Chez Chesler

Teens challenge mall's new escort policy - Boston.com - Mass. - News

Hoping to crack down on unruly behavior, the mall managers will ... require shoppers under 18 to be accompanied by an adult on Friday and Saturday between 4 p.m. and closing time [starting] on Sept. 9. The new restriction will be policed by security staff checking photo identification cards at the mall's entrances.

A Toys R Us opened in my neighborhood when I was about 14. This was my first opportunity to go to this television icon (this was in the late 1970s -- the north Bronx can be a backwater relative to popular suburban culture.) A sign on the door prohibited those 16 and under from enterin alone. Even though I am a middle-aged parent today, and do regularly use the local Toys R Us, I still resent that policy, and have that much less goodwill towards that company as a result. The Mall probably has the right to exclude this class, and maybe it will realize increased revenues from more sales from fewer customers who are there primarily to shop as compared to many young visitors who may shop incidentally to hanging out, but this policy is not without a long-term downside. I should note that I have recently begun to take advantage of the public spaces provided by the Burlington Mall as a non-shopper, to enjoy the air conditioning and to keep my children occupied. We usually end up using the laptops at the Verizon FIOS kiosk or throwing pennies at the animatronic alligator at the Rainforest Cafe. I understand that malls provide varying attractions to bring in potential customers (some more ornate than others) and I usually drop a few dollars, especially at the Chick-Fil-A at the food court, when we visit. I'm doing my part to breed the next generation of mall rats; I hope they have an air-conditioned placed to hang out when they become teenagers.