Construction?
“Coming soon.” It looked like all the construction was done.
Saaaay. Is this some of that sarcasm stuff I hear about all the time?
As if.
So, I’m eating at a Japanese place with a friend, and we see a donut shop with a kind of quirky name, so I say “hey, let’s check out that donut shop.” I see a sign “open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” It was closed.
This is a pet peeve of mine too.
Which means this morning, upon arriving at work and seeing the sign flipped to “OPEN” (when we were not in fact open) I had to roll my eyes.
Like the restaurant whose sign says open year round. Yeah, if the year begins in April.
Wow, that * is * quirky.
I’ve heard of that place! Lyin’ Bitch Donuts.
I agree with the OP. If the store left its OPEN sign lit, then by law they should be held to that. You should have the legal right to let yourself in, with a brick if necessary, and pick up what you need. Just leave the money on the counter next to the brick.
Which is why I use no such sign at my business. A speaker told a group of us that “If they can’t tell by looking at it that you shop is open you’re doing something wrong.”
I know myself well enough to know I’d leave it on or turned around. I have left for the night with the sidewalk sign outside more than a few times.
And if I’m here the store is open, even if it’s 3 hours before or after the posted hours. No “sorry we’re closed” here. Ever.
Bust your ass selling cosmetics for Maria Qué and they might just reward you with one.
How long was their cable?
Rrgh. This reminds me of the time I was driving up to Mammoth for some skiing and we decided to stop for some fast food. We were kind of in the middle of nowhere, but we eventually saw a huge gas station/Subway sign off to the side of the highway with a light-scrolling marquee beneath it and got off there. When we went in, we found the shell of a Subway shop on one side of the gas station convenience store. We asked what was up, and they said they weren’t opening for a few weeks.
We went back outside and stared up at the huge Subway sign with marquee, which read, in increments of about 20 characters:
“Subway: Try our new jive turkey sandwhich combo! Made with fresh sliced turkey, melted cheese, your choice of toppings, and our special juicy jive sauce! With chips and a drink for just $6.99. Opening 04/07. Subway: Try our new…”
Fucktards.
I was driving from Missouri to Maryland. Someplace in Ohio I pulled up to a chain hotel. There was a lit “Vacancy” sign. They told me they had no rooms. I asked them about the sign.
They told me the always left it on to collect marketing information, to determine if they should build more rooms.
Do I win?
So the other night, Mama says to me, “Why don’t you run in to Wendy’s and grab us some dinner?” Cool. Like, is our stove broken? 
Okay, so, off I go. Seven miles into town, drive in, park the car walk up to the door and pull. Nothin’. So, I look around, the lights are on. The sign is lit. Sign says the Drive thru is open. There are employees wandering around in the store. It’s 5:30 in the evening. should be the start of the dinner rush. So what’s the deal???
Walk around to the other door. There is a note taped on the inside of the glass door. The, uh, door with very dark tinting. After studying the note for a few minutes with my hands up there trying to shade the glare, I finally make out the following Hand Written Note (and no, this is really how it was written):
Closd
sorry For
inconvenEinEince
No workr ShowED up
The Managemant
And no, the drive thru wasn’t open. No idea what the employees inside were doing, couldn’t get a peep out of them.
I won’t be stopping back by there any time real soon.
Next peeve: Local hardware store/builder’s mart. Normal weekday opening hour: 7:00AM
The scene:
6:50 AM
30 +/- customers huddled in the rain waiting for the store to open.
Manager walks up and stands on the other side of the door. And waits. And waits. And waits. Then raises his arm and inserts the key into the lock, staring intently at his watch. And waits. And WAITS.
Unlocks the door at Precisely 7:00 AM according to his watch. First 22 customers through the door not-so-politely point out to him that his watch is 9 minutes slow. Me? I had something else to say:
“Good Freaking FSM! Ya got 30 people standing outside waiting to give you money and you make them wait??? Why??? Because of what the stupid fucking clock says? Screw you, you stoooopid bastard. I stood here in line this long just to tell you you’ve permanently lost my business! I’m heading down the road to help your competitor drive your lazy ass right out of business!”
As a business man myself, let me assure you of one thing: Somebody wants to give me money all they gotta do is call and I’ll move heaven and earth to help them lighten their burden.
Lucy
Five minutes? Really, FIVE WHOLE MINUTES? From what distance could you read their sign? Were you on a bicycle? Assuming you’re an average biker, at 10 MPH, you could cover 4400’ in 5 minutes, not counting stopping, locking up your bike, etc.
How large was this sign that you could read it, and clearly ascertain the word ‘OPEN’ from over three-quarters of a mile away?
I’m trying to give you a break, Fireclown, because as soon as you say you were operating a motor vehicle, then the travel distances go up for the five minutes stated, your observation of the OPEN sign becomes predicated on Superman vision, and I generally consider you to be even more full of shit.
That aside, (I) “made myself look like a fool.” Do you have statements from the numerous other passers by and vehicle occupants who focused their attention of you for that brief moment and concluded, “Yup, he’s a fuckin’ dumbass.”?
BTW-when you pull on a door, something does happen. It resists your pull. Denied entry is an activity, from an access control standpoint. 
Not so at all. For instance, I have seen an “Open” sign (neon) while driving on the freeway. Although the sign itself was only a hundred yards away, it took me some ten minutes to exit, circle around, park, get out of the car and find out “ha hah!”.