WPCNR East Ender. By John F. Bailey. November 12, 2004: The new Stop N Shop on Westchester Avenue confirmed to WPCNR today at they are monitoring occupants of their free parking structure on Westchester Avenue because a fair number of parkers have been using their lot to park and walking to The Westchester, Fortunoff and other retail and restaurant establishments in the vicinity.

A White Plains CitizeNetReporter advised WPCNR on Wednesday that Stop N Shop was issuing time slips to motorists parking in the lot. Friday, a spokesperson at the Stop N Shop Customer Service desk told WPCNR Stop N shop was issuing time receipts which customers had to have validated by the cashiers at checkout.  The Scene Friday afternoon. The Booth Sign says "Traffic Study." It is manned. Photo by WPCNR News.

Asked why, the spokesperson said that Stop N Shop was taking a survey to see how many visitors were actually shopping in Stop N Shop. "We want our lot for our customers," the spokesperson said. Asked if a number of persons had been parking at S N S and not shopping there, but pedestrianing it to other stores in the area, the spokesperson said "Yes." WPCNR queried as to whether a parking fee was being contemplated. The spokesperson said, "no, we'd never charge for parking for our customers." Asked if this was being done on a widespread basis, parking at Stop N Shop, and shopping elsewhere, the spokespersons said yes. "We want our parking to be for our customers," she said.

The revelation that motorists are parking free at one establishment to shop at others, raises the issue of whether Wal-Mart, which traditionally offers free parking will do so at their new headquarters on Main Street.

The free parking lot at The Container Store is another scene of free parking abuse, according to frequent Container Store devotees. Motorists park at the Container Store and stroll over to The Westchester, Fortunoff, or other points.

WPCNR's correspondent notes that White Plains parking is becoming too expensive for the average citizen, saying her husband drops her off at Whole Foods Market when she only has to pick up a few items, does some errands himself, then swings by and picks her up.