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Calista241

(5,584 posts)
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 09:29 AM Sep 2021

Lenox Square in Buckhead to require youths be accompanied by adults

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In the wake of several shootings, including one involving two teens, Lenox Square will begin requiring visitors under 18 to be accompanied at all times by an adult.

A Wednesday afternoon news release detailed the new policy, which is called the “youth supervision program.” Any youth will have to be accompanied by their parent or an adult who is 21 or older after 3 p.m. each day, starting September 21.

The change comes after a violent two years for the mall, a premier retail destination in the heart of Buckhead. Lenox has struggled to maintain its reputation for posh shopping despite a string of headline-grabbing shootings and assaults.

Two shootings took place on Lenox Square property over the summer after 3 p.m., one of which involved two 15-year-olds. Rising crime in Atlanta’s richest neighborhood has reinvigorated an effort to make Buckhead its own city.

...

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who has faced criticisms over the city’s rising crime rate since 2020, lauded the mall’s actions in a statement.

“The engagement and care of young people remains a top priority for our Administration. We welcome responsible efforts by the business community to ensure the wellbeing of Atlanta’s residents and visitors — especially our young people,” Bottoms said.

Read more: https://www.ajc.com/neighborhoods/dekalb/breaking-lenox-square-in-buckhead-to-require-youths-be-accompanied-by-adults-after-3-pm/U5GLNXGIAFDKHO6UMQSKPIIKUE/



Not sure how I feel about this, and I don't think it'll stop Buckhead seceding from Atlanta next year.
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Lenox Square in Buckhead to require youths be accompanied by adults (Original Post) Calista241 Sep 2021 OP
My ex used to work in the mall at a retail store, and he Haggard Celine Sep 2021 #1
That is a double edged sword...kids hanging out at the mall generated income and malls are Demsrule86 Sep 2021 #11
Years ago, I used to stop @ Lennox or Phipp's Plaza to walk indoors after work before heading home hlthe2b Sep 2021 #2
Apparently this is a common solution that has been successful at other shopping malls. NurseJackie Sep 2021 #3
Most of the malls that do this end up losing revenue. Demsrule86 Sep 2021 #12
Perhaps some... but the alternative is being known as the "mall where the murder happened"... NurseJackie Sep 2021 #15
It's ALREADY difficult for malls & shopping centers, but if they get a reputation for being UNSAFE... NurseJackie Sep 2021 #4
By all means, multiply the targets. malthaussen Sep 2021 #5
I think it is expected to vastly reduce the number of kids hanging out in malls. Steelrolled Sep 2021 #6
And probably to give them a rule so they *can* ask loiterers to leave. forgotmylogin Sep 2021 #10
Yeah, kids hanging out in shopping malls became Steelrolled Sep 2021 #13
Lenox Square a Mall in Atlanta Georgia... Stuart G Sep 2021 #7
All kids? Or just the black ones? Mawspam2 Sep 2021 #8
I grew up in a small town. Back then you would not have heard of it. TNNurse Sep 2021 #9
Lenox Square Mall opened to the public in 1959. Bo Zarts Sep 2021 #14
After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING Omaha Steve Sep 2021 #16

Haggard Celine

(16,820 posts)
1. My ex used to work in the mall at a retail store, and he
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 09:46 AM
Sep 2021

used to complain all the time about the "mallrats." It wasn't just him, virtually all of the people who worked in the mall had problems with those kids, although I never heard of them having any shootings over there. I would imagine they would love to have a rule like that, keeping children out unless they are with an adult. We really don't have enough decent places for kids to hang out unless they're involved in some extracurricular activity at school. So many parents let the world babysit their unwanted kids. It's a shame.

Demsrule86

(68,347 posts)
11. That is a double edged sword...kids hanging out at the mall generated income and malls are
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 12:32 PM
Sep 2021

closing everywhere these days. The mall near me welcomes kids...and they are one of the most profitable malls anywhere.

hlthe2b

(101,698 posts)
2. Years ago, I used to stop @ Lennox or Phipp's Plaza to walk indoors after work before heading home
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 09:49 AM
Sep 2021

I felt reasonably safe doing so--especially at Phipp's with its underground parking security station. Certainly more so than walking alone at night outdoors.

From what I've heard about how things have changed, I'd certainly not feel safe doing so now.

So, if this can help, I'm all in. Kids getting in trouble is hardly a new thing, but the different influences, easy access to guns, and frequently unstable home environments have made things considerably different.

So, no, I would not oppose their trying this. I frankly can't imagine most parents wanting their kids at Lennox after dark by themselves.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
3. Apparently this is a common solution that has been successful at other shopping malls.
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 09:57 AM
Sep 2021

There will be push-back from parents who believe that their angels are not part of the problem... but it's still a good policy, in my opinion.

Demsrule86

(68,347 posts)
12. Most of the malls that do this end up losing revenue.
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 12:33 PM
Sep 2021

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
15. Perhaps some... but the alternative is being known as the "mall where the murder happened"...
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 01:10 PM
Sep 2021

... or "the mall with punk teenagers" or "the mall with turf-wars" (and that probably ends up keeping even more people away.)


see: Owings Mills Mall

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
4. It's ALREADY difficult for malls & shopping centers, but if they get a reputation for being UNSAFE...
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 10:01 AM
Sep 2021

It's ALREADY difficult for malls & shopping centers, but if they get a reputation for being UNSAFE, then things start to spiral out of control. --- Here in Maryland, this once-busy and once-popular mall died a slow death...



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owings_Mills_Mall#Christina_Brown_murder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owings_Mills_Mall#Decline_and_closure

malthaussen

(17,065 posts)
5. By all means, multiply the targets.
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 10:41 AM
Sep 2021

How exactly is this supposed to help? The adults are expected to return fire?

-- Mal

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
6. I think it is expected to vastly reduce the number of kids hanging out in malls.
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 11:03 AM
Sep 2021

Parents and kids don't hang out much together in public.

forgotmylogin

(7,496 posts)
10. And probably to give them a rule so they *can* ask loiterers to leave.
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 12:28 PM
Sep 2021

I expect the mall doesn't care if they don't cause trouble, but this gives them a rule to ask them to leave if they get complaints and are not shopping with parents.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
13. Yeah, kids hanging out in shopping malls became
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 12:43 PM
Sep 2021

a part of American culture a few decades back. From the stores' point of view I think there was both good (advertising to future consumers) and bad (annoying current consumers). It is a shame they have to enact these rules - but it started a long time ago, at least where I have lived.

Stuart G

(38,357 posts)
7. Lenox Square a Mall in Atlanta Georgia...
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 11:15 AM
Sep 2021

Mawspam2

(703 posts)
8. All kids? Or just the black ones?
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 11:32 AM
Sep 2021

TNNurse

(6,911 posts)
9. I grew up in a small town. Back then you would not have heard of it.
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 12:23 PM
Sep 2021

Norcross, GA was a tiny place just close enough to get to Atlanta quickly. Now, you have probably have heard of it. It grew out of control.

When I turned 16 and could drive, my escape to independence was to drive to Lenox Square. I did not always have money to spend, but I could window shop, I could dream. It was a transition to moving on to a bigger life.

This makes me sad, not surprised but sad.

Bo Zarts

(25,370 posts)
14. Lenox Square Mall opened to the public in 1959.
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 12:45 PM
Sep 2021

It was one of our go-to places in Atlanta when I was in HS and college. We would drive 45 miles to Atlanta to go to Lenox Square. I can't remember why, but maybe it was the good movies back then.

I do remember going up to Lenox Square in '66 or '67 to see the movie The Blue Max. I already had my private pilot's license, and my friend, who drove us in his 1965 Austin Healy 3000 Mk-2, was learning how to fly. After the matinee we strolled around Lenox with ice cream cones, just gawking.

We were really fired up by the low-flying scenes with the WW-1 airplanes in the movie. That's all we talked about as we strolled around inside the mall. It was late afternoon when we walked outside to find his car in the parking lot.

There in the northwest corner of Lenox Square parking (Peachtree Rd & Lenox Rd) sat a USAF McDonnell-Douglas F-4. With the canopy open!

We made a beeline for the F-4. There were USAF recruiters there, including two captains, in their flight suits, who had flown the F-4 in Vietnam. SHIT-HOT! We crawled all over the F-4, sat in the seats, and asked a thousand questions of the two F-4 jocks. Sign me up!

Think there might be any coincidence with USAF recruiters setting up shop near a theater showing such a testosterone-filled flying movie? Naw.

Omaha Steve

(99,054 posts)
16. After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING
Thu Sep 9, 2021, 02:40 PM
Sep 2021

This is a LOCAL story in nature.

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