Mall bans unsupervised kids/teens

[Jennasis]

The Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, NC has just instituted a new policy that goes into effect on March 5th. On Fridays and Saturdays, anyone under the age of 18 MUST be in the company of a parent or guardian after 6pm. The punishment for not heeding the new rule...BANNED from the mall.

Unruly teen behavior was the catalyst.

Your thoughts?

 

[locolala]

I wish they'd do that at the mall near us. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a group of teens hootin and hollerin in the middle of the mall, blocking traffic, and otherwise being hooligans.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'm fine with it. I purposely avoid shopping at our local mall on Friday & Saturday nights because of the large groups of teenagers there.

 

[TaraLee4]

One of the malls by me does this.

They can go into the movie theatre, and go into the anchor stores, but there's personnel EVERYWHERE in the mall Checking IDs of kids that are suspect.

Our rules state that on Friday and Saturday anytime after 4pm, you must be accompanied by someone over the age of 21.

I get carded ALL the time when I bring my siblings (who are 9, 11 and 13)

There was a lot of issues of fights and shoplifting and the cops were there constantly. The other mall in the area doesn't do this because it's not as accessable by the bus lines, and doesn't attract as many teenagers (it has more 'adult' stores)

 

[NeverlandClub23]

One of our local "high end" malls just started this (but it's after 5 p.m. ANY day of the week, if you're under 18 and work there you have to immediately leave; there's a movie theater there too which means no teenagers in the movie theater as they have to go through the mall to get there [which I have to say is VERY nice to go to movies especially ones that are popular with teens]). They didn't cite any instances or problems as it's a very nice mall, just that there trying to get more business as it has been declining. Shopping there has been a lot nicer to not have to navigate through the usual mobs of teens hanging out in the walkways but when I was a teen the only place really to hang out (during the Winter anyways) was the mall (but we spent money [what little we had], we never hung out and didn't buy food or stuff). I do think it is nicer as a customer and a lot more peaceful though.

 

[Jennasis]

I told DH a few minutes ago and he looked me eight in the eye and said "Greatest piece of legislation ever." Silly wabbit. I guess that means we can go to the mall on the weekends now.

 

[Belle Ella]

I wish the mall here would institute something sinilar. But then again, I still look 16 most days

 

[DarthKTrava]

The Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, NC has just instituted a new policy that goes into effect on March 5th. On Fridays and Saturdays, anyone under the age of 18 MUST be in the company of a parent or guardian after 6pm. The punishment for not heeding the new rule...BANNED from the mall.

Unruly teen behavior was the catalyst.

Your thoughts?

Heck. They need to do that at Four Seasons Mall too. I hate going there with all the gang-bangers hanging out there. I just don't feel safe there at night anymore.

 

[dislaney]

I'm fine with it. I purposely avoid shopping at our local mall on Friday & Saturday nights because of the large groups of teenagers there.

I avoid it also.

 

[brittanyherndon]

I am 24 and I don't mind all that much just roll my eyes, then look up at the sky and thank God I am not a teenager. I would not want to be a teenager again for all the money in the world

 

[Jennasis]

Heck. They need to do that at Four Seasons Mall too. I hate going there with all the gang-bangers hanging out there. I just don't feel safe there at night anymore.

Yeah, I understand that one is scary.

 

[Sparx]

i kind of feel bad for the kids who aren't being annoying to other mall patrons, yet still get kicked out.

and i've never been to salem, but are there a lot of places for kids to hang out? if not, isn't a public mall certainly better than having them out roaming the streets?

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I can see both sides of the issue. I do feel badly for the kids who are honestly there to shop and maybe go out to dinner with their friends, however I have seen too many teenagers just hanging out in the mall causing problems.

I work at the mall so I see the kids coming in, messing things up, leaving and just being plain rude and obnoxious. Before I worked at the mall, I would never set food in there on a Friday or Saturday night.

I wish they would at least give it a try at my mall. If sales drop off overall then they know the teenagers are actually spending money and not just causing problems.

 

[daisyduck123]

i kind of feel bad for the kids who aren't being annoying to other mall patrons, yet still get kicked out.

and i've never been to salem, but are there a lot of places for kids to hang out? if not, isn't a public mall certainly better than having them out roaming the streets?

My DD15 & all of her friends (all of her friends are 16-18yo, she is the youngest by far) spend their weekends hanging out at each other's houses. They rotate, taking turns. We just had movie night at our house about a two weekends ago.

 

[cassiez76]

i see both sides, cause i was one of those that didn't cause trouble and would have been upset if i had been kicked out. but...

they did that to a mall in metro new orleans and it was the best decision ever! there isn't much in the mall, but the movies. there was a big controversy over the decision also. it's been in place maybe 2 or 3 years now. it's the theater that all the adults go to now. there were so many kids and cutting up that it was miserable to go to a movie there. we don't have many theaters in new orleans, so one without kids is nice!

 

[locolala]

I am 24 and I don't mind all that much just roll my eyes, then look up at the sky and thank God I am not a teenager. I would not want to be a teenager again for all the money in the world

In a lot of places, it's a security issue. These kids steal stuff from stores, and just cause a lot of problems.

 

[abdmom]

A similar rule has been in place at Mall of America for 14 years. After hours, security guards stand at the entrances and check that the minors are accompanied.

 

[lawsonsontour]

well i think its a shame that instead of laying on all these staff to stop kids getting in that they dont just make sure that they are there to see that they behave...for every bad kid that this stops how many good kids are there that just want to hang out with there mates.
i dont know about you guys but hanging with your mates was part of growing up and more and more these days you get kids that just get home from school and sit in front of the pc talking to there friends on face book.can most people on here say that they have ever gone to a mall and felt that they were scared of the kids. dont get me wrong i am not one of these new age people that think kids should be allowed to run riot and do what they like with no comeback,but banning them....a step too far.

 

[Ohiodislover]

Our local malls all have similar policy. No worries.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I wish they would do that at Four Seasons. If I need to go to the mall, I go first thing in the morning.