Question:
Teens try to come to grips with Galleria strictures
Image spending Friday night with mom or dad at the mall.
Being escorted by a parent is the only way most teenagers will get to hang out at Walden Galleria on weekend nights, starting in September.
To some, it's a matter of safety. To others, it's a matter of economics and quality of life.
But to many teenagers, it's just another "dumb" rule.
"That's kind of dumb. If you can walk around by yourself any other time of day, you should be able to do it at night," said Charles Roth, 17, of Lancaster, while on a Thursday shopping trip to the mall in Cheektowaga.
"I don't agree with it. You shouldn't have to have your parents to go shopping," said Rich Everly, 16, of Andover.
Mall officials announced Thursday that beginning Sept. 6, youths 17 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or adult 21 or older from 4 p.m. to closing on Fridays and Saturdays.
Mall and merchant employees who are 17 and younger are exempt from the policy while going to and from work, and teens still will be able to go to the AMC multiplex by using the entrance nearest the movie theaters and proceeding directly to the AMC lobby.
James L. Soos, general manager of the Galleria, said there have been problems on weekend nights with large numbers of teenagers flocking to the mall. There has been loud and abusive language, pushing and shoving incidents, and even a couple of fights, he said.
"There is a percentage that is shopping, but for the most part, the teens that we're having the difficulty with are not shopping," Soos said of the teens hanging out in the mall on the weekend.
The problem at the Galleria escalates in the winter and has been worse in the last seven months, Soos said. The mall pays for extra Cheektowaga police patrols inside the mall on weekends. The Buffalo community action FATHERS (Fathers Armed Together to Help Educate Restore and Save) supplies volunteers to patrol the corridors of the mall on Friday and Saturday nights.
"Safety is our main concern for our children, especially when they're being dropped off four and five and six at a time and using this perhaps as a day care center," said Leonard E. Lane, the president of FATHERS.
Lane said he does not believe that the issue is racial. He expects Pyramid Cos., owner of the mall, to enforce the rule fairly, he said.
"This policy is across the board. I don't think it's a black-and-white issue," Lane said.
"You'll have to actually come out here and see it for yourself, see it is a safety issue that we are concerned about, not only for the children but for the shoppers as well."
"This policy is not about race. This is about all teenagers," Soos said.
While mall officials have made a controversial choice in dealing with the problem, it is not the first to go the adult-supervision route.
In 1996, Minnesota's Mall of America, the nation's largest enclosed shopping complex, created a firestorm of negative reaction when it announced that youths younger than 16 would have to be accompanied by an adult on Friday and Saturday nights.
"We took an awful lot of heat in the beginning," recalled Maureen Bausch, Mall of America's vice president of development. "A lot of the teens thought it was unfair, several of the retailers predicted it would ruin their sales, and the media questioned whether it was fair."
Minnesota reports success
But the mall stuck with it, hammering its message home with informational pamphlets and a clever advertising campaign that employed a horror movie theme: "What could be more frightening than having to go to the mall with your parents?"
"You know what? We put the program in place and never looked back. It's been incredibly successful, and no one is complaining," Bausch said.
As far as impact on sales, she noted that since 1996, the number of Mall of America retailers that target teen buyers has doubled, and stores' sales continue to increase. Meanwhile, the number of teen-related incidents has dropped from more than 300 annually to a current average of three.
M Johnson of Buffalo said she has been to the Galleria when there have been so many youths congregating around the escalator that she could not get to it. Some mall patrons may be intimidated by such behavior, she said, but her solution was to say "Excuse me," and she was let through.
"I understand apparently there is a problem with teenagers," she said. "They need to do something. I don't know if this will work."
She said the mall will have a difficult time distinguishing between a 17-year-old who shows up to shop and one who is there to hang out.
"I don't think parents should drop off for a baby-sitting service," Johnson said. "I also don't think you can discriminate and not let them come in and make a purchase. A 17-year-old is old enough to make a purchase."
Retailers' reaction is split
A check with Galleria retailers revealed a split view of the teen-supervision plan. Georgia, a department store saleswoman, who asked that her last name not be used, said she is happy with the plan.
"I work almost every Friday and Saturday night, and it's gotten to the point where I don't leave the store. There are kids blocking the halls, screaming and yelling. It's not worth the effort to go to the food court," she said. "It needs to be controlled."
But a manager of a teen-oriented store at Galleria, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said she is opposed to the change. She said that her outlet rings up big sales on weekend nights and that it is teens who are doing the buying.
"If you're over 14, the last thing you want to do is go shopping with your mommy. You want to shop with your girlfriends and have a blast," she said. "This is huge mistake, and I'm convinced it won't last long."
As a regional shopping mall, the Galleria attracts shoppers from outside Erie County, such as Sara Hamme of Brighton and her friend, Colleen Kinnear of Rochester.
"That's stupid," Hamme said of the new policy. "I think malls are a place parents trust. Would you rather have your kids here or on the streets?"
"The mall, of all places, should be a safe place to go," said Kinnear.
Many teens would not be caught shopping with their parents. Charles Roth went to the mall Thursday with his mother, brother and aunt, but he was walking around with his brother, Orson, 14. They were meeting their mother later.
Under the new policy, "you can't split up and do what you want," Charles said. "It's imposing on our freedom. You can walk by yourself anywhere. Why should the mall be any different?"
"I keep getting phone calls from customers from this trade area who tell me they're not going to come back here on a Friday or a Saturday night because of the teens, because of the large groups, because of the yelling, throwing things from the upper level to the lower level," said Soos, the mall manager.
"I'm getting the same call from tenants who tell me with the rise of the teenagers in the center at 6 or 7 on a Friday or Saturday evening, their business drops right off."
James D. Sherwin, vice president and chief operating officer of the Retail Council of New York State, said that despite the Mall of America's successful outcome, the Galleria is still in for a rough ride. He said any kind of policy that limits who can go to a mall, and under what circumstances, is ripe for scrutiny.
"They are walking a fine line. It's a delicate balance of continuing to attract teen shoppers, who are a valuable commodity to retailers, and retaining the adult core shoppers," Sherwin said. "It may be necessary, but it's still controversial."
Under the new regulations, one parent or guardian 21 or older is permitted to supervise up to five teens. Teens must remain in the company of their parent and guardian at all times.
Valid identification with a picture and birth date must be used to prove age.
Youths 17 and younger will be permitted to shop at retailers that have an exterior entrance, which includes Kaufmann's; Lord & Taylor; JC Penney; Bed, Bath & Beyond; Bon-Ton; Sears; and Galyan's. They must be accompanied by a parent or other adult to enter the mall's concourse.
Extra security being hired
The mall is hiring nearly 30 extra security officers to enforce the new policy. Teens in the concourse who appear to be younger than 18 will be asked to produce proof of age. Those who do not have valid identification will be asked to leave the mall. Soos said the Galleria will offer a waiting room from which underage youth can contact their parents or wait for transportation.
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I dont know of this mall..dont live in this area of NY...but I dont think it is going to help. Because they are going to find another place to go....but that is me....But I dont think its the idea of hanging out with parents...its like.....if that mall is safe place to hang out and TRY to stay out trouble I believe what they are saying....
what do u think??? does your mall have this policy too???

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I worked in a mall in St. Louis, and it was AWFUL on weekend nights. The place was filled with rowdy teens who blocked the walkways for others, were loud and abusive, and shoplifted like crazy. (Yes, I caught my fair share.) And BTW, for those who may be thinking racially biased thoughts, the kids were about 90% white. As the mall in the story said, it is NOT a racial issue, it is an issue of obnoxious teens overwhelming a facility.
If the kids have not been taught to respect the rights of others, to act in a reasonably civilized manner, and to do so when away from their parents, then they do not need to go to the mall to terrorize other people. They need to be treated like immature kids and be chaperoned.
I have no problem with the ones who behaved, but they were in the minority. And I no longer go to malls for this very reason.
The mall is a shopping venue. It is neither an amusement park nor a teen center. Expecting the mall and store employees to provide free babysitting is out of line.
I hope they have the guts to stick to this decision.

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Sorry but I guess I have to agree with them kinda. Maybe not during daytime hours but after a certain time of night, not only on weekends but weekdays too.I worked as a teen drug n alcohol counselor in Rochester. had kids from as far away as Syracuse and Buffalo. Would take a small group to malls in Roch. sometimes. There is a lot of peer pressure there. When I was a teen you can bet most of the time our parents knew where we were at after 9pm anytime. and I'm talkin in the 70's. If the kids want to go after that (and most of the stores close at 10) they should have somekind of supervision, and not their friend that just turned 18. I am all for all of the freedoms we enjoy in this country, but when mom and dad drop the kids off at the mall so they can go to do their 3 martini lunch, it becomes all of our problem as a society.
Cindi
"thats just my opinion.....I could be wrong"
Dennis Miller

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Here in Orlando they are in the process of building the Mellinia Mall. This is going to be the new upscale mall in the area. Included are going to be anchor stores likes Macy's and Bloomindales. They have already annouced that there will be a curfew and no one under the age of 18 will be permitted to attend the mall without supervision at any time. I don't think that during the day that it should be enforced except during school hours of course, but I don't see the problem with this rule during the evening hours especially on the weekends.
It is interesting to hear other people opinions on this. Both of my sisters work at the Florida mall now and they are completely for this new "rule". There is nothing like have a group of kids running around the mall.
Anyway, that is just some of my input.
"Distance is a small number compared to a love that can last a lifetime..."

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Our mall is just a small one,but on Friday and Saturday nights the kids gather in groups and hang out.I know a couple of the security guards out there and they dont really say much to them as long as they're not too loud or causing problems.They really dont cause problems here.It is annoying though when they're standing around in your way and you have to keep saying "excuse me" just to get past them
Good things come to those who wait.

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When I was a kids I lived 10 minutes from the Arnot Mall in Horseheads, NY and I hung out there alot but golly jeez the kids today think that they own the Mall anymore and I can't stand going there at all!!
I do think that 4:00 PM is a little early for needing a chaperone but 7-8 PM would be appropriate. I do think its a good idea because even parent that think they know what their kids are doing don't have a clue unless an adult is available to keep an eye on them.
To much leniancy towards kids these days...ask me, I know cuz I an a parenet that wont let my kids just go hang out when and where they want and now I am paying for it...but I will stick to my guns and not back down!!
I will post something about my 16 yr old daughter when I am ready and able to put into words.