Hollister Co. at Emerald Square Mall
Emerald Square Mall
999 South Washington Street
North Attleboro, MA 02769
Phone: 508-699-1972
http://www.hollisterco.com/
Last week my mom, friends and I went shopping at Emerald Square Mall in North Attleboro for a little post Christmas sale shopping. While here we saw a Hollister Co. and decided to check if it is more accessible than the other Hollister Co. stores we’ve been to and found it is NOT very wheelchair accessible at all.
Hollister Co. is an American store owned by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. The Hollister Co. at Emerald Square Mall has their ‘signature style of construction which includes steps to a porch-like entrance’ just like the Hollister Co. at Silver City Galleria and Hollister Co. at Independence Mall. This signature style entrance is not at all Hollister Co. stores because some town building inspectors questioned the legality of placing steps at an entrance. I wish all town building inspectors understood the ADA and Architectural Access Board regulations.
On either side of this porch like entrance are two decorative French style doors that are not doors at all. Yet one of these doors is a real door that is wheelchair accessible but there is NO signage on this door so many customers may not realize it is an accessible entrance. When you get very close to this accessible door you will see an automatic push button which opens the door automatically.
Upon entering I was pleased to find wheelchair access open with no furniture or displays blocking the accessible entrance; as is the case in some of the other Hollister Co. The porch like entrance which is a sitting area has no wheelchair access from inside the store either for there are steps leading up to it.
As soon as we got further into the store I found I could NOT access most of the clothing in this store. All the displays of clothes are cluttered on tables or hangers throughout the store with little to no space to maneuver my chair around the displays; all the aisles along the side walls are way too narrow to fit my chair.
The cashier counter in the rear and front of this store is NOT wheelchair accessible for it is way too high for a person in a wheelchair to reach; it is approximately 4 feet tall; and the ATM/Debit/Credit Card Transaction machine is impossible to reach from my wheelchair because it is set back on this high cashier counter.
While here we checked to see if there is a wheelchair accessible dressing room and were pleased to find one of the dressing rooms is somewhat accessible for it is larger; the clothing hooks are lower so a customer in a wheelchair can reach; and there is a bench, as you can see my friend Ric sitting on; yet there are NO safety grab bars which are required in an accessible dressing room. This dressing room has a curtain with no doors to unlock like the other dressing rooms have in this store making it easier for a customer in a wheelchair to enter. I did find it very dark and hard to see in here.
I give Hollister Co. at Emerald Square Mall TWO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Three Stars they would need to remove the steps at the front entrance or place an accessible ramp at the front entrance so all persons have equal and full access; place an accessible sign by the only accessible side door; make the sitting area accessible to all; place more space between the displays of clothing so a person in a wheelchair can fully access all items for sale; lower the cashier counter to a wheelchair accessible height; place the ATM/Debit/Credit Card/ Transaction Machine within accessible reach; place safety grab bars in the accessible dressing room; and increase the lighting in the accessible dressing room so a person with a visual impairment can see the clothing they try on. Overall Hollister Co. stores are not very wheelchair friendly or accessible!!
January 5th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I’m sure you only went there as you know there is a lawsuit about their in-accessibility to wheelchairs – way to jump on the bandwagon (or band-chair) people that are just out to sue anyone make me sick – there are TONS of places that are in-accessible to wheelchairs – go pick on all of them whydontcha? People are always quick to jump on Abercrombie and brands thereof… seriously get a life, you are obviously not a person that would ever wear their clothes as you are far to old and on the larger side for such a brand. So why would you even bother going in there in the first place.
I am going to sue Hooters I think ‘cos I have small boobs and they won’t give me a job…. seriously get over it.
January 5th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Hello Clare,
Obviously you are NOT familair with our website NOR have you read any of our other Hollister Co reviews or you would realize Douglas, a member of Kenny & Company and one of my best friends loves their style of clothing and I often shop here. (see Doglas pic under Kenny & Company tab on top).
FYI – we have never sued anyone and have no plans to sue Hollister Co. or any other store for lack of access. We do Accessibility reviews and rate places for access. Our only goal is to bring public awareness to the importance of wheelchair accessibility, which you obviously do not care about.
And yes, we are aware their have been complaints and suits against Hollister Co and JUSTLY so due to Holloster Co placing steps at a previously accessible entrances and leaving no room for a customer in a wheelchair to get around the store.
And by the way..Hollister Co. does make clothes my size and I occassionally like to wear them.
As for Hooters, I have been to many Hooters and have seen waitresses who are less endowed so I don’t think you would have would have a good suit against them :-)
Enjoy the New Year!!
Kenny & Company
January 5th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Hi Clare,
You are correct! The Equal Rights Center filed a lawsuit against Hollister Co. due to numerous accessibility problems. The link to the November 2009 – ERC press release is
http://www.equalrightscenter.org/releases/AbercrombieandFitchCo..php
As for Kenny & Company’s reviews, I know many people who truly appreciate the important information they provide on their website regarding the access of public places and the importance that all persons be treated with respect, sensitivity and dignity… obviously something you do not follow.
God Bless You!
January 5th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Hi Kenny,
The denverpost.com has a news story about Hollsiter Co. being sued for lack of wheelchair accessibility. The story starts as saying: “A Colorado disability group is joining advocates Nationally in suing over access to Abercrombie & Fitch and J.M. Hollister stores. The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition claims customers in wheelchairs have trouble getting into the stores and that sales counters are too high.” You can read more @
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_14048299#ixzz0bmPd8qUF
You’re doing a great job with helping to make the world more “sensitive, respectful, safer and accessible to all.” not only for wheelchair users but also for us moms with baby strollers.
Thank You!
January 6th, 2010 at 11:30 am
My comment is in response to what Clare said above.
Your comment about people suing any one to get something from companies is void. People are not suing Hollister for any money as far as I’m aware. People with disabilities just want accessibility to stores. I know you wouldn’t like it if a store clerk told you that only you couldn’t go in a certain section of the store.
Also what is this old stuff about? He is not old. Anyway if someone with a disability is too old for those clothing that doesn’t mean they aren’t there to get a gift for someone who does like the clothing.
It is a obvious that you care nothing for the issues people with disabilities have. So I don’t understand why you are even visiting this site.
I had similar problems with the Hollister in Appleton Wisconsin. I had to actually move a piece of furniture with my power wheelchair to get in the front doorway. There are also many places I could not access. I believe the law says 3 feet minimum aisles. There are some aisles that were 6 inches wide. That is fine for able bodied people because they can move the clothing to the side with their hand but many people with disabilities cannot. If Hollister doesn’t mind possible damage to their furniture and merchandise they should keep the store the way it is.
But seriously Hollister is actually breaking the law by having their store the way it is. I myself wonder about fire hazard rules in the Hollister stores?
January 12th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
People with disabilities have a civil right to access goods and services available to everyone else. Federal, state and local civil rights laws require that people with disabilities have equal access to the goods and services offered to the public by businesses. Kenny Cieplik and others in the disability community, perform an invaluable service by identifying those who, either through neglect or indifference, fail to comply with these civil rights laws. Our civil rights are not something to “get over,” they are something to “get right!”
June 11th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
This is an an old thread but a new ” concern” of mine.
I was shopping at the Brandon mall in Brandon , Florida with my 15 year old son and he wanted to go in to the Hollister store. My wife and I have never been in the store before, but he had some money and wanted to buy some clothes. So he wheels over to the entrance, front door are steps, no problem, one of those door/window things is the wheelchair entrance, right? They were all closed except for a thin crack with bolts on the floor!At this point I walk over to help him find a way in to this Fort Knox of a clothing store and could not get a one to budge! Now this was like the middle of the day on a weekend. What up, Hollister? I’m sure there was a way he could get in, but we could’nt find it! So, that’s my rant.
I’m not trying to sue anyone as the above poster said,we have been in plenty of stores that are not as friendly to wheelchairs as they could be and we let them know, but this store just baffled me. They lost a sale. Thx for letting me vent.
June 11th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Hi Gary, Your son and many others including me have found Hollister Co stores very inaccessible. Some states have sued and forced them to become more accessible. You may want to contact The Equal Rights Center in Washington DC for I am sure they would like to hear about your Hollister Co complaint. Thanks!