With Evansville growing, and a push to bring people to the downtown area, some citizens are running into major problems.
According to numerous accounts, Zuki Japenese Hibachi Grill and Sushi Lounge is towing its own customers, as well as people who park in their parking lot when the restaurant isn’t even open.
The following is a letter to the editor from Jill Kincaid.
This past Saturday at 8 am I was illegally forced to pay a tow fee to Reds Roadside Assistance. Reds has a contract with Zuki downtown to tow any car they ask them to tow. Zuki has a “spotter,” monitor their parking lot, and instead of asking people to move, they tow their cars. This is known as Predatory Towing: they set the trap and wait for you to come and then tow you with no notice. (Zuki has no signs on their building about towing but has placed small print signs about towing on an adjacent building – This is a classic element of predatory towing. Photo Attached of Zuki Building with no signs.)
When I shared my experience on Facebook, I was shocked at how many people also had this experience. It was clear there was a pattern of this behavior, so I checked the law, and found that what they did to me is not legal as I was present before the tow driver ever touched my car. (Please note, Private towing and private parking law differs from when the city tows your car by police order.)
Because of these questionable practices, Indiana passed a law IC-2-1 (15-16) to clarify the issue for the both parties involved. (law below) It this case, Zuki and Red’s must tag your car for tow for 24 hours before towing. The exceptions are that in case of Emergency or physical harm they can tow immediately, or if they cannot conduct normal business because of your car, they can tow without the 24-hour notice. In my case, at 8 am on a Saturday morning, they were not open, so in no way was my car making it impossible for them to do business. Even a car parked there during regular business hours is not an “emergency” if there is still parking available in their lot.
Regardless, in my situation, Reds cannot charge me for parking there and must allow me to leave. Anyone in this situation should call EPD who will force the driver to let you pass. In my case not knowing the law cost me $132.50. Had there been an actual tow, the cost is $212. (Reds normally charges $45 for a tow- it is inflated for the Zuki customers and profit sharing with Zuki.)
Many cities, including Indianapolis, have taken this law one step further and passed an ordinance to fine the tow operator 400% of what they charged the driver. I am asking the Evansville City Council to do the same, and put an end once and for all to the Predatory towing at Downtown Zuki, and anywhere else it may be occurring.
Video press release:
Helpful resource materials: Facebook thread on Tri State Restaurant Reviews:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tristaterestreview/permalink/944840118987892/
RTV6 story on Indiana law: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/call-6-investigators/know-your-rights-cars-cant-be-towed-from-private-property-without-proper-notice
Indiana code can be found in its entirety at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2017/ic/titles/009#9-22-1-15
– Jill Kincaid
The following are just some of the public reviews of Zuki downtown that specifically mentioned the towing issues at Zuki…
Shelby Wagner — 1 star Tuesday July 11th 2017 at 4:55pm – I came to Zuki downtown to eat with three friends of mine. We arrived at 2:30pm and realized they weren’t open from 2-4. We decided to walk around downtown and get a coffee while we waited for them to open. We came back right at four and noticed my car was gone. I went inside and asked what happened and they said they towed my car. I explained that we were paying customers and that I frequent the restaurant often. The manager wouldn’t look me in the eye and I asked how I could contact the owner to discuss this further. The manager proceeded to stare at the ground and not respond to me. I live forty minutes from here and I now have no means of transportation to retrieve my car. It’s unprofessional of the owner to refuse to speak with a PREVIOUS paying customer. I will never be back to Zuki.
Mark Crews — 1 star Tuesday, July 11th, 2017 5:08pm – Came with some friends to eat around 2:30. We realized we had missed the lunch hours and decided to walk around and wait until 4pm to catch the dinner time hours. We arrived back at the location to find the vehicle had been towed. The store manager refused to look us in the eye as he 
said he didn’t tow the car and that a towing company does it on their own… Then he said he called the owner to see what options we had, yet he was unable to look us into our eyes to give us comfort and clarification. My friend couldn’t afford the towing fee and Zuki refused to help with a meal or even with calling the towing company. They lost my business officially.
AJ Eaton — 1 star Monday, July 17th 2017 at 8:00pm – This place wishes it could be a Japanese restaurant. Poor service — and by that, I mean waiting forever for some indolent server to acknowledge you especially when trying to pay your bill. We waited 30 mins even after all the plates were cleared from our table until our server brought us our check. And yes, the place was basically empty. If you want a really good experience at a Japanese restaurant, go to Tokyo Japan on Green River. They have excellent food (like sushi) and amazing service! Zuki has simple food, nothing special. The “Yum Yum” is something you could make at home. The chicken, rice, and vegetables are mediocre American-Japanese food that you can get all over the country, but worse. And by that, I mean waiting 30 mins for chicken and rice that is cold and that is definitely frozen to begin with. Go somewhere else, trust me. Like I said above about Tokyo Japan, you’ll never feel rushed or forgotten and they’ll respect you for being a paying customer. Now if you’re just looking for a place to eat downtown, definitely look the other way from this place, there’s a great Korean BBQ next door where the owner will actually acknowledge you and make sure your experience is in your liking along with fresh and authentic food. It’s so much better. Oh! And the parking is very open — Never have to worry about getting your car towed or finding a place to park. Save yourself some time and skip Zuki. How this place is still open, I have no clue. I’m sure people have had a good experience here, and thank goodness you have. But paying $15+ for frozen food that came off a food truck that probably visits all over the country and service along with a manage/owner that could care less about you, just isn’t the best time for me. You deserve better, and that means not eating here.
Ken Francis — 1 star Sunday, September 24 at 9:10pm – Food was good but customer service is horrible. My son’s friend’s cars were towed from their parking lot while they waited to eat there thinking they were open because the sign on the door said it was open. Cost them $400 to get their cars back after the tow [truck driver] was “generous” enough to waive $50 of the $450 fee. I don’t see myself going back!
Andy Witten — 1 star Monday, September 25th 9:33am – Zuki towed our group’s cars while we were going to eat there. We were so excited to have some sushi after the Race for the Cure, but now we had to pay $400 to get our cars back.
Brandon Francis — 1 star Wednesday, September 27th 2017 3:47pm – This was one of the worst experiences I have ever had with a restaurant. We went there last Sunday thinking that they were going to open at 11. They had the open sign displayed, but it was still a few minutes before 11 so we waited on benches across the street. When the doors were still locked at 11, we decided to go somewhere else to eat only to see that all of our cars had been towed. The towing company didn’t care about our story, but I was hoping the owner would be a little more understanding. Turns out that the owner was even less considerate than the towing company. After talking to him on the phone to try and sort this mess out, he stated that the only thing he could do was take $25 dollars off of an over $400 charge. The owner showed no sympathy for customers who were simply trying to pay him money to eat at his restaurant. He even went as far as to accuse US of bullying HIM. Never have I seen a restaurant owner show such blatant disrespect to people trying to give him money. Needless to say, I urge anybody reading this to avoid this restaurant. If you park here and you are wrong about when they open, you risk paying $225 to get your car back. But hey, if you’re patient, maybe the owner will drop it down to just $200.
Smith Leslie — 1 star Saturday, October 14th 2017 11:58pm – They will have your car towed, even if you’re a paying customer and park in there parking lot. They have done it to many, many people because the owner gets part of the towing fees. Look at the Facebook page. I know lots of people who won’t go back. There getting ready to be sued for doing it maybe then he won’t do it to paying customers when someone finally sues… Very poor business. Unbelievable.
Garrett Dugger — 1 star Saturday, October 14th 2017 1:42pm – Appalling for the owner to call at a tow truck at 8 am for someone parking in their parking lot and holding their car hostage for $140. People were down there volunteering for charity. Will make sure everyone I know will not visit this establishment. The restaurant wasn’t even open. Shameful business practice. Whoever runs this restaurant should be ashamed.
K
ayla Smith — 1 star Sunday, October 15th 2017 12:12pm – Food is mediocre… Do not waste your time!!! Do not park in their parking spaces, you will be towed away! My friend, single mom, parked there and was towed away. We caught up to the tow truck before it went to the shop and he said he would take it off the truck for $200!!!!!! A friend told the guy she was a single mom and the guy didn’t care! She was there less than an hour before being towed away!!! They want to bring people downtown, well this will keep people away! Who wants to support and give money to a business that will do this? And btw, they weren’t even open….
If you would like to read more public reviews of the Zuki restaurant downtown, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zuki-Downtown/327264520763429
Most of the reviews spoke of the horrible service, outlandish wait times, and sub-par food. Those who had to wait for a long time even walked out before receiving their food. Numerous reviews said that they would never be back, or that it was their worst restaurant experience ever.
On the bright side, most of the reviews that differentiated between the two Evansville locations stated that the East side was great, but that the downtown location was awful.
And to the Evansville City Council; This is not how to bring people downtown. What ordinance would you pass to prevent this type of Tow-Truck Extortion?
To the general public; If you or someone you know has also been towed by Zuki, or have a similar story, please feel free to contact us at The VIP at vipnewsroom@zoho.com.
Here at the Vanderbugh Independent Press, YOU are the VIP. Let your voice be heard and email us your story today!
UPDATE: Jill Kincaid has written to each of the City Council members, and one of those Council members has agreed to sponsor an ordinance against Predatory Towing, should the proposal be approved by City Council Attorney, Josh Claybourn.
If you really want to see how NOT to conduct yourself as a business, go to the tow company site and read how they respond to their negative reviews – name calling and threats. Reds Roadside Assistance. https://www.facebook.com/pg/redsroadside/reviews/?ref=page_internal
I have never been there, but this scam of towing cars can not be legal as the article points out, it is not. Downtown Evansville needs some laws to deal with this. You want people to come downtown but allow this crap! Shame!
If what the restaurant and tow company are doing is illegal then basically they’re running a car theft operation. They should be arrested and indicted.
I will never eat there again.Thanks so much for telling your stories because a lot of people can’t afford this to happen to them so sad. I parked at a law office downtown one day and they left a note on my car telling me to please not to park there again. I was so Thankful they didn’t tow my car
That’s awesome that they left a note! Zuki actually has an employee monitoring the parking lot. It would be so easy for them to leave a note, or better yet, “Hey lady, you can’t park here,” so you had a chance to move your car
If this is not legal, I would suggest everyone on here file a suit against both zuki and Reds.
Will not ever go back.
Sounds like the Lincoln Park Pirates in Chicago. They are just as bad, or worse. The people in Chicago are finally fed up with them and they are probably going to lose their license over their predatory towing practices. It may be worth going after the towing company as well as Zuki.
AJ Eaton, what an idiot, do u work for the Japanese restaurant. You make no since. Where do you think food comes from. From food delivery companies. 1st they buy fresh food and 2nd they make their meals to order. It’s not frozen. 3rd some foods are frozen, how do u get shrimp from the gulf to the northern US and it not go bad, by blast freezing it. Which in most cases is fresher than fresh. What an idiot. This restaurant is tired of people parking in there lot and going elsewhere and there customers can’t park. I don’t blame them one bit.
It CLEARLY says – zuki parking only – monitoring 24 hours a day – cars will be towed at owners expense! –
You sound attractive. Your common sense is beautiful
Thank you Holly
If the sign states No Parking, 24 hour Monitoring, Towing at owners expense how is that Zukis fault? It’s common sense people…Dont park there or your car will be towed and you will pay for it. What gives you the right to park somewhere when it’s clearly posted not to? If that’s the case and you feel it is ok why don’t you park in the city police lot where they park their personal cars. Better yet why not park in 5/3rd parking garage? The entitlement that people feel they deserve these days has become ridiculous. You are entitled to nothing unless you’ve earned it. The owners of Zukis has earned the right to be able to purchase that lot and earned their right to have people towed if they are on their property during non business hours, or by visiting another establishment.
Outstanding response. This is issue is absolutely pathetic. I am with you!
Did you even read the whole article? Paying customers cars were towed. They parked there because they were going to eat at the restaurant, and while they were inside, their cars were towed. There’s no way that is okay.
This lady seems pissed that she tried to park somewhere she shouldnt have, and as a result faced a consequence. The business has the right to say they dont want anyone parking in their lot. If even one sign is posted nobody should atempt to park there, ( and their is signs Ive seen them with my own eyes .) so this lady parked anyway to try and convenience herself with doing as she wished on someone elses property, and paid the price. She needs to get over herself.
This doesn’t surprise me especially since the owner is sleazy. I used to work at Zuki as well as a couple of my friends and he was always super inappropriate with us and very touchy feely. Since I stopped working there I’ve told everyone I know not to go there and especially not to work there. There business practices are obviously lacking and he should be in jail for his predatory ways.
What the hell does this have to do with the towing of vehicles? If you have a workplace harassment complaint pick the right Avenue for that complaint we’re talking about towing cars here.
Hang in there Jess. Some people just don’t understand that health codes, sexual harassment, and parking lot towing are laws that apply to everyone.
And furthermore ” there is no sign on the zuki wide of the lot.” …..but its one lot and she knows where that sign is….so either she knows dang good and well that sign applies to the whole lot, or shes playing dumb like she doesnt know or answer c = shes actually not smart enough to realize the sign applies to the whole lot. Im just saying one of those scenerios must be true, and any of those scenerios says that her doing wrong began this whole ordeal, simply follow clearly posted signs and have no worries.
you can literally create any sign that says anything you want, but that does not make it legal. The courts seem to agree that Indiana State Law supersedes the sign that Reds puts up to justify their illegal tows. It doesn’t matter if every single Reds employee post on here, EPD, the Vandeburgh County Sheriffs Department do not agree with his interpretation of the law. Call either one of them and ask. They actually know him by name, he has quite a lot of experience in the judicial system.
bushrod.cole2003@gmail.com
I work at Zuki and my car was towed away as well..Get this… Zuki had nothing to do with my vehicle. I wasn’t even parked on the lot of Zuki. This can happen to anyone.
I am writing to provide information to further your story about predatory towing: Apparently the owner of the tow company is trolling the reviews personally attacking people and attempting to discredit their stories.
I have worked with tow companies in the past, a 400% fine for a tow is NOTHING, they will easily make up 4 swift tows in the same evening, especially in areas where predatory towing has been allowed to flourish, much more drastic measures must be taken, with consideration to the victims who have had their vehicles damaged by their hasty practices, in which they often damage the vehicle in their haste to tow before being noticed.
So if I put a sign up on my street that says I am now charging everyone $200 to drive by my house, does that makes it legal?
Obviously not. Zuki has every right to tow cars on their lot but they must follow the Indiana state law to tag those cars and tow 24 hours later. The signs they posted on the empty building next door have absolutely no bearing on the legality of what they are doing. The law is written specifically for businesses with private lots, it has nothing to do with public streets, homeowners property, or law enforcement tows. The towing company either was negligent on knowing the rules of their business, or don’t care what the law is. I have to abide by the law, don’t you?
If its your property, a sign DOES make it legal. It is no different than toy hanging a no trespassing sign on your fence, then someone saying screw your sign im gonna stand here anyway, its then your chooce as the homeowner to just let it slide or call the cops, or take option 3 if it becomes a huge problem, and that is get a dog. park where your supposed to, and no one has the right to do whatever they want on someone elses property, EVER.
They do own the lot. It is not owned by the city.
they lease the lot from the city.
They own the lot was bought with building
If any of you live near the Fall Festival I’m going to park in your yard next year and if you dare try to tow my car I’m going to sue you for not asking me to move it first. How dare you take care of your property and remove violators. Oh wait…….. stop the whining if you park in someone’s parking lot that that clearly states you will be towed if not a paying customer, and you are not a paying customer, do not be surprised if you get towed. It’s not a conspiracy or criminal Empire. Just admit when you screw up ask for forgiveness and move on with your life don’t make a political movement out of it that’s ridiculous.
well if you park in their yards, just put up a sign that says parking for holly roll only, all others will be towed. That should work out real nice for you since you seem to think signs overrule Indiana state law.
And as already stated, parking at a private residence has nothing to do with the state law telling telling businesses they have to tag cars and give 24 hour notice. The law was written because unethical towing companies contracted with businesses to do exactly what is happening here. If you don’t like the law, try to get it changed, but acting like any sign someone puts up supersedes the law, is not how laws work.
This comment was submitted by Noah Minton initially in a private message but public posting was permitted:
“I worked at Zuki downtown for 2 months. For my first paycheck making $9.00 an hour I was paid $187 for working 3 weeks and over 90 hours. So I told my boss, Joe, that it was wrong, and He would force me to stay until midnight on nights when I wouldn’t have a ride home. Not to mention the problems such as cockroaches, mold, and a leaky basement. The hibachi prep kitchen is disgusting. The soap pump in the dish pit doesn’t work so every dish you eat off of was only sprayed with hot water. Please bring this to light. Also, Joe openly admits to towing people.”
Dr. Ibay and her husband Joe don’t seem to be bothered by the tremendous crush of bad publicity they are creating from these tows. I’ve never seen a successful business totally disregard their customers or bad reviews and simply not care. Maybe its just a tax write off? They are extremely wealthy.
Well maybe if you were smart enough to infer how they were making their money I.E Towing contracts and underpayment. Yes he may own a 4 runner jaguar and a mercedes but hes just a crook. thats all he is and all he ever will be. should i sugar coat it? Because last i check he charged me as an ex employee for a spare shirt that a coworker had already paid for but given to me. Or how about telling a white person they will never be a sushi chef because of the color of their skin? Or Making the white people other than servers do bitch work. I.E mopping up a basement filled with dirt. Cleaning other workers stations and constantly cussing out workers. And i read the comment about the “state of the art dishwasher” i worked there you imbecile. It barely runs water. and if you pay close attention next time you’re in there look at the dish pit see the 2 bus tubs on the counter most likely filled with dishes? they have a cap of soap and 4 gallons of water in them virtually no soap. why you ask? because its cheaper than buying the packs from eco-lab you buy a gallon of soap from walmart apparently it should last a few days right? wrong. its disgusting.
I think you misunderstood my comment, I absolutely believe you. I just can’t understand how they can justify their actions or how they think they can be successful and operate this way. I meant, that maybe they just don’t care either way because its a tax write off.
Why are people allowed to lie about a business. 1st the dishes r not just rinsed with water. They have a state of the art Ecolab high temp dish machine. I work n the food industry and if u look through the swinging doors u can see it. 2nd the dish pit is rinsed with Water. Hit water to clean leftover food off the plate then it is run through a machine which cleans, and sanitizes the plate. Why don’t people stick to the subject. I don’t understand why some people say they are regular customers but then they show up 15 minutes after the restaurant is closed and say they were gonna get a cup of coffee and wait for them. To open 2 hours later. Come on people. I feel bad her car was towed but seriously if there is one issue I feel is wrong its the towing company charging more than what a regular tow should cost.
yeah! we park where we want! you have to ASK me to move my car from YOUR property before you take any action…..does this not sound childish and stupid? park where your supposed to and quit stomping your feet like babies.
Thank you Chuck and Holy, the people seem to forget. Zuki is the place that has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for a lot and a business downtown to attempt to better themselves and the downtown of Evansville. Like Chuck said let’s start moving people’s chairs in front of there house around Franklin Street and see what they think. And the people that want to dog the state of the restaurant, that place is beautiful inside. Every restaurant n this city has a bug in it because box’s r delivered there.
Noone in the world likes parking we all no that but go to any big city n the US and I promise you if u park where there is a no parking sign u will b upset within an hour.
Not surprised, they do illegal stuff all the time, from illegal workers, to forcing waiters to give away 50% of tips, to not paying taxes. They’re shady and crooked.
To those who are crying and feel they have been targeted: You parked in a private lot on private property when there is an OBVIOUS sign that says Zuki Customers ONLY. This lot is very small and employees are not even alloweed park in it. Customers have dined at Zuki and said they will not come back because there was no place to park. If your residental driveway, your private property, was next to a business and random cars parked there all the time because it’s convenient for them, you would have to put up parking signs too. It does not matter that this parking lot is for a business..it is the same concept and it’s still private property. When you park there and leave you are taking up a PAYING customer’s spot. Another businesses parking lot in the same area has towed many cars before becauss the drivers did not obey their parking regulations and ignored their signs. It’s simple. If you are a paying customer, you can park there. You can not park in this small lot and then leave and ignore their obvious parking signs. There is not going to be a law suit because nothing is legally wrong here.
So glad someone with common sense has chimed in
Isn’t part of the issue that the towing company is splitting the towing fees with the owner? THAT is where everyone should have a problem with all of the predatory towing.
JulieAnn the tow company nor zuki share money from the impounds. That’s not how the tow companies do business when they enforce parking.
They may well own the lot, but justify how this is wise to do to patrons who are waiting for the restaurant to open? Lots of publicity, not a lot of wisdom….
Amazing how fast the tow company is backing off their story and now trying to say that other companies towed most of these cars before his contract with Zuki. When you read the other stories you can see that they are complaining about their personal experience with how he treated them and specifically with his company Reds roadside assistance.
Owner also replied to those posts with name calling and bullying and really showed his true colors. His long police record is public, look it up, this guy thinks the law doesn’t apply to him. On his page he now claims law enforcement supports him and comes on his calls, and I can tell you, that is not true.
As an officer I have called him to tow after an accident (not private parking lot) and thought he was an okay guy. But after hearing these stories, and many many more by other people I will never use him again, and I am spreading the word with my peers. He wants to blame this one lady, but you can’t argue with the sheer numbers of people saying the exact same thing, its just that this lady was the first one to go public. He can continue to crucify her for telling her story, but I assure you there is a whole line of people behind her saying the exact same thing. There are plenty of reputable tow companies in Evansville, do yourself a favor and pick someone else.
It’s hilarious that you can tell the trolls on here all for Zuki is the same person. Hehe I see what you’re doing.
Hey, why don’t you put your real name and your face? Are you scared?
Instead of arguing, let us enlighten you on SOME of what ZUKI has done for the community…
Last year, when a local church asked for help to rebuild their parking lot, ZUKI donated their whole Sunday sales. The parish priest was delighted and thankful.
For several years, Zuki had been supporting the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. They pay for their participating employees’ registration fees. They open late so the employees can join the race.
Zuki has donated to different schools, leagues, local organizations and local charities (too many to mention) and even gave discounts to Military, Police Officers & Firemen.
Sadly, many disgruntled customers and former employees will say anything to get even.
God said If someone throw a rock at you, throw a bread back. So to all those who are criticizing Zuki, please come to either location and you will be fed for FREE.
God bless and Peace to you all !!!
Folks, there are several comments coming in from people associated with Red’s Roadside Assistance that are direct threats, insults, fabricated stories, and personal attacks against individuals who have expressed negative experiences related to the story above.
The Vanderburgh Independent Press reserves the right to withhold these comments with intent to keep our website as clean and respectful as possible. If comments like these continue to come in, we will have to close comments for this article completely. Thank you for your understanding.
Anonymous, you are not seriously asking “Smarter than you think” to use a real name and face are you? Hello Pot, meet Kettle…..