During the very busy Labor Day weekend last Sunday, my friend and I (both women in our early 60s) attempted to eat at Paradise Cove Beach Café. Only after we entered the parking lot did we discover that there were no available parking spaces and no one seemed to be leaving. After waiting for almost half an hour, we finally got a parking space only to be told at the restaurant that the wait would be over two hours before we could be seated for dinner! I have diabetes and my friend has high blood pressure, so we could not wait and went to leave. However, because we did not eat, the restaurant refused to validate our parking ticket, and the “supervisor” of the parking lot (a young man with a chip on his shoulder) refused to let us out until we paid the full parking fee of $25. Even though we did not eat or drink or stroll along the beach, because we had gone over the “20 minute grace period” we were literally held captive until we paid him $25. The parking supervisor even made us move the car to another lane and blocked it front and back with gates. I tried to call 911 several times but could not get reception. With my blood sugar getting low and her blood pressure getting high, my friend paid the $25 and we left.
This treatment is absolutely appalling. The supervisor of the parking lot was rude, arrogant and literally held us hostage until we paid him $25 ransom for our freedom. This is not the Malibu I know and love. For two senior women to be harassed by this man is very distressing and could have adversely affected our health during the extremely hot weather last weekend. Paradise indeed!
Linda Silverthorn
A former Malibuite