by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (DEC 06/96) - For the second time in as many months, shopkeepers in the Centre Square Mall are having a problem with loiterers.

Two and a half months ago, the mall fountain was removed to get rid of loiterers in the area, according to shopkeepers.

This time, frustrated shop owners have taken matters into their own hands by putting up signs to ban teenagers from their outlets.

Gail Leonardis, owner of Grandmas Lee's, said she had no other choice but to ban high school students from her restaurant during school hours.

"Certain students were taking up tables for three or four hours and were only buying a cup of coffee," she said. "The customers couldn't find a place to sit, and the teenagers wouldn't leave without a hastle."

By banning the students, Leonardis said they won't be able to skip school in her restaurant.

"Some of them were skipping classes and spending the time here because they had no place else to go, I guess," she said.

Jeff Wall, manager of L'Atitudes Restaurant and Bistro, agrees with Leonardis.

"We have a hard time with students coming in when they should be in school I guess," he said. "And our other customers are getting annoyed with us. We're losing customers."

Wall said the ban has brought back some patrons that they have lost.

"Our customers are glad that we have done this, and they are coming back," he said.

Glen Bird, manager of Centre Square Mall, denies that there is a problem with loitering teens in the shopping mall.

"They (shopkeepers) can put up signs if they want," he said. "But we're not stopping anyone from coming into the mall."

In fact, Bird maintains the loitering problem improved after the fountain was removed.

"We're waiting for some benches right now for the mall," he said.