Jack.is » Barefoot » Galleria 19aug2009

Galleria Mall - Confrontation - Undecided Unsuccessful

17 August, 2009

My mother and I went to the Galleria Mall in Dallas today. I was, as usual, barefoot (mostly), wearing my fabulous footflowers (I've got ones like in the picture but with onyx stones). I went around the mall like this for some time before a security guard stopped me and asked where my shoes were. I told him that I don't wear shoes. Probably should have said, "These are my shoes," and watched him try to define the shoe. In any case, he said that I must wear shoes in the mall. Not one to be swayed by a rent-a-cop throwing his authority and superiority complex around, I asked: Why, is there a mall policy? He said that yes, the mall does have a policy requiring customers to wear shoes. The guard said something about the escalators. Mind, at this point, I'd been all up and down the mall and was ever so miraculously unmaimed.

Of course, the next thing I wanted to know was where I could find this policy posted. Is there a sign at the door that I missed (NSNSNS signs are almost always miniscule and nearly invisible for some reason)? The guard said that I could find rules posted at the restrooms. The guard was rather defensive at this point, wondering why I didn't believe him.

I'll break off at this point to mention my feelings on security guards and the like. I hold that anyone who wants to be a police officer, security guard, or any such person with a broad, vague authority over others, is the last person who ever should be considered for the position. Of course, we can hardly start drafting people into the police force, as that's just a whole other brand of rights violation, so all I'm doing here is pointing out what these people are almost always like. I suspect that if even a decent person enters such a position, they will be changed by it for the worse. In my experience, people like this will make up what they like to get what they want or to make things the way they think they should be, and rarely will anyone challenge authority and question their statements.

The guard watched me go into a store to buy a pair of flip-flops. This seemed to appease him, though I don't see how they're any safer on escalators. Just a side note: Flip-flops are the most absolutely stupid footwear ever devised.

I eventually found a restroom that actually had any mall policy posted by it. It was a rather short list, widely spaced on standard copy paper. The first point was that guests shall not violate the law. Well, that's a given anyway. The rest contained vague statements about disturbing the serene family-oriented shopping experience, and something about how one should only be here to conduct business. I suppose all the browsers and power-walking old ladies are right out, then. At the bottom of the list is a provision for "the Mall" to make up any rules it sees fit. I'm not sure who is authorised to represent "the Mall" here, and I have no first-hand knowledge on whether a security guard is supposed to make up rules (and claim they're explicitly written) -- this seems like a management thing.

I've just written to the listed general contact for the Galleria Mall requesting clarification of any policy and any reasons for it:

Hello,

I was recently at the Galleria in Dallas. I prefer not to wear shoes for health and personal reasons, and wore no shoes at the Galleria. While there, a security guard told me that I must wear shoes in the mall. I asked if it was mall policy and where I could find it posted. The guard claimed that footwear is required in written policy and said that I could find such posted at the mall's restrooms. I eventually found a list at a restroom. While it does allow mall staff to make up rules as they see fit, I could not find any rules related to dress. The guard did not say why there might be such a policy.

Could you please clarify whether the mall has any policy on customers' dress, and any reasons for it?

Thank you.

I'm awaiting a response.

I received a response today, 20 August. The exchange:

Jack,

Thank you for your feedback regarding your recent visit to Galleria Dallas. Yes, we do require that all customers wear shoes. This is primarily for your own safety. While Galleria Dallas welcomes the public to our shopping center, we are private property and reserve the right to set standards for attire, including the requirement to wear shoes.

Tatiana Hubbard
Marketing Department
Galleria Dallas

Hello,

Thanks for the quick reply.

I appreciate the concern for my safety, but I must question it. I rarely wear any footwear and have yet to come into any harm for it. Such a well-kept place as the Galleria is one of the last places I would worry about being hurt in any way, though I'm never without due vigilance.

I do, though, acknowledge that right to set standards on private property. If we can't do anything here, I may just need to shop elsewhere.

Thanks.

Jack,

We appreciate your feedback regarding our policy. Our policies and standards are established for everyone's benefit and we will not change our requirement to wear shoes.

Thank you,

Tatiana Hubbard
. . .

This is how not to do business. A customer's wear does not affect the business or other customers. As usual, Simon Malls have established this footwear rule as a given, blindly, and when challenged will grasp for excuses after the fact. Such vague things as "your own safety" and "everyone's benefit" are normal such excuses.

It is clear that the Galleria Dallas does not appreciate the business of those who choose not to wear shoes, however much they claim to appreciate feedback on this. I will gladly not give the Galleria my business and I would encourage you to do the same should you be in the area.

Feel free to contact Tatiana Hubbard to let her know what you think of this policy. If you click the link, there'll be a message already written for you, should you not feel like writing one yourself.

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