Nuance Galleries owner Rob Rowen is not one to sit idly by when he sees a wrong committed, but his advocacy for physically challenged Starbucks customers didn't offer the results he expected.
Rowen — who's been a supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and has a son-in-law with the physical challenges brought on by MD — says he does not remain silent when a handicapped space is taken illegally. He has heard firsthand the complaints of the disabled, who suffer inconveniences from not having accessible parking.
So, when he began noticing a recurring pattern of illegal handicapped parking at the South Tampa Starbucks (at Dale Mabry and Azeele), Rowen felt the need to take action. He started asking non-permitted customers in the handicapped space to move their cars. Most customers complied and were apologetic, polite and consented did not complain. "The staff, for the most part, were appreciative," he said.
A few months ago, the outcome was a little different. A customer complained to Starbucks manager Gail Aikens, who told Rowen to stop harassing customers.
Rowen complained about this issue to Starbuck's regional office. Wendell Wood, district manager for Starbucks in the Tampa Bay/St. Pete area, sent him a letter, which he received on Thursday, banning him from visiting all Starbucks locations.
Local media, such as ABC Action News, and some national news outlets seized on Rowen's story. Yesterday, Rowen was notified that the ban was revoked.
Amidst the initial hubbub, Starbucks spokesperson Laurel Harper issued a statement to the press: "We understand Mr. Rowen's concerns and have been speaking with him about this. Unfortunately, he became confrontational toward other customers and we have asked him to refrain from visiting the store. We expect all of our customers to treat each other and our partners (employees) respectfully. We have been speaking with the landlord to improve the parking situation."
"They've lifted the ban," Rowen said Monday afternoon. "I was just on the phone with the (Starbucks) Florida Vice President."
The 62-year-old gallery owner added that the welcome back wasn't good enough.
"It's not about me; it's never been about me," Rowen said. "Now that it's gone national, I'm representing others now. … Starbucks has made a big mistake. What I want to know is, what can they do about it? What are they going to do to address it?"
Good question. Rowen recommends signage inside that store that says, "Please respect our handicapped parking." He also advises Starbucks to train people to understand issues around accessibility.
Taking up the Starbucks-parking cause isn't all that's occupied Rowen's time. His South Tampa gallery will host a Cuban art show, featuring three artists from the island, Aug. 7-8. They're part of the gallery's ongoing Art of the Oriente/Eastern Cuba show. Included are 15 artists and generations of paintings from Southeastern Cuba.
Rowen is also president of the board of the Global Action Coalition, which last year fed some 2,000 children living in poverty.
Abrupt surprise notwithstanding, Rowen says he's not sorry about the Starbucks management backlash at all.
"It's been a positive thing," Rowen says, expressing the hope that the brief Starbucks-ban media blitz will bring on more awareness and improved assistance to the physically challenged.
This article appears in Jul 23-29, 2015.