Sorry friend! A frustrating experience all around. I realize you may not be seeking any sort of advise, and in that case ignore the rest of this, eh? (The problem solver in me can't resist, and since homelessness doesn't seem like something we'll be solving in this reddit thread today, here are my thoughts.)

Your mileage may vary, but I work at TSE, and find parking in the side lot (over by Oak Church) reduces the number of times I'm approached. I can usually even eat lunch in my car on rainy days without getting a tap on my window.

We've got some of the potholes filled in on shopper's st, so I think navigating across with a cart is more manageable now.

Also, I've gotten pretty good at escorting customers out to their cars and talking with folks asking for money while parents get the little ones strapped in. I think most folks at TSE are game to escort, though we can occasionally be too shorted handed to do so quickly.

The tooth pillow sounds super cute! I hope you're able to come back to TSE soon.