No More Youth Gone Wild At Louis Joliet Mall Starting Friday

JOLIET, IL - Since the dawn of civilization, large groups of teenagers have been roaming around the Louis Joliet Mall property. Actually, not that long, but it seems like that long for many of us whose memories of the mall go back to the 1980s. However, beginning this Friday, the Louis Joliet Mall will launch a new youth supervision policy that aims to make sure that customers who are in their twenties, thirties, forties and beyond enjoy their shopping experience without having to deal with rowdy, unkind or intimidating groups of teenagers wandering aimlessly around the mall on the weekends. The new policy will be implemented only on Friday and Saturday evenings. Also of note, it does not impact the mall's movie theater.

"On Friday, October 13, Louis Joliet Mall will launch its youth supervision policy, which requires anyone 17 or younger to be escorted by an adult, parent or legal guardian 21 or older at all times from 5 p.m. through the mall’s closing time on Fridays and Saturdays," the Louis Joliet Mall posted on its website. "We want to thank Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk, the Joliet Police Department and our community partners for their time and input as we put this program together,” said Sandy Maldonado-Martinez, Louis Joliet Mall’s marketing director. “This policy allows us to continue offering a pleasant, family-friendly shopping experience here at Louis Joliet Mall.”

When reached for comment, O'Dekirk told Joliet Patch he was not aware of any specific issues or problems that may have prompted the new policy. "I think the mall is trying to be proactive and staying on top of things," he said. (For more information on this and other Joliet Patch neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive free daily newsletters and free breaking news alerts.)

Several months ago, back in May, the mall had a large fracas involving teenagers causing mischief and mayhem on a Saturday night in the parking lot near Carson's and Sears. At the time, Joliet Patch published a story headlined, "Mobs of Unruly Teens Brawled at Louis Mall Carnival." "Bottles were hurled between the factions of fighting teens but — contrary to numerous reports — no guns were fired," Patch reported at the time.

At any rate, according to the new Louis Joliet Mall rules that are sure to impact the lives of thousands of Will County teenagers, one adult can accommodate a group of up to six youths. Teens who work at the mall during the weekend policy hours will be required to show a valid ID and proof of employment as of this Friday. "The new policy does not apply to the mall’s Cinemark theatre," the mall's website explains.

However, the rest of the Louis Joliet Mall property is fair game.

"Security may ask shoppers and guests to show proof of age with valid identification such as a driver's license, military ID, state identification card, passport or visa," the mall stated. "If shoppers and guests have further questions, mall security will be available throughout the center to offer assistance."

Will the Louis Joliet Mall security staff have great success enforcing its new youth supervision policy?

Will the 1980s hair metal band Skid Row, known for its wildly popular rebellious song "Youth Gone Wild," decide it needs to come to Joliet to stage a protest concert over near the Louis Joliet Mall, perhaps near the shuttered Lone Star Steakhouse restaurant?

The jury is still out on both of these questions.

Louis Joliet Mall Patch file photo