A dream come true

[dalesys]

... hope that these people intend to make purchases once the shops open ...

No wonder they're such SC's... It's Mall Purchase Nicht!

[wolfie]

We used to have two or three chairs by our front doors. They were nick-named "husband chairs." (snip) For many days in a row, an angry customer has walked back to the pattern table and brought a chair to the front. Some days employees are bullied into bringing the chair up.

Any chance of chaining the chairs in place at the pattern table so they'll stay there for the use of people who are picking out a pattern TO BUY? Also, a bit of a sexist nickname - what about couples where the MAN is the one who sews?

No wonder they're such SC's... It's Mall Purchase Nicht!

Maybe they should stop at the ice cream stand in the food court for a chocolate-covered Brownie?

[dalesys]

...Maybe they should stop at the ice cream stand in the food court for a chocolate-covered Brownie?

*HOW* do they dribble a maraschino cherry?

[Aria]

AS -- Many malls in the US (it may be most common here...?) will open their exterior doors several hours before any of the actual shops open, in order to allow workers, janitors, et al, access so that they can get their shops ready for business. Over the years, regular citizens -- note that I did not say "shoppers" ~_~ -- figured this out, and have taken advantage of the opportunity to get their exercise (read: walking) in a clean, dry, quiet, reasonably safe, climate-controlled area. Thus, they do so, for hours on end, many doing so several times a week.

Malls encourage this (or, at least, they don't stop them) because they hope that these people intend to make purchases once the shops open (fairly rare, save for the food court), and/or because people start complaining if they do not allow this activity. It's been going on since at least the 1970's here, so it's simply assumed that all malls will allow it here.

I googled my own city because I was curious and I can assure you that this is a thing in Canada too. Given how long the weather can suck, it seems understandable. The website I found was specifically for those suffering from Parkinsons and outlined all the hours at the local malls, what would be open and if there was any organized groups. Fascinating.