AVONDALE — Northwest Siders who frequent a Walgreens in Avondale are calling out a controversial booting company for booting their cars in the parking lot — even though they shopped in the business.
Some Walgreens customers who have gotten their cars booted within the last week while parking in the store’s lot at 3424 W. Belmont Ave. say the parking enforcement company is acting in an unfair and predatory manner.
Innovating Parking Solutions, the company hired by a contractor through Walgreens to watch the lot, has been monitoring it since earlier this year after the lot was being used by people going to the nearby CTA station and other businesses instead of Walgreens, a Walgreens spokesperson said.
“This has made it more difficult for our patients, customers and team members to find available parking when visiting our store despite signage explicitly stating the lot is for Walgreens customers and those in violation are subject to towing,” said Walgreens spokesperson Jennifer Cotto. “Several months ago, we retained the services of tow companies to ensure our patrons are able to safely park in our lot while shopping or receiving care at this Walgreens location.”
Brandon Lewis, who went to the Walgreens last weekend, said his car was booted even though he went inside the store and visited no other businesses. The Innovative Parking Solutions officer said he caught Lewis on video going to a business across the street and refused to take off the boot until Lewis paid the $170 fee.
Lewis disputed that with the officer, saying he arrived at the lot with his friend who had asked for a ride to the dispensary across the street. Lewis needed to go to Walgreens anyway, so he agreed to give her a ride, he said.
“I didn’t even step out onto the sidewalk as I walked directly into the store,” Lewis said.
After the attendant refused to take off the boot, Lewis called Chicago police to the scene, he said. Police officers went into Walgreens and reviewed surveillance camera footage showing Lewis in the store and told the parking officer he was wrong. They asked him to take off the boot but the Innovative Parking Solutions employee refused, he said.
A police spokesperson confirmed officers arrived at the scene for the disturbance, though a report was not filed.
Lewis paid the fine and planned to appeal. But earlier this week, he received a refund after Block Club contacted the company.
Innovative Parking Solutions owner Michael Denigris said the parking attendant “inadvertently failed to record the couple’s departure,” thus siding with Lewis because there wasn’t enough evidence to show he went across the street.
While Lewis said he appreciated the refund, he is frustrated with how the company and the employee handled the situation, which wasted everyone’s time.
“None of this actually occurred, so you’re just taking money from people … I feel like that was criminal behavior because I did not do this,” Lewis said. “The real desired outcome is don’t create this.”
If anything, the experience has turned him off of shopping at that Walgreens, he said.
The lot is often half empty, and Denigris said his business has been slow there in recent weeks. When Innovative Parking Solutions was hired to monitor the lot, it was ticketing four to five people every day. Now, it’s one or two every few days, Denigris said.
Earlier this week, a Block Club reporter saw an Avondale resident get booted at the location, even though they and their friend came out of Walgreens carrying a shopping bag.
Natalie, who didn’t want their last name published, said they parked in the lot around midday Tuesday, went across the street to pick up their friend from the CTA station, and then both went to shop at Walgreens.
In a matter of minutes, their car was booted, Natalie said.
Natalie tried to explain they went into the store to pick up prescriptions, even showing the parking officer the receipt, but felt intimidated and belittled, they said.
“I’m not in a great financial situation and I’m relying on a lot of other people in my life to help me meet my needs,” Natalie said. “I really didn’t budget for spending $170 today because I walked away from a parking lot for five minutes.”
Natalie said they were traumatized by the situation, which they felt was predatory and unprofessional. They want to see the practice banned in the area or for there to be a grace period.
Chicagoans who’ve also had their cars booted by Innovative Parking Solutions within a few minutes have long complained about the way it operates and are upset there is little recourse for those who feel wronged by the company.
“Part of the other problem with it too is that you have no recourse because it’s all civil,” Lewis said.
‘I’m Gonna Protect Their Bottom Line’
Denigris has repeatedly defended his company’s business practices, saying it’s a beneficial alternative to having cars towed and makes sure local businesses have parking spots for their customers.
He refuted claims his business model is predatory or exploitative, adding there is no financial gain to boot cars and the practice has been welcomed by private property owners.
“There is no financial gain. I do not pay a commission, I do not pay anybody by the boot … My guys get a good salary per hour and they get paid no matter what,” Denigris said.
He also touted his “compassion” for those who get a boot on their car if they appeal and show proof that they didn’t do it intentionally or did in fact shop at the right business. When that’s the case, he gives them their money back.
He said he gets “dozens of emails” from people thanking him for the refund, its detailed analysis and process, and treating customers with respect, according to emails shared with Block Club from customers who appealed their fine.
“I am not mandated to do so, but I do it,” Denigris said of the appeals process. “That’s why I’m in business for 28 years, because my clients, they know what I do. I’m gonna protect their bottom line.”
Denigris said city rules don’t require a grace period for customers who walk off the lot and that companies are able to lock the wheel the moment you violate a parking lot’s terms.
Booting companies are required to post at least two signs at each location where they operate that display the fee for boot removal, contact information and a 24-hour phone number. The practice of booting on private lots is legal across over half the city, and there were plans to expand it citywide until an ordinance for it stalled and died last year.
Innovative Parking Solutions has come under fire by some local officials and customers in recent years. The company was banned in the 1st Ward in 2021 because Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) called it a bad business model after getting numerous complaints.
Private booting companies are allowed to charge parking offenders a maximum fee of $170 to remove a boot. Denigris previously told Block Club his company currently operates in more than 100 lots across the city.
Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) said his office has only received one complaint about the company at the same Walgreens during his time in office. In that instance, the person admitted to parking there but shopping at a business across the street, Ramirez-Rosa said.
“At the end of the day, it’s up to residents and businesses to make their voices heard, and I’m proud that our ward office has been very responsive over many years to addressing local community concerns,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “If we hear from more residents, we’ll adjust and figure out how to proceed.”
Denigris isn’t worried. He plans to revive and expand the business to all wards in the coming years with support from alderpeople.
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