Why are public restrooms typically closed in the city of Phoenix? (Mesa: Home Depot, purchase)

[elcajones]

Before COVID this was less of an issue for me. I mean there are many parts of the valley where you would be hard pressed to find a gas station with a public bathroom but I learned to look for a fast food place or a Starbucks in those areas. I would always buy something small though, because I feel weird using the bathroom and just leaving. A coffee or a soda or whatever. Now with so many places being drive thru only I have major issues at times. My work takes me all over the place and I seem to have to pee OFTEN!

[asufan]

Best bathrooms are at QT in my opinion. Although I like Fluffys idea of buying a vehicle specifically to have a private toilet wherever you go

[Voebe]

This is interesting, but would have been even more interesting if it went beyond Phoenix. I just used a Staples bathroom today. Granted, this particular one, at the Colonnade, was locked, and I had to ask a staffer to open it, but other locations are left open. (They said they lock it because of theft, which seems silly. I doubt a bathroom facilitates theft.) It has never been that unusual for fast food places not to provide restrooms, although some which have them have closed down because of the pandemic. But most chains seem to have them - drug stores, big box stores, supermarkets.

[sargeant79]

Originally Posted by asufan

Best bathrooms are at QT in my opinion. Although I like Fluffys idea of buying a vehicle specifically to have a private toilet wherever you go

Yep. When I'm out and around in Phoenix or when I would be traveling for work (pre-pandemic) I'd always look up a QT if I had to use the restroom in public. They usually keep their bathrooms pretty clean. In my experience, everywhere else in the city (any city) is hit or miss in terms of availability and cleanliness.

[ChandlerDobson]

I think too maybe bigger cities would have less of a chance of restrooms being open to the public. I am so glad I do not live in California. I have a feeling in places like LA and San Francisco (esp San Francisco) it's even harder to find public restrooms. I've walked San Francisco and about almost every place has a big sign that says, "no public restrooms." I just never expected this in Phoenix because Phoenix is not a big tourist destination. The suburbs here do not have that issue. I myself just learned to go to a QT or a big box store when in the city limits and I need to go on the road.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

Wouldn't this encourage the homeless to adopt a more San Francisco type lifestyle? You know....defecating in the streets.

I doubt it ... and besides, most business owners would rather have the "homeless" outside of their establishments rather than hanging around inside or using the restrooms as living quarters. Regardless, Phoenix doesn't have anywhere near the homeless problems that San Francisco's does, so it's irrelevant.

[PhoenixInCentralArizona]

I went to a Burger King in Mesa yesterday, and the restrooms were closed. I've never seen anything like this anywhere else in the country. You only see this in Phoenix. I showed this picture to my friends and they said that they don't see restrooms closed like this where they live. I think it's a Phoenix thing. I had to take my food to go, and the customer service was so terrible.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by PhoenixInCentralArizona

I went to a Burger King in Mesa yesterday, and the restrooms were closed. I've never seen anything like this anywhere else in the country. You only see this in Phoenix. I showed this picture to my friends and they said that they don't see restrooms closed like this where they live. I think it's a Phoenix thing. I had to take my food to go, and the customer service was so terrible.

What did they say when you said "hey, what's going on with your bathrooms?"

[pathrunner]

Originally Posted by PhoenixInCentralArizona

I went to a Burger King in Mesa yesterday, and the restrooms were closed. I've never seen anything like this anywhere else in the country. You only see this in Phoenix. I showed this picture to my friends and they said that they don't see restrooms closed like this where they live. I think it's a Phoenix thing. I had to take my food to go, and the customer service was so terrible.

Bathrooms are closed in California too - all over the place. There are even some bathrooms closed here in the SE where I now live. A lot of it isn't because of Covid.

I used to patronize the Super Pumper at Tatum and Shea. Used to see Randy Johnson there. The mgmt had to close the restrooms for awhile because so many, ahem... low class landscapers would disgustingly trash the restrooms. They should have put up security cameras and a notice in English and Spanish. Probably wouldn't have worked but worth a shot.

[PhoenixInCentralArizona]

Originally Posted by Burning Madolf

What did they say when you said "hey, what's going on with your bathrooms?"

I never asked because likely they would say, "we don't have public restrooms sir." Happened in businesses on McDowell and 44th before.