Garden State Plaza, also known as GSP, is a popular mall and hangout spot where many EHS students like to shop, get a bite to eat, and even walk around. It is very common for many teens around the age of 13-18 to wander in big friend groups without parental supervision.

The increase of young teens coming to this mall has led to more fights, causing and young adults to violate the code of conduct, which interrupts businesses in the mall and affects other customers innocently trying to shop. Not only are these fights breaking out in the mall, but they have caused more of an audience online when shoppers record these fights, and upload them on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and – more importantly – TikTok.

The increase in these fights has led to Westfield Garden State Plaza to enforce new rules regarding how people under the age of 17 must have a chaperone above the age of 21. Police and security guards will be stationed at the entrance of the mall to check IDs.

According to the Garden State Plaza’s website, the rules specifically state,

“1. Visitors 17 years of age and younger are required to be accompanied at all times by a parent or supervising adult age 21 or older on Friday and Saturday after 5 pm. Parental Guidance Policy hours are subject to change during the holiday season.

2. Unsupervised youth shopping prior to 5 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings must leave the mall by 5 pm or immediately be joined by a parent or supervising adult age 21 or older.

3. Proof of age may be required for the youth or supervising adult. Those who lack proper identification may be asked to leave the property.”

These new rules started Friday, April 28th, 2023. We asked juniors, who can drive, how they feel about these new rules and how they affect their daily plans.

One of the juniors, Nick D’Agostino, says, “I cannot go shopping with my friends at late hours anymore. Typically, my friends and I like to hang out at night or later hours and these new rules cut off my ability to do things at night due to other laws. I have sports after school and by the time I can hang out with my friends, it’s already dark out.”

Another junior, Faith Rivers, stated, “It doesn’t really bother me.  I mean, I usually go during the day anyway.”

What do you think about the chaperones at GSP? Is it worth the trouble of using identification every time you go to the mall?