The "No Neiman" Signs Are Coming Down

No one knows how the signs got there.

But everybody agrees. The "No Neiman Marcus Parking" signs will be coming down at a parking garage in downtown Walnut Creek.

And all because of a phone call made by Patch.

Our story begins last weekend when my wife, Mary, and I parked on the top level of the garage near Main Street and Mt. Diablo Boulevard.

While walking toward the stairs we noticed a small, professionally done sign that stated "No Neiman Marcus Parking" on the side of the elevator.

I was a bit stunned. Not only because of the words but because I've never noticed the sign before.

Two questions immediately came to mind. Why? And... how would you enforce such a ban?

Would you follow shoppers after they parked? Would you assume a new Mercedes was owned by a Neiman Marcus aficionado?

So, I took a photo and on Tuesday contactedasking what was going on.

A couple hours later, I got a call from Robert Power, the owner of Regional Parking. They're the folks who oversee parking enforcement at the garage.

Power said he'd never noticed the sign either. In fact, he doubted the veracity of the story when city officials told him, so he drove over to the garage to check for himself.

He not only found the sign I saw, he found several anti-Neiman Marcus signs in the stairwell.

Power said a maintenance worker told him they were instructed to put those up a while ago. Perhaps when Neiman Marcus opened in March 2012?

In any case, Power said the signs would come down. The ones, however, that tell motorists parking is only for people shopping in the Broadway Pointe area would remain. The Pointe covers a bunch of businesses in the region, including Neiman Marcus.

Power also directed me to Hunter Properties. They're hired by the property owners downtown to manage their land. Hunter Properties are also the folks who hired Regional Parking to enforce the parking rules, including the three-hour limit in the downtown garage.

I got in touch with Melissa Cullinan, director of property management for Hunter Properties. She said they too weren't aware of the signs.

Well, I asked, somebody ordered them to be installed? Who? No idea.

How would you enforce such a law? You can't.

Aren't the signs an unfriendly message to send to shoppers? Yes, they are.

She and Power both noted that enforcing parking restrictions in the garages is important. Otherwise, people who work downtown as well as others could grab all the spots early in the morning. That would leave few spaces for the customers downtown merchants need to keep their businesses thriving.

In the end, Cullinan thanked me for pointing out the offending signs to them. She said the maintenance staff had been told taking down those signs is a "priority."

Interesting. Also comforting to know that the next time I'm in the mood to pay $400 for a shirt, I can park in that garage and walk free of worry to Neiman Marcus.