NorthPark Center Institutes Curfew
Gone are the days of dropping the kids off at the mall. Effective yesterday, children 17 years old and younger will no longer be allowed to independently patronize NorthPark Center after 6 p.m. The curfew is part of a set of new policies instituted at the upscale Dallas mall that includes restrictions on language and attire.
While you may recall a certain pseudo-scandal involving a 2011 viral email and what reports indicate was a group-beating of a Dallas Academy student in January, spokesman Mark Annick said the updated policies were not in response to a specific incident, but reflect a growing trend nationwide.
“As much as it’s new here at NorthPark, it’s really not so new around the country,” Annick said.
The curfew will not apply to movie-goers, who will be allowed to go in and out of the AMC Theater located inside the mall until 11 p.m. Sunday — Thursday, and until 12:01 a.m. Friday and Saturday. There’s also a loophole for NorthPark employees under the age of 18.
As far as enforcement goes, Annick said the mall will “rely on the judgment and discretion of NorthPark security.”
The policy will be enforced by NorthPark security officers, and violating it is not a criminal offense. Security officers will ask children to produce an acceptable form of ID, or show that a guardian is nearby, or they will be asked to leave. Annick said the officers will call home and request a parent pick up their child.
Sean Bavies, who manages the Lego store at NorthPark, is pleased with the new policy.
“It’s great,” he said. “It’s really going to promote better family-friendly shopping.”
This sounds like an hysterical e-mail gone awry. Can it be true?
@tk, It’s true. The policy is posted on their website, and I just got off the horn with NPC spokesman Mark Annick, who confirmed the whole thing.
Pingback:NorthPark Center Tired of All Those Punk Teenagers | FrontBurner
This is a bad idea because it restricts the freedoms of responsible teens due to the bad choices of other people. There should be warnings against being alone but not full blown restrictions!
Ya can’t please everybody, but NorthPark knows who spends money there and they’re implementing a policy that will be a little tough to enforce, but will likely make the thugs just looking for trouble take their droopy drawers elsewhere. I think it’s great.
does that mean 17 year olds can’t stay after 6 or under 17?
Why doesn’t Northpark just fess up and say what it really means ?? It doesn’t want Blacks or Mexicans at NPC….shouldn’t the new policy read: NPC wants to weed out anyone who is not white upper middle class and we prefer you to be from Highland Park if at all possible. Basically if you are a young black male you are gonna be profiled and harassed by security at NPC and hopefully you won’t wanna come back and endure that treatment. Plain & Simple, Northpark wants an all white mall.
I think I will start shopping at Northpark again! AFTER 6pm!
Not at all, they just want a mall where people can’t tell what underwear you are wearing when you walk past, and where loud mouthed and disruptive kids are forced to behave. I don’t like seeing someone’s underwear showing when I walk by them at the mall, and I certainly can’t stand when kids are dropped off unsupervised and act out because they need attention. Npc doesn’t want to segregate any race of people ( to them money spends the same no matter what color the person it comes from) what they want is the vagrants and poorly behaved adolescents out of their family friendly shopping center.
I think this is a great idea!!! Yay NPC!
Do notice that they will be allowed to go to the AMC theatres after 6. Isn’t that really all that matters? I’m 18, but I know a few years ago the only reason I would be at the mall after 6 without my parents was to see a movie. It shouldn’t actually affect much although they won’t be able to eat at the food court beforehand if the movie is later.
I’m 15 years old, and while I understand and respect NPC’s decision, it still stings to know that me and my friends aren’t welcome after six without an adult leaning over our shoulders watching our every move. I guess this just proves that it only takes a few foolish people making foolish decisions to ruin something a lot of teens (including me) really care about; which in this case is the simple freedom to shop with friends without anyone questioning our motives.
5:59 PM, you’re okay to roam freely. Seriously, this is a terrible idea. I’m 25 and I look like I’m in high school. I read that they would ask those appearing 17 & under for ID.
Zoe and Jay, I’m guessing that the only reason they’d ask anyone to produce ID would be if they were creating a disruption.
In general, young children shouldn’t be unattended. If teens are shopping alone in the mall without adults, I doubt they would ever be questioned about their age unless they were being loud or breaking other rules. And Jay, unless you act like an unruly teen, I’d bet you will never run into an issue.
@e, If these underage kids were just going to the movies there would be no policy. If these underage kids are just going to the movies then the policy doesn’t pertain to them and enjoy the movie.
Good work NP, I will be shopping there once again, after 6pm of course.
Well done, NP! The groups of unattended, non-shopping teens had gotten out of control and I’m relieved to hear that this policy now exists.
I’m really curious how AMC theater feels about this policy. I doubt Forever 21, Abercrombie and American Eagle are thrilled about this one either.
17 in the legal age of being an adult in the state of Texas. So, you can be arrested and taken to an adult jail, but you can’t be at the mall past 6pm?
I say OK to under 17, but once you’re 17, you’re an adult. What about a legally emancipated 17 year old?
If 17 is the legal age of adulthood in Texas and you can go to Lew Sterrett, you should also be able to go to the darn mall.
If the US government says that the state of Texas can’t require voters to present an ID because it places an undue hardship on people of color how can a shopping mall possibly require one? The fake ID guys at SMU and the Paladium will have to rev up their business again.
• Any unaccompanied person 17 years of age and under will be asked to produce an acceptable form of identification. Acceptable forms of ID include state-issued driver’s license, government-issued work visa, passport, military ID, and school ID with a date of birth and valid photograph.
@Eye. A mall is a private entity and can refuse entry to anyone on whatever criteria they choose. Voting is an act protected by the constitution. However, there is nothing in the bill of rights about shopping…yet.
We wuz always welcome at Valley View w our drawers hangin’ out and look how well that mall is doin
It reminds me of the famous Chris Rock line – There are two types of malls in America: The ones white people go to and the ones white people used to go to.
well it is true they racially profile and thats all this really is it does restrict freedom like this country is going to because people dont fight back i hope they go out of business they use black officers to follow black people around trust my ive seen it happen to a black frined of mind it was so true i mean makes u feel bad these teens are getting an unfair deal it really is and they spend money too it sad but fair u cant even meat the opposit sex they without them telling u u have to leave and this is a public place
If you’re going to try to “meat” the opposite sex in a public place, you should be asked to leave.
@Dan, *long golf clap*
Dan, you rock!
This story made the Drudge report today. Probably because of Dan’s comment. Meat me at NorthPark!!!!