smokerblog

Clearing Out Riff-Raff

Every day an invasion occurs at the Medley Center.¹ A gang of (mostly) middle-aged to elderly men descend upon the Food Court armed for battle. They take their positions opposite one another and from tattered backpacks and briefcases reveal their implements of war. Some of the combatants draw small crowds of spectators, fellow mercenaries gathered together to witness a particularly skillful duel.

They sit at the small tables that hold the unrolled rubber chessboard and timer between them with barely enough room for elbows on which to perch their heads, brows furrowed and nearly touching, as they manipulate chess pieces, slapping the timer after each decisive move.

They drink coffee, sometimes eating greasy Food Court food, and don't bother anyone. And now, mall owner Adam Bersin wants them to pack up their little rooks and bishops and beat it.

Apparently, after kicking out the puppies and waging aural warfare on the hip-hop kids, it's now time to turn on the old men in the loafers and fishing hats.

Now, I'm all for revitalizing this stagnant retail space and I can't fault Mr. Bersin for sticking to a business plan designed to build a more upscale (or at the very least, free-spending) clientele, but this seems like a step too far.

Look out, mall walkers! You could be next!

[Update: There's a D&C article now. Apparently the mall walkers are safe. For now.]

[Update to the update: The D&C story is getting picked up elsewhere. At least one other blog has taken note as well.]