The talk of the local retail scene this week is the brand new “parental guidance policy” at Westfield Montgomery and Westfield Wheaton malls. Starting next Monday (Sept. 28th), anyone under 18 won’t be allowed inside either mall after 3 p.m. unless they’re accompanied by parent or friend who’s over 21. So the Dining Terrace will continue to welcome local high school students at lunchtime, but after school they will require an escort. Each adult can be responsible for four minors, the mall says, and IDs may be checked at any time. The escort policy applies on weekends too.
This new rule comes amid a stretch of shoplifting and unruly “teen takeovers” across the DMV, and less than two months after a shooting at Westfield Wheaton left a 13-year-old injured. On the flip side, it also comes as the mall ramps up its lineup of teen-oriented stores, including Pop Mart, Garage, Hollister, PacSun, Fashion Q and Miniso. Will parents willingly tag along on every shopping trip — and to the movie theater as well?
