San Antonio Parking Lot Sparks Frustration Over Predatory Towing Practices and High Bills

Visitors to University Square at DeZavala in San Antonio are growing increasingly frustrated over a parking lot that has become a hotbed of controversy. The issue? A simple mistake—parking in the wrong space—can lead to a towed car and a bill that stretches into the hundreds of dollars. Michelle Salinas, a local resident, is one of many who have fallen victim to what she calls a 'predatory' system. Last Christmas, she stopped by 85°C Bakery Cafe to pick up treats for her sister before heading to the Rio Grande Valley. She had only been inside for 15 minutes when she noticed her car was gone. 'Apparently, they [the towing company] just park somewhere and watch. The minute someone leaves their car, they wait for them to walk into a business and tow the cars,' Salinas told MySA. Her experience, she says, is not an isolated incident.

The problem lies in the IHOP parking lot, which is part of the mall's larger complex. While the perimeter spaces clearly bear signs stating 'IHOP ONLY' in black ink, the middle spaces—where many drivers park—hide the critical red signs that read, 'Towing enforced at all times. IHOP customers & employees in designated spaces only. No after-hours parking. No for-sale vehicles. Unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owner's or operator's expense.' These signs, however, are only printed on one side, facing inward toward the parking lot, leaving drivers arriving from the outside unaware of the rules. Salinas, who parked in the IHOP lot due to overcrowding elsewhere, discovered the sign only after her car had been taken. She then had to contact Bexar Towing, a local company, and pay $235 to retrieve her vehicle. 'Merry Christmas, I guess,' she wrote in a TikTok video warning others about the situation.

The issue has sparked a wave of complaints, with other shoppers and TikTok users echoing Salinas's frustration. A user who goes by Cococharles9 on the platform told MySA that she had seen two vehicles towed from the same lot in January 2025. 'Apparently it's a frequent issue at that specific location,' she said. 'The tow truck drivers were waiting in that lot. Once they saw the customers walking towards the stores, they would pull in and run to place the tow.' The pattern, she claimed, was clear: the towing companies were not just enforcing rules—they were actively waiting for opportunities.

Compounding the issue is the sheer popularity of the mall, particularly during holidays and weekends. The Teso Life department store, an Asian retail giant that has become a magnet for shoppers, has only exacerbated the problem. Many TikTok commenters have pointed out that the store's arrival has made parking even more scarce. 'There wasn't any parking for anything today!' one user wrote. 'Fully taken up!' Another lamented, 'It's the worst since Teso Life opened.' Some shoppers have resorted to circling the lot repeatedly to avoid the IHOP section altogether. 'We have seen them enforce that section of IHOP, so we circle around,' one commenter said under Salinas's video. 'We sometimes have to park near Einstein's Bagels.'

The mall's management has not publicly addressed the controversy, but the signs and enforcement practices suggest a strict policy in place. For now, drivers are left to navigate the maze of rules, signs, and potential penalties on their own. As Salinas and others have shown, a brief trip to a store can quickly turn into a costly ordeal. With the mall continuing to draw crowds, the question remains: will the city or local authorities step in to address what many are calling a predatory system?

A heated debate has erupted in the heart of University Square following allegations that a local towing company is deliberately targeting shoppers attempting to access nearby stores. Witnesses claim the company waits for customers to park in what they believe are public spaces, only to pounce once they're inside a store, dragging vehicles away under the guise of enforcing private property rules. Meanwhile, others argue the signs warning of towing are there for a reason, insisting that those who ignore them are violating terms of use explicitly laid out by Glazer Properties, which owns the complex.

"Wait… I can't use private property for my own use? That's wild!" one frustrated shopper joked during a chaotic scene outside IHOP, where a tow truck was seen hauling away a car minutes after its owner had stepped inside for lunch. The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, many of whom accuse the towing firm, Bexar Towing, of exploiting loopholes to generate revenue. "They're not just enforcing rules—they're creating them on the fly," said Maria Gonzalez, a regular at the mall who claimed she'd been warned about the towing policy only after her car was already being hauled away.

Critics have pointed to the lack of clear signage and inconsistent enforcement as evidence of a broader pattern. "If you're going to use private property, you should know the rules," said David Reynolds, a local business owner who has long advocated for stricter oversight of commercial parking policies. "But this feels like a trap. People are being lured into spaces that look public, only to be punished for it." Legal experts have weighed in, noting that while private property owners can enforce rules, the absence of visible warnings or proper documentation may leave enforcement efforts legally shaky.

The controversy has drawn attention from media outlets, with The Daily Mail contacting Bexar Towing, IHOP, and Glazer Properties for comment. A spokesperson for Glazer Properties declined to comment, citing ongoing legal reviews, while IHOP representatives said they were "disappointed" by the allegations and would cooperate fully with any investigation. Bexar Towing has not yet responded publicly, but internal documents obtained by the publication suggest the company has been under pressure to increase its revenue streams amid rising operational costs.

As tensions mount, shoppers are being urged to double-check parking rules before entering the complex. For now, the situation remains in limbo, with advocates calling for transparency and accountability from all parties involved. "This isn't just about towing cars," said Gonzalez. "It's about fairness. People deserve to know the rules before they're broken.