The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
It took the Compton family nearly three hours to get ready for their visit to MacArthur Center on Sunday.
They arrived at the mall’s Barnes & Noble at TCC Bookstore from Hampton to check in for the World Zombie Day costume contest and then headed to the AT&T store for a cell phone plan, Joe Compton said.
But they had a problem. Their day at the mall was limited to two stores and none of the public spaces. With their clothes covered in fake blood and their faces in latex and make-up, they were violating a mall policy that does not allow people to wear costumes.
“We couldn’t have lunch because we were told we couldn’t leave this store,” he said from inside the bookstore.
The Comptons – who were named the winners in the group costume contest – were among more than 100 who participated in the event, held to promote the Generic Theater’s opening of “Evil Dead: The Musical. ”
The festivities generated a larger turnout than expected.
“At the beginning, I think people didn’t know what to take of it,” said Doug Bunk, general manager of the bookstore.
“Overall, once everyone got their head around 200 people dressed up like zombies … they tried to accommodate.”
Cast members said that as the crowd walked from Barnes & Noble to the Hot Topic store, where they performed, security asked them not to act as their zombie characters: no moaning, groaning or walking like a zombie.
After the performance, most stayed in the bookstore at the direction of security, packing its two stories.
Jim Wofford, general manager of MacArthur, said it was made clear to organizers that costumes were not allowed in mall spaces as a safety issue.
“How would we identify them if they were to commit a crime?” he said.
“I think there was a failure to communicate that to the people attending.”
Overall, though, Joe and Angie Compton said their family had a good time and were still laughing about their costumes six hours later.
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Not a Problem?
I'd just like to make a note of what went down on my end of the spectrum.
My uncle and I, with a few other friends, devoted our time to MacArthur mall on Sunday for this zombie shindig. It was my birthday, and I couldn't think of a better way to spend it. However, we failed to come across the problems that everyone else has been so adamant about.
We arrived long before everyone else started getting there. We didn't even park anywhere near Barnes and Noble, so we had to walk the entire length of the mall to get to the bookstore. Not once did we face a single problem. We even walked past a few security guards who merely nodded. After a while of wandering, we decided we were hungry and made our way to Johnny Rockets, where we were not only greeted, but WELCOMED in to eat lunch. So again, I fail to see a problem here. We were told that we were to stay in B&N only an hour or so after we wandered some more. . . .as we were re-entering the bookstore. So I do believe that much of this complaining is simply that. Complaining.
Simple truth of the matter
Here is my hypothesis:
Months ago, mall management was approached to approve a zombie-inspired event to be used as a promotion for two of their stores. The mall, not fully understanding the ramifications, went ahead with the plan. After everything progressed, days before the event, Mall management discovered the sheer scale of the event, and realized they had made a mistake. Instead of recalling their permission, they hindered the stores in question to such a degree that their sales suffered drastically. Now, after all the uproar about the event, mall management can be sure that neither Hot Topic not B&N will ever seek to host a similar event in the future. All done, and mall management has prevented anything like this from ever happening again in their spaces. While they couldn't stop it this time, their shining future is sound.
In the end, we may not like their choice, but I have to at least give them credit for their method. It was precise and effective.
Management at Macarthur center
Its funny, they have people dressed up every day in costumes walkin around the mall(security gaurds). Every mall in the area has children come in on Halloween to go tric r treating in a safe well lit area. They all come in costume!!!! Leave it to the uptight morons at Macarthur center to ruin something fun with their out of touch with the real public, rules. Really. In this economy can they afford to cater just to the rich who pretty much are the only ones who can really afford to shop at this mall..All this shows is that norfol,once again is a real crummy place to visit,shop live(or die). For the living and the undead i say this. Macarthur center management, you are whats wrong with america now. You add to the problems with this country with your so called worries(UNFOUNDED AT THAT), and lets be honest. someone in Zombie makeup would be easier to catch then somebody dressed in regular street clothes you morons!!!!!!!
Zombie help ...
Zombie say zombie take care of teen problem at MacArthur Mall. Zombie eat teens brains. Zombie clear out problem. No, wait; teens no have brains for zombie to eat. Zombie come back later with better idea. Zombie apologize for wasting your time. Zombie out.
I'd like to remind the kids
I'd like to remind the kids that Hot Topic, is not punk rock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26NaGLx6Tdg
Stupid Mall !
No costumes, no one under 18 after 5pm, just in time for Halloween!! Let's remind them at Christmas there are no Santa Clause's allowed, they might commit a crime!
Story quote: "Jim Wofford,
Story quote:
"Jim Wofford, general manager of MacArthur, said it was made clear to organizers that costumes were not allowed in mall spaces as a safety issue.
“How would we identify them if they were to commit a crime?” he said. "
How do you identify anyone else? Hight, weight, age and clothing is the common way. It works for both Zombie or humans. I saw no one in those pictures that wouldn't have been as easily identified as anyone else. Zombies don't wear masks and the makeup is notoriously difficult and time consuming to remove.
Zombies
It60 - You are absolutely right, thank you for the laugh!
Hah! Good one!
It might go something like this:
Officer Mahlkopp: "Can you describe the thief?"
Victim: "Well, he was 6'7", his face was mottled gray, his left arm was ripped off at the elbow, and he walked with a limp."
Officer: "Hmmm ... not much to go on. Did you notice any tattoos? Was he wearing gang colors?"
Victim: "No ... But, come to think of it, his brains seemed to be leaking out of his ears."
Officer: "Well ... we see a lot of that in this town. Here's my card, call us if you think of anything that might help."
There Is No Such Thing As Bad Press!
If people are talking about the mall, they’re doing something right... especially during bad economic times. Can you imagine how much exposure,good or bad, that the mall is receiving by everyone blasting their comments and the Pilot making this an ongoing front page story? Well done MacArthur Mall. Your marketing team should get a bonus!