter next door rips them out.
    via Hieloun
  • 26
    Landlord (owner) gets a surveyor out, to find out it is worse than anyone thought. Neighbor's retaining wall was built on my father in laws land too. They own less of the parking lot than anyone realized. Be careful when you start the property line war. You just may be on the losing end.
    via Hieloun
  • 27
    KRB52 It always amazes me how small business owners will take prime customer spots and use or reserve them for themselves.
    via Hieloun
  • 28
    Patricks Mustache Had a similar problem at my work. It's located on a corner, and people from the business next door would cut through our lot to the side street rather than trying to pull out onto the main 4- lane. Mildly annoying but not usually a problem. Then an old tenant moves out and a new vape shop opens up in
    via Hieloun
  • 29
    their place. They had one particular customer who cut through at high speed in each direction every time he visited, which was at least every other day, if not every day. We could literally hear their throttle open wide as they raced across our lot. I went next door and had a stern talk with him about it
    via Hieloun
  • 30
    being a private parking lot. and not a public roadway, which slowed him down for all of 3 days. When he started racing across again, I parked my spare vehicle, a full-size pickup truck I only drive when I need a truck, across the side-street entrance to our lot, but wholly on our property. It stayed there, unmoving, and inconveniencing every one of both their customers, and ours, for about a month... until the vape shop went out of business.
    via Hieloun
  • 31
    I don't know if the landlord warned the next tenant (basically a small office with just employees, no customers), but they've never once driven fast across our lot.
    via Hieloun
  • 32
    TechnOght I use the same analogy when talking about employers: If they don't give any leeway, don't offer any. Usually this about bosses who watch the clock for when you arrive but expect you to stay over.
    via Hieloun
  • 33
    CoderJoe1 8d ago • They can go pound rocks.
    via Hieloun
  • 34
    StrictShelter971 A serious case of FAFO. ↑ 8 8 д ○ Reply
    via Hieloun
  • 35
    Labradawgz90 People would do better if they just understood the word, "compromise". It can really solve many problems.
    via Hieloun
  • 36
    Coolbeanschilly Sounds like your boss saw the lay of the land, and the landscaper was sold a handful of rocks, in a way that only a retail store owner can be malicious. Service with a smile.
    via Hieloun
  • 37
    Cyserg The agent that found your boss to propose this to him, did a real good investigation. into who needs this
    via Hieloun
  • 38
    justaman_097 Your boss did an awesome job!
    via Hieloun
  • 39
    Bleenfoo 8d ago • I also wonder if people are using the landscaping lot as free parking and walking off now.
    via Hieloun
  • 40
    Always_B_Batm... The landscaper might have to reallocate some of his retail space to parking.
    via Hieloun

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pro revenge boss parking space parking lot business owner malicious compliance parking ticket revenge parking drama parking stories petty revenge business
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