The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
MacArthur Center's new plan to restrict teenagers won't keep them from eating at California Pizza Kitchen or picking out clothes at Dillard's without adult supervision.
MacArthur Center managers spoke with the downtown mall's anchors - Dillard's and Nordstrom department stores and the restaurants California Pizza Kitchen, Max & Erma's and Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steak House - and explained the new rule. None offered to adopt a similar policy, said Jim Wofford, the mall's general manager.
They stuck with "business as usual," he said.
The mall's new "Adult Supervision Program," which takes effect Oct. 19, applies only to its common areas - essentially its corridors, restrooms and food court. Under the policy, shoppers younger than 18 will need someone 21 or older with them if they come to the mall after 5 p.m.
The anchors have entrances that face the street. That means their patrons can come and go without setting foot in the common areas.
Nordstrom officials confirmed that the Norfolk store would not change its policies at this point.
"We feel like we have security measures in place that are set up to resolve a number of issues that we might encounter in our store," said Tara Darrow, a spokeswoman for the retailer, based in Seattle.
"If the mall feels like they should do something else, that's their purview," she said.
To reach MacArthur Center's other 140-or-so stores, shoppers have to walk through the mall. Many of those other stores matter more to the affected teens than the anchors, said Joe Woods, a Chesapeake 17-year-old who helped create the "Boycott the MacArthur Center" group on the Facebook social-networking Web site.
It's "other stores like Hot Topic, the Vans store and the Apple store that are even more popular that us teenagers are really upset about," said Woods, a senior at Great Bridge High School. The restaurants and department stores "don't really cater to our demographic," he said.
Carolyn Shapiro, (757) 446-2270, carolyn.shapiro@pilotonline.com
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Question for the gay-rights activist
If a brother and sister truly love each other, are both adults and want to get married, should they be allowed to? Remember, procreation has nothing to do with marriage, as you say. Usually, at this point the gay rights people start attacking the questioner rather than propounding any good argument as to why gays can marry and siblings cannot.
I really believe that
I really believe that MacArthur Mall is trying to do the right thing. However, they are going about it the wrong way. I myself have never experienced problems with teens at the mall and I have been shopping there since it opened. This new policy is disappointing because I am an 18 year old, local college student. However, I still young friends in high school that I see on a weekly basis. MacArthur is the one place where we go out to eat, see a movie and shop. Now, we can't do any of the above. With busy school schedules, it's almost impossible to see my friends who are under 18 before 5 PM. While there may be some problems with teens, I have also seen groups of rowdy college students. There will always be troublemakers, but mall security should be able to handle these groups. It comes with the job and that is why security guards are there. This policy would be more effective if teenagers under 15 weren't allowed in the mall by themselves before 7 PM and after 7PM, must be accompanied by someone 18 or older. There are good kids left in the world and it's a shame that the mall insists on punishing the ones who deserve to be trusted.
it's obvious
It's ovbious that kids are doing a lot of posting here. Either that or we have some serious issues with the intelligence of the adult posters. Since you won't be shopping the the Mall anymore, perhaps you can find a few belts in another store out there to assist you in your state of undress. OH, NORFOLK POLICE DEPT. .......I hope you have the officers lined up along with the police dogs to shut this sit in down immediately in case it's attempted. You acted so quick council with the closing of those two bars, let's see you act as quickly when dealing with this issue. No milk and cookies in jail either.
spelling
At least we are intelligent enough to know how to spell.
What is Scary Looking??????????????
Alot of you are judging teens by what they are wearing, not what they are doing. I have spent alot of time and money at the mall and although some of the teens may dress in a style that is not mine, I would NEVER judge someone or call them scary by how they looked or what clothes they are wearing. I have never seen a teen misbehave or do anything to make me uncomfortable. It is unbelivable that there are people still like this in 2009. The mall has lost my business with this policy.
what will be next ? I say "BOYCOTT MAGARHTER MALL "
what happens when this mall says people with tattoos, or people with dreggs , or people with green eyes cannot enter the mall , every one should boycott this mall, let them feel the power of the people , its what formed america , "boycott magarther mall" , you can buy anything they have to offer somewhere else ,private property or not hit them in their pocket books , the public can force the issue "TAKE A STAND " ,
Please don't trivialize racism
To say that placing boundaries on minors is the equivalent of racism is just a bit of a stretch. We have far too much racism and sexism in our society and comparing boundaries on minors to racism trivializes all the real and concealed racism going on in every part of society daily.
glad to see some people have good sense
i am glad to see some business people at magarther mall have common sense , and can see this is a form of discrimination , while i would agree that magarther mall has the right to go after loiterers , people with money in their pockets are potential customers , and it is stupid for a mall to outlaw someone from mall property becuase of age ,race and religion , come on people its 2009 , further more the security guards at magarhter mall are unarmed security guards , and unless they are certified thru the dept of criminal justice services for the state of virginia and have arrest power certification they cannot detain anyone , unarmed securtiy guard certification allows them to "observe and report only " the only thing they can do is call a real cop and I do not think the norfolk police are going to arrest anyone for a curfew issue at the mall they might be able to inforce loitering but that is a thin line to walk in a public place , management at magarther mall should read and imbrace the constitution , magarther mall needs to reprieve this issue , I am boycotting all business at the mall until they do and would urge anyone else that embraces the constitution
my, my, my
You go ahead and stay away from the mall with the thousands you spend there. You surely will be missed! hehe
It's MacArthur Mall not
It's MacArthur Mall not magarther.....