Rivergate Mall | Cool Springs TN News

RiverGate Mall Introduces Youth Escort Policy

RiverGate Mall

RiverGate Mall today announced plans to implement a Youth Escort Policy (YEP) designed to provide all of its shoppers and retailers with a family-friendly, convenient and enjoyable shopping experience. The new policy—which will be enforced beginning Friday, May 11, 2012 —requires all mall visitors under 18 years of age to be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian who is 21 years of age or older on Friday and Saturday nights after 6 p.m.

Both Cool Springs Galleria and the RiverGate Mall are managed by CBL Properties.

The Youth Escort Policy is intended to curtail the rising number of unsupervised youth hanging out at RiverGate Mall and related disturbances occurring there on Friday and Saturday nights. RiverGate Mall management is implementing the policy in response to feedback from local government, business leaders, and members of the community.

“We have been able to initiate a dialogue about the community-wide issue of unsupervised youth and the need for alternative activities for young people,” said RiverGate Mall General Manager Brenda Neely. “Through feedback from many community leaders and groups — and shoppers and retailers that have voiced concern about inappropriate behavior on weekend nights — we have designed a policy that will allow RiverGate Mall to address unsupervised youth issues and provide all of our shoppers with a pleasant shopping experience.”

The conduct of unsupervised youth and young adults at RiverGate Mall has created an uncomfortable atmosphere for mall visitors and an increasing safety challenge.

“Teens and pre-teens are welcome to shop at the mall on Friday and Saturday nights,” said Neely. “We are only asking that our youth customers shop with a parent or guardian who is 21 years of age or older during six of the total 72 shopping hours the mall is open each week.”

Teens employed at the mall will be allowed to work after 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and RiverGate Mall will issue identification to teens under 18 years of age for ease of access to work during these times.

“RiverGate Mall strives to remain a center of commerce in the Nashville area that brings quality stores and shoppers together,” said Neely. “Unfortunately, a growing number of unsupervised youth are attempting to use the mall in a manner that is inconsistent with this purpose.”

Realizing the issue of unsupervised youth is not just a RiverGate Mall issue—but a community wide challenge—Neely and her management team have also engaged in discussions with community groups regarding the need for alternative, supervised youth programs in the area.

“We have been very impressed with the concern expressed by our community and its leaders regarding alternative youth activities,” Neely said. “RiverGate Mall will continue to partner with the community to participate in discussions that address appropriate, supervised activities for youth.”

Apple Store Opening at Cool Springs Galleria

CoolSprings.com has learned that a new Apple Store is taking over both the Brooks Brothers AND Abercrombie & Fitch space for a possible 13,000 square foot store. It would be a huge Apple Store!

The last day of business for Abercrombie & Fitch at the Cool Springs Galleria is Jan. 21, 2012.

The last day of business for Brooks Brothers at the Cool Springs Galleria is Jan. 27, 2012.

Our confidential source has confirmed the new Apple store opening with both Apple & CBL.

CoolSprings.com was told by a several employees from different stores inside the mall that CBL decided not to renew Abercrombie & Fitch’s lease in favor of a new tenant, although unconfirmed by mall management.

Abercrombie Kids store located upstairs told CoolSprings.com, “No we are not closing, only the adult store downstairs and I think their last day is Saturday”.

We found out several months ago about an Apple Store coming to Cool Springs. At the time CoolSprings.com learned it would be on the first floor near Macy’s. We did not know exactly which tenant would be replaced, although we were told that tenant was not aware they would be leaving soon. One source told CoolSprings.com that Apple will take possession in April and open Sept, although it seems like it may be sooner. Although not confirmed by Apple or the Cool Springs Galleria, a source very much in the know told CoolSprings.com with certainty that a real Apple Store is coming to the mall.

Anyone who has visited the Apple Store at the Mall of Green Hills on a weekend knows that it is so busy there is frequently a line out front. The kind of line you have to stand in and wait before someone exits the store, to prevent the total person count inside from exceeding the maximum number allowed per Nashville fire code. It’s that busy. Needless to say a second Apple Store in Nashville is needed and Cool Springs is the only other appropriate submarket for it to be located.

We are not aware of any changes happening at the Abercrombie Kids store, located upstairs in the Cool Springs mall.

With great sadness, this also means we’ll no longer have shirtless male greeters in Cool Springs on Black Friday.

There will soon only be 2 remaining Abercrombie & Fitch stores in the Nashville area, located in the Mall at Green Hills and Rivergate Mall.

It remains to be seen what will happen with the existing MacAuthority in the Cool Springs Galleria. MacAuthority recently opened another location at 2525 West End near the new Vanderbilt Bookstore, in between Bread & Company and Moe’s. It will be interesting to see if MacAuthority stays or leaves on their own accord when their lease expires or if Apple & CBL will even allow them to stay in the mall now that a genuine Apple Store is opening up.

Last remaining Abercrombie & Fitch stores in Nashville:

Abercrombie & Fitch
Mall at Green Hills
2126 Abbott Martin Rd.
Nashville, TN 37215
(615) 385-2768

Abercrombie & Fitch
Rivergate Mall
1000 Two Mile Parkway, #1530
Goodlettsville, TN 37072
(615) 855-3423