The big controversy in the local news today is that Concord Mills Mall (which Wikipedia says Charlotte Business Journal says is the state’s largest tourist attraction) has decided not to renew the lease on Free Market Warrior, a kiosk that sold conservative and anti-Obama bumper stickers and t-shirts. I’ve never actually seen the kiosk in question, since I avoid the mall whenever I can. But I checked out their website after hearing about it on the radio this morning, with the intention of making a blog post saying something to the effect of “Look, of course you’re going to get kicked out of the mall if you sell this and this and this.” But I can’t find anything that really seems that bad. The site has two different lists of items they were told not to sell. I’m not sure which is canonical. In either case, I know I’ve seen anti-Bush bumper stickers that were just as bad (though I don’t know if they were ever sold in the mall), and you can find much more offensive (though non-political) stuff at HotTopic. Maybe the fact that it’s a kiosk and you see it just by walking by, instead of having to go into a store, has something to do with it? I don’t know, I’m not a mallologist.
Oh well. I guess all I’m saying is that I don’t think they deserved to be kicked out of the mall, based on the items I see on their website.
July 31, 12:54 pm
I can’t believe freedom of speech came up in that article. The Bill of Rights isn’t that long, maybe people should give it a read.
July 31, 2:28 pm
I’ve seen the kiosk, and I can’t say that I’ve ever really noticed anything offensive on display. That, and it’s location upset me on their being kicked out. It isn’t like they are located centrally in the mall. Then are the last kiosk at the Bass Pro Shop end of the mall, right outside what used to be Circuit City. I’ve been to the mall, often, and the foot traffic down there isn’t all that super heavy (at least not like what is in the middle and other end of the mall with the movie theater). If they are getting rid of that kiosk they should get rid of Spencer’s too. (I think there is a Spencer’s in Concord Mills, but I could very well be wrong.)