Adult Supervision Required For Most Minors At Baltimore County Shopping Center

NOTTINGHAM, MD — Anybody younger than 17 must now be accompanied by an adult at all times at The Avenue At White Marsh. Violators could be banned for three months.

The Nottingham shopping center announced the news last Thursday, one day after teenagers were accused of stabbing a man in a Towson Town Center parking garage. In April, three teens were also arrested in the Towson mall after widespread disorderly conduct.

"Now, everything is so crazy," Perry Hall resident Martha Chhantyal told WBAL. "What happened in the Towson mall, like, that was so bizarre. So, I think because of that, it is very important for parents to control their children."

Federal Realty, The Avenue's property manager, told Patch the shopping center has had a youth escort policy for over a decade. The Avenue previously required adult supervision daily after 5 p.m.

Starting Saturday, young customers must be accompanied by a parent or an adult who's at least 21 years old at all times. Valid ID is required.

The policy also applies to minors awaiting rides from the shopping center's movie theater.

"THE AVENUE at White Marsh is a popular shopping, dining and entertainment destination," Federal Realty's Lisa Geiger told Patch in an email. "We believe it is reasonable and in the best interest of our center to require young guests to be supervised by an adult while visiting. This is a temporary update to coincide with the upcoming summer season."

Geiger didn't answer Patch's questions about whether the policy is related to the Towson violence or how long the order will last.

More information on the youth escort policy is posted at theavenueatwhitemarsh.com/faqs.