Women Banned From All Pa. Malls

Four women pled guilty earlier this week to stealing from the Macy’s at the Willow Grove Mall. (Uhh, ladies? Bloomingdale’s is so much nicer.) They’ve apparently been doing similar thefts all over the country and have criminal records in 10 states.

The judge called them a “plague of locusts” and gave them an extra punishment:

The judge also ordered them to stay out of all malls in Pennsylvania.

Hmm, that is quite a ban, but it raises some questions. What about outlet malls that aren’t enclosed? For that matter, what about places like the Roosevelt Mall, which are called malls but are just big outdoor shopping centers? Man, this is complicated; I do not envy the probation officer for these women.

Four women who stole Willow Grove Park are banned from malls [AP/The Intelligencer via Philly Edge]
[Photo of Franklin Mills Athlete's Foot employees]

The Dunkin’ Donuts Controversy In New Hope

In what will surely be heart-wrenchingly detailed in an upcoming issue of BUCKS (or, maybe, even Philadelphia), New Hope recently paved the way for a Dunkin’ Donuts in town.

Much like a Starbucks in Northern Liberties — or, even a Rita’s Water Ice in Northern Liberties — a Dunkin’ Donuts in New Hope brought fear, anger, the urge to complain.

“You’re going to be driving across the bridge and the first thing you’re going to see is going to be a Dunkin’ Donuts,” said Herb Millman, who owns a neighboring antique shop. “That is going to change the flavor of New Hope.”

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Target Revitalizing Roosevelt Mall

Today, the Daily News declares the Roosevelt Mall hip.

COULD THE AREA around the Roosevelt Mall, at the heart of Northeast Philadelphia, be the next comeback kid of revitalization? The tea leaves look auspicious. After months of rumors, it’s now official: a new Target department store is going up at Bustleton and Bleigh, where the old Orleans movie theater is coming down.

The Northeast Target will be about the same size as the new one on City Avenue, with a food court and, yes, a Starbucks. [...] “That’s my favorite store, Tar-zhay,” Caruso laughs. “Their paper towels are great. We’ll all be there at lunchtime.”

“Everybody’s talking about the Target,” says State Rep. John Perzel. “They can’t wait for it to open.”

The grand opening of the new Northeast Target is slated for next fall. Meanwhile, the Daily News has been hanging out on and around Cottman Avenue in the vicinity of the Roosevelt Mall, taking the pulse of the Northeast’s heartland business corridor during the calm before its renewal.

My God.