Unaccompanied Minors Asked To Leave MOA
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) -- The Mall of American is tightening its parental escort policy during the busiest days of holiday shopping.
Mall spokesman Dan Jasper says the mall has decided to not allow unsupervised teenagers at the mall during Thanksgiving, Black Friday and the week between Christmas and New Year's.
Jasper says it partly has to do with last year's massive brawl that broke out the day after Christmas. Bloomington Police say as many as 200 were involved and at least nine were arrested. YouTube video of the incident shows chairs being thrown as crowds of people rush to safety.
The mall's parental escort policy has been in place since September of 1996. On Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. until closing unaccompanied teens, 16 years or younger, are not allowed at the mall without an adult escort 21 years or older.
More than 180 stores will open at midnight on Black Friday. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports last year, a record 219,000 shoppers visited the mall the day after Thanksgiving.
