third TikTok user<\/a>\u00a0timed a 50-minute wait and zoomed in on a Half Price Books sign placed outside the Half Price Books\u00a0that read: \u201cPlease do NOT block the entrance ramp! Thanks!\u201d<\/p>\nA manager for the Anderson Mill Half Price Books told Spectrum News 1 the Swig drive-thru line has at times blocked the store\u2019s entrance ramp and\u00a0customers\u2019 cars, especially on busy weekends.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had several customer complaints about just all the traffic, having a harder time finding spots to park,\u201d the manager, who requested to remain anonymous, said. \u201cI personally got blocked in one day. [It] took me like five minutes to get out because I had to wait for all the cars to move and then someone\u2019s trying to make a U-turn to get into the line, and it was a little stressful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Google reviews of Swig echo the parking concerns, with some calling it \u201ctoo crowded\u201d and claiming the line \u201cis blocking anyone from doing anything.\u201d Others praised the staff and said the long line moved quickly and efficiently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ahead of the grand opening, the Half Price Books manager said she worried about \u201ceven more craziness.\u201d However, she said visiting Swig corporate employees, who visited Half Price Books a few days prior to announce the opening, listened to her concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cI explained how the cars had been blocking our ramp\u2026 so when they had their grand opening, they had a lot more people out directing traffic, and it went a little bit more smoothly,\u201d the manager said.<\/p>\n
Lucas Hendricks, managing partner of\u00a0ZL Ventures, confirmed that Swig has implemented cones, signage and staff to direct traffic. He also said he is \u201chonestly unaware of what adverse effects our drive-thru line is causing for the other businesses,\u201d including not knowing about the Half Price Books ramp sign.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the six months we\u2019ve had this location leased, I\u2019ve never seen anyone use the ramp,\u201d Hendricks wrote in an email to Spectrum News 1. \u201cUltimately, I think our drive-thru is operating efficiently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hendricks said the path of Swig\u2019s drive-thru line received approval from the City of Austin, complies with property management requirements and doesn\u2019t block fire lanes or parking stalls.<\/p>\n
Hendricks also raised concerns about\u00a0other businesses\/tenants\u00a0in the Woodland Center, alleging instances of stolen or\u00a0damaged property, verbal abuse toward young\u00a0Swig employees\u00a0by non-Swig delivery drivers and unauthorized employee parking in the back lot.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the other tenants in this building were frustrated\u00a0when we first moved in due to the required changes that needed to be made on their end,\u201d Hendricks said. \u201cThose changes weren\u2019t based on anything we were doing wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Anderson Mill Swig will continue refining operations while following city and property management rules, Hendricks said, but will not \u201capologize for having a lot of customers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the neighboring tenants aren\u2019t mentioning is how much more brand awareness and ultimately business\u00a0they\u2019ve gotten since we opened,\u201d Hendricks said. \u201cWith the exception of UPS, most of our neighboring tenants weren\u2019t seeing much traffic, and now this parking lot is booming.\u201d<\/p>\n