Mall Won't Allow Teens Without Parents

Associated Press ^ | 4-20-2005

[clee1]

"God knows what they'll be doing if they're not at the mall," she said. "To say it's not allowed is not the right answer. Let them have their place."

The problem with that is: It's NOT their place! The Mall belongs to its owners and the stores that rent space within them.

Call me crazy, but teenages have no business just "hanging out" in large groups ANYWHERE without responsible adult supervision.

[mlc9852]

The prices they charge, I'm not surprised!

[kingattax]

"The mall like did whattttt ?"

[Gabz]

My opinion of the policy really doesn't matter - the Mall is private property and the owner/management have the right to set the policies as they see fit.

If it were a government implemented policy I would be having a fit - whether I agreed with it or not.

[wmichgrad]

Actually, the mall will probably see an increase in business as adults discover how pleasant their visit to the mall is without all these kids just hanging around. They have a similar rule at the mall near my house and I love it.

[reagan_fanatic]

That tremendous moan you just heard was the ACLU having a collective orgasm. This won't last long.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

The mall kept it quiet to avoid the bad press. I would be surprised if the problem group was 16-17. It's probably the 18-21 group.

I think you're right. I can hardly see kids under the age of 16 getting into gang violence at the mall.

[kingattax]

they have a flock of lawyers working on it as we speak, you can bet on it.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

an increase in business as adults discover how pleasant their visit to the mall is without all these kids just hanging around.

I dunno. Most of the shops seem to cater to teeny-boppers anyway. That's probably where the majority of the business comes from.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

One of the rules at Pheasant Lane prohibits dress "commonly recognized as gang-related."

Flame away if you want...but if they're going to be this "police statist" about who gets into a mall (yes, yes, I know mall ownership has every right to do this bear with me here)...why not take it to the next level and have local LEO's (or whoever has the appropriate power here) and round up all suspected gang members under the guise of being enemy combatants?

A few months of that will quickly solve the problem of wanna-be thugs and the thugs themselves. Personally...I'm sick and tired of neighborhood after neighborhood being degraded, dismembered, and rendered void of decency and safety by this glorified thug culture.

[wmichgrad]

That's probably true. But, it could actually be a smart move to make those kids bring their parents, because along with the parents come the wallets. Anyway, the kids have from after school until 6:00 on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. I'm sure the market will determine over time how successful this policy is, but I would be willing to bet $1 that overall mall business will not be hurt.

[Little Pig]

Except that this will only really matter on Friday and Saturday nights (at least during the school year), and how many adults do you know who like to wander the mall (especially the Pheasant Run in Nashua) on a Friday or Saturday night? There are better things for adults to do at those times. This will kill the Pheasant Run. I've been there, and nearly half the stores there are aimed at teens. If they can't hang there, they'll go down to the Burlington (which is bigger and better anyway, even if it is a bit further).

[massgopguy]

Assembly Sq. Mall in Somerville MA had had it with the Asian and Hispanic gangs terrorizing the customers, so they had security toss them. A Massachusetts judge (bwa ha)said this was a violation of their right to Freedom of Assembly. Now, there is no Assembly Sq. Mall.

[TheBattman]

DUnno - maybe at your mall. Around here, the folks 18-21 are out causing trouble at other places (other than the gang-banger on recruiting missions). The big trouble are 12-18 year old punks terrifying old folks, ripping off businesses, and generally being a pain.

[ChocChipCookie]

One of my favorite malls is an outdoor mall in north Phoenix. Beautiful, upscale, but on weekend nights, when hoards of teenagers swarm the place, we stay away.

[dakine]

My son (16) was arrested a couple of years ago for fighting at the local mall. The cops called me at home and told me come down to the station and pick him up. I told them they could keep him, they ended up delivering him to my door....

[Melas]

I mentioned food courts in particular, because demographically, teenage mall goers are their bread and butter.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Malls as babysitters? These parents are crazy!

[HEY4QDEMS]

I go to Pheasant Lane often. Mostly because it's in NH and I don't have to pay sales tax.

I'm about halfway between PL and the Burlington Mall which I found to have higher prices.

Half the problem IMO is the parents of these kids who view the malls as nothing else but a free baby sitter.

The mall owners shouldn't have to endure the legal consequences of the actions of unruly kids that are left in their care.

[HEY4QDEMS]

You forgot Haverhill.