I’m sorry, but it’s just too early. I don’t care what you say...it is.

 

In fact, I would argue that being this early will mean that some things around your house will be stale...really stale.

 

What am I talking about? OK, so on Sunday August 10^th, we were wandering the aisles of Sentry, picking up a few essentials.

 

Suddenly, just northeast of the produce department, we ran into a GIGANTIC display. I could NOT believe it. I was so stunned that I took a photo with my cell phone. Here it is:

 

 

Please forgive the quality, but what you see there is an enormous display of Halloween candy. That’s right, I said Halloween candy. On August 10^th. Exactly 82 days before Halloween.

 

It's not enough that every neighborhood has multiple dates for Halloween. Now we have to think about those multiple dates nearly three months before they arrive!!!

 

Like I said, it’s just too early.

OK, now I’m mad. Today I read in the newspaper that Running Rebels Community Organization, Urban Underground and Campaign Against Violence were out at Mayfair on Saturday protesting the new PGR (Parental Guidance Required) policy. They were apparently standing on Mayfair Road and Center Street with protest signs, chanting things like: "Out of sight, out of mind. Being young is not a crime."

That’s not what made me mad. I believe in the right to peacefully protest whatever you want. And based on the discussions that I’ve had with my 15-year old the last two days, she’d be right there with them chanting the loudest. She is definitely NOT a fan of the PGR policy and has repeatedly reminded me how incredibly “unfair” it is.

What made me really angry was the statement made by Bobby Drake, the spokesperson for Campaign Against Violence, one of the protesting groups. Here’s what he said: "If you kick 1,000 to 1,500 kids out of the mall and put them back in the inner city in the middle of the summer, you're putting all these young men and women who weren't getting into trouble back into the street," Drake said. "We fear that it's going to drive up a problem."

OK, so the mall should take the “problem” (Drake’s words, not mine) and let it roam freely?

Somebody tell me when it became Mayfair Mall’s job to take care of these kids and give them a place to hang out. Mayfair is a private property, right? Don’t they have the constitutional right to set their own policies as long as they don’t discriminate? My understanding is that the new policy targets underage kids. Drew’s Variety Store has a policy stating that no more than two students at a time can be in their store after school. Why aren’t Urban Underground, Running Rebels and Campaign Against Violence standing outside Drew’s and carrying picket signs?

I don’t deny groups and under-18ers the right to dislike the PGR policy. As I said, I have my own little protest going on in my house. But the point here is that the Mall is a private business whose business is to sell merchandise. The young kids (including my own) do not have the right to roam freely without their parents after 2pm on Fridays and Saturdays. That’s two days out of seven. The rest of the week is wide open. On Sunday through Thursday, kids can “hang out” to their heart’s content. Or, they can let their closed wallets do the talking and decide to take their business elsewhere.

I agree that Milwaukee has a growing problem with violence in the city and my hope is that these groups make some headway in addressing these issues. But if their intention is to turn Mayfair into a Boys and Girls Club, an afterschool program or a solution to those problems, I think they've gone to the wrong place.

I had grand plans to try to be all bright and upbeat and happy during this holiday season about my shopping experiences. Those plans came crashing down on me today when I stopped in the brand new Best Buy across from Mayfair Mall. I realize that this is the holiday season and that extra time and patience should be carried into any retail establishment this time of year. But I just have to say, I do not like the new Best Buy at all.

First of all, the parking lot is insane. It can only be approached from the north, so if you're coming from North Avenue, plan on making a u-turn which will be very tricky on a busy day. You enter the lot and then make a wide swing toward the parking spaces. Every time I've been there, the point where you turn is not wide enough for cars arriving and departing. It's always backed up. And when you're ready to leave, you can only turn south onto Mayfair Road and the stoplight is about 20 feet to the right of the exit so you have to wait for each car to individually turn right.

When you get inside the store, the product merchandising is so confusing. It used to be easy to find new releases in the CDs and DVDs. Now they're not clearly marked and there are many old titles mixed in with the new ones. Although they're near the front of the store, navigating through the diagonal aisles is irritating, at best.

The store as a whole has a very cold and boxy feel to it. Big surprise, you say? Well, yes, and no. Stores like Best Buy spend a lot of money on marketing research and focus groups. They should know what makes people feel comfortable and want to buy things. They seem to have taken the opposite approach in their new store. The lighting is glaring, flat fluorescent that makes the whole place feel impersonal. And, per usual, I wandered around for quite a while and absolutely no employees approached me offering assistance.

Here's the one bright spot: Although the checkout lines seem unbearably long, they move fairly fast and the employees are friendly, helpful and downright perky. Too bad you don't find that in the rest of the store.

I realize that some of the traffic issues will be resolved when Mayfair Road is adjusted to accommodate the left turn lane that is there but currently unusable. In the meantime, if you are planning a trip to Best Buy, I suggest you make a list, go early and leave quickly.