- May 6, 2026
Dear Editor:
My husband and I recently visited Florida from Vermont and had an unfortunate experience during our stay in Ormond Beach. On Saturday, April 25, while dining at the Grind located at 49 W. Granada Blvd., we encountered a parking issue. Due to the restaurant’s full parking area, we parked in the lot for Complete Health, which was closed for the weekend.
After dining we discovered our car had been towed. The Tow Away sign was positioned at the far end of the lot, obscured by some bushes, and not visible when we parked. This left us stranded on a dark side street. Fortunately, I was able to use my Uber account, but we waited approximately 40 minutes for a ride. Upon reaching the towing facility, we found the office locked and were informed, after calling them, that it would take at least a half hour for someone to arrive at their dark, secluded site. Additionally, retrieving our vehicle cost $170, payable only in cash.
I am writing to express my disappointment with this experience, which felt unnecessary and unwelcoming, particularly for visitors to your state. Many we spoke to about our experience described the situation as “a racket” or a “trap”. It is perplexing why parking in an empty lot during non-business hours would result in such an outcome. Does Complete Health have some kind of arrangement with the towing company that benefits Complete Health? The towing company said they do a “sweep” at 8 pm looking for vehicles. Perhaps you can tell them to be more discerning before taking a car.
While I understand policies are in place, this incident left a negative impression and impacted our visit financially.
Esther Fishman
Londonberry, Vermont
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