Restroom at Palm Springs Wal-Mart brings woman in wheelchair to tears
The woman’s restroom inside the front of the store at Wal-Mart in Palm Springs is out of order, and its bringing wheelchair bound Cathedral City resident Gerri Kramer to tears.
Kramer says she visits the Wal-Mart frequently, sometimes several times a week to pick up prescriptions, and because of her medical condition, she often needs to use the restroom.
But because the restroom in the front of the store is closed, she’s forced to travel in her wheelchair all the way to the back of the store, to use the restroom there.
She says its a “hardship” because of the extra time and effort it takes.
“I have to go to the back. Its way back in the shoe department, and with a hand wheelchair, its hard to go on my own,” said Kramer.
Not only is the women’s restroom at the front of the store out of order, so is the men’s room.
Tired of the inconvenience, Kramer and her husband complained to store management.
They also contacted CBS Local 2 and asked for help.
To help Kramer find relief, we spoke with a Wal-Mart store manager who would not comment, but told us to contact the corporate office.
A company media relations representative provided the following written statement:
“We apologize for the inconvenience. This situation is being addressed and we hope to have the restrooms, at the front of the store, reopened soon. “
“Wal-mart is a big corporation. Its pretty much unlimited for finances. Why can’t they find somebody who can fix this,” said Kramer.
We also contacted the city of Palm Springs to check with code enforcement.
The head of the department said it appears Wal-Mart is “violating” a property maintenance code, which requires all plumbing fixtures to be in in working order.
The official said the city will investigate the restrooms at the store.
Kramer says her Wal-Mart shopping experience will be much better once the restroom reopens.
“It would mean a lot to me, because it would mean I wouldn’t have to go to the back of the store and struggle to get into one of the bathrooms,” said Kramer.
Wal-mart would not confirm when the bathrooms were closed and why they are out of order.
The company did not provide a specific date on when they would reopen.
