The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Daniel Boyles often comes to MacArthur Center after 5 p.m. to eat at the food court, see a movie or spend some of his paycheck at the Hot Topic clothing store.
In two weeks, though, the downtown mall won't allow 16-year-old Daniel to do that without someone at least age 21 accompanying him. MacArthur Center plans to start a new policy on Oct. 19 requiring shoppers under age 18 to have a "supervising adult" age 21 or older with them when they visit the mall after 5 p.m.
"It's bull," Daniel said Monday afternoon, while shopping at MacArthur Center with a friend. "It's kind of taking away the rights and trust of kids under 18."
Jim Wofford, the mall's general manager, said mall staff began looking into such a policy about a year ago, when they noticed an increase in the number of "unsupervised youth" congregating at MacArthur Center in the evenings.
"It has the potential to escalate into an issue or escalate into some type of unsafe atmosphere," he said of the teen groups.
MacArthur Center and its owner, Taubman Centers Inc., wanted to prevent any issues that could arise from large gatherings before they happened, Wofford said. "In today's society, I don't think you can ever be too safe or too concerned about the safety of our children."
Norfolk Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot applauded the new policy. "I think it came at a good time," he said, referring to the upcoming holiday shopping season. It will benefit the mall for managers "to give residents across the region the understanding that they understand security first and foremost."
City officials had no involvement in the new policy, Wofford said. No incidents at the mall prompted the change, either, he said.
No other malls in South Hampton Roads have a teen-chaperone policy.
"We haven't seriously considered it at this point," said John Westbrook, general manager of Lynnhaven Mall, a popular hangout for teens in Virginia Beach.
Lynnhaven has a "code of conduct," Westbrook said, and young consumers who adhere to those policies face no other restrictions.
Wofford and his staff found that several malls nationwide had such age-related policies, including two other Taubman centers and the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. Some of the restrictions on teens start as early as 2 p.m., he said.
Once the new rule goes into effect, mall security officers will approach young people who they believe are under 18 and will explain the policy, Wofford said. They'll ask for proof of age and, for those covered by the rule, whether they have someone at least age 21 with them. Any teens who don't have an escort will have to leave, and mall security will allow them to make phone calls for rides home, if necessary, Wofford said.
"That's not fair," said Bryce Roberson, 12, who attends Blair Middle School in Norfolk and was heading into the Bath & Body Works store at MacArthur Center with her $20.
"If you have your own money, you should be able to spend it wherever you want," agreed her friend, 12-year-old Jasmine Doe. "Kids don't want their parents here, because they'll be telling them what to buy."
Bryce imagined herself at age 16, having a date to go to the movies - and needing a chaperone.
Regal MacArthur Center 18 has partnered with the mall on the new policy, Wofford said. It won't sell tickets to anyone under 18 who isn't with someone 21 or older.
Wofford said he hopes shoppers under 18 will get used to the new rule and continue to shop at the mall.
"This is a demographic that's very important to shopping centers," he acknowledged. "We want to make sure that they know they're welcome in MacArthur Center."
Bryce and Jasmine, though, said the policy will discourage them and their friends from visiting the mall.
"I'd probably stop coming, because there's other malls around here that aren't enforcing that rule," agreed Daniel, who attends Tidewater Community College's Middle College High School Program.
At least one parent also said she would take her money elsewhere.
"As the parent of a 17-year-old boy, I'm incensed at this policy," wrote Katheryn Driscoll of Chesapeake in an e-mail after learning about the plan. "Our son is a good kid who likes to buy his clothes at Macarthur and likes to go to the movies there as well. He's not interested in shopping with 'mommy' anymore, and I think that is a normal sign of maturity and growing independence."
Carolyn Shapiro, (757) 446-2270, carolyn.shapiro@pilotonline.com
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How do you feel now that the rule is in effect?
Have we forgotten our youth?
Somewhere in the last decade, we have forgotten that we were once kids. We might as well call the kids 12-17 the "unwanted." For those parents who must be Purtians, I say, "wake up." We're not of the "Leave it to Beaver" era and our kids must learn to independent. This ruling is not about color, but about a culture, one that has no tolerance for kids. If the elderly lady don't feel safe due to the kids, then she's long forgotten that she had kids. To use the ploy of "I feel unsafe with all those kids around" is joke. If you feel that unsafe, shop online. Oh, I forgot, you need to have your 13 year old grand kid to help. Let's face it, the bottom line is that the holidays are apporaching and the mall does not want any issues and the kids are an easy target. It's sad that a 16-17 year old can work in the mall but can't shop there after work. Take your money to Virginia Beach, we have room for all kids...... no matter the age!
Give it a chance to work
I have lived in other cities with similar policies. I guess people are under the impression that there will be Bouncers at the Mall doors checking ID's. This is not the case; if you are a teenager in the Mall Shopping and acting like you have some sense and home training then you would be able to come and go as you please. However, if you are being disorderly, Security would immediately request to speak to the adult chaperone. If there is no one to take responsibility for the person or group, Security will be allowed to immediately escort the disorderly person or group out the Mall and off the property. It actually gives the Mall more leeway in policing bad behavior instead of filling out reports and calling police only to have the culprits walk off only to return later causing more problems I personally; go to the mall with my children or rotate as a chaperone between the parents of their friends. I have personally seen Malls go from Trashy to Classy once the word it out that nonsense will not be tolerated. I think it will work.
Banning Teenagers will pull Adult $$ away from MacArthur Too!
After reading this article I feel I must respond. I can understand the malls delema. I'm 52 years old and been in other malls, especially Sat. night and felt inundated by what seemed like teenagers everywhere! But with all due respect, I do not and cannot believe all teenagers in your mall after 5:00 P.M. are up to no good! I know for a fact your new rule will cause the food court to loose a great deal of business from the Governor's School students attending school one block over from the mall on Granby. These kids tirelessly attend school 10+ plus hours a day and when night rehearsals are scheduled they have routinely come to MacArthur for dinner afer their regular day classes end at 5:00 P.M. And....they park in your parking garage and pay huge parking fees throughout the school year. Then...us parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. come to MacArthur...park in your garage...have dinner and shop at the mall dozens of times thoughout the year just because it is convenient for those of us affiliated with the Governor's School. We shop at Macarthur while we are waiting for rehearsals to finish so we can pick up our kids. We dine at MacArthur before the shows! And, don
discrimination is against the law
I am sure that any smart lawyer will figure out that magarther mall even though might be a private company It was funded mostly by taxpayer dollars and i am sure that the company who runs the mall is paying loans back to the city , I am sure there are no ordinances on the books in norfolk or any state codes that will be used to procecute offenders , to me this sounds pretty much like discrimination , It is a public place and I am sure that magarther mall has no right to discriminate , against a particular party , by age creed or religous beliefs , they might be able to procecute offenders for loitering , but anyone who has money in there pocket and is doing business at the mall regardless of age should have the right to be there , we will wait and see how this plays out, when someone with a good lawyer spanks magarther mall a good one ,
But I mean...
Would a bunch of Norfolk teenagers really file a class action discrimination suit? I mean, all the teenagers would have to be in Norfolk, since that's where all this loan money came from. And I truly, truly doubt that civil action could change anything because it is, as you say, a private company.
I think the smartest thing for teens to do is stop shopping there altogether, and tell their families that they would prefer their gifts to come from somewhere other than Macarthur Center this year.
I support the new policy,
I support the new policy, and I have to ask what two 12 year old girls are doing at the mall alone to begin with, talking about an opportunity for dirty old men!
MacArthur Mall Chaperone Policy
I think the mall policy could start with a 16 year old minimum with no chaperone needed while anyone under 16 could be with someone 18 or older instead of the 21 year old requirement.
Then if problems arise, raise the two ages to 18 and 21.
Steve Cramer
I agree
I agree
no unaccompanied teens at the mall
Unaccompanied teens are seen as likely to get into mischief. However, requiring the presence of adults will not guarantee the avsence of mischief either. It can lead to "dirty ol' men" hanging out around the mall waiting for teens.