To the editor:
I would like to thank the caring lady who had written a Letter to the Editor concerning the posting of the mall’s policy and more specifically the Food Court.
This letter entitled “Mall’s new policy misguided” was published in the local newspaper’s edition of June 10, 2009 and does not give the readers the full picture. In fact, that policy has been in existence and posted since the mall’s opening in 1994.
To clarify, the following were the signs that are placed on tables in the Food Court which read as follows:
Dear Shoppers:
We would like to remind you that we prohibit any food or beverages purchased outside the Aroostook Centre Mall to be consumed in the Food Court. We try and encourage you to support our Food Court establishments.
We would also like to remind you that our Food Court tables are reserved for our Food Court Customers. If you would like to just visit with friends and family, all we ask, is that you please use any of the tables and benches located throughout the Mall.
Thank you for your cooperation and for continued patronage and enjoy your time at the Mall.
Did you realize that our mall offers employment opportunities to over 600 employees? For some it is a first job, for others it is a lifetime career. But when you put it in perspective, this is huge when considering these same 600-plus employees become consumers in our community, are taxpayers, and do support our local economy in every way possible.
Did you also know that the Mall supports our community in so many ways. The Mall continually helps many non-profits, charities, civic and cultural groups with awareness, event and fund-raising opportunities, space, time and labor, (i.e., hosting the Veteran’s Heroes Wall and our VIP Night of Giving and Savings) For years, the Mall has championed behind: the Pine Tree Chapter of the Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the United Way, many local schools, even home-schoolers, Aroostook County Tourism, LEAD (Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development), just to name a few, which is a direct result of your patronage
You choose to shop in our fine stores, grab a cup of coffee and/or take meal break in this comfortable Food Court. The Mall and Food Court continue to be a meeting spot for our shoppers and visitors alike and we will continue to support that We are especially proud of the “VIP Night of Giving and Savings” whose objective is to help as many non-profits as possible. We have raised over $50,000 for many big and small organizations in Aroostook County over the past four years. None of this would be possible without consumers choosing to make that choice to shop in our stores and dine in our Food Court and restaurant.
We welcome shoppers who want to shop our many stores, socialize here, rest, and yet at the same time enjoy a coffee or meal with us in the Food Court. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has commented on this existing policy, or anything else concerning our Mall, and invite you to continue giving us your feedback as we believe this helps us improve our services and commitment to you.
Aroostook Centre Mall
