Boycott Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group which, according to its website, is the “largest public U. S. real estate company”, has made it clear that it doesn’t want pro-freedom people on its property. At least, that’s the message the company has sent in two of its actions in the past month.

This week, the Charlotte, NC, station News Channel 36 (WCNC) reported that The Free Market Warrior, a kiosk that sells bumper stickers, posters and tee-shirts with such incendiary slogans as “Work harder, Obama needs the money”, “Impeach Obama” and “My parents chose life”, is being evicted from Simon Property Group’s Concord Mills outlet mall at the end of the month. I was alerted to this story by paleolibertarian blogger Karen De Coster.

Loren Spivack, owner of the kiosk chain, told WCNC that mall management contacted him after the Charlotte Observer published a letter from Jennifer Ibanez, a recent UNC-Charlotte graduate, who wrote to complain that items sold by the kiosk “support ideas such as racisms (sic), sexism, and even slavery”.

Spivack told WCNC the news came as shock to him:

“Nobody in that mall is selling anything from a conservative perspective. Plenty of people are selling things with a liberal perspective, with a pro-Obama perspective,” he said. “Given that we are in America and not North Korea, we probably should have some stuff on the other side.”

Spivack says he is careful not to sell things that personally attack a politician and wants a fair exchange of ideas. “The material that I sell is about politics and ideas,” he told Newschannel 36. “It’s all legitimate criticism.”

Late last month another mall controlled by Simon Property Group forced the organizers of the Atlanta Tea Party to find another location for their planned July 4 event just 11 business days before it was scheduled to take place. The Tea Party, for which planning had been underway since March, was to be held on the Macy’s parking lot with the permission of the property owner, who had even offered to pay for the fireworks. The property is not owned by Simon, but is adjacent to Gwinnett Place Mall, which is.

According to Julianne Thompson, co-organizer of the event, the mall manager asked her and the owner of the Macy’s parking lot to come to his office. There, the manager invoked an easement agreement the mall had with the adjacent property owner and forced the cancellation of the event.

Simon Property Group was founded by Melvin Simon, who still sits on its board and controls the largest block of stock. Simon, 82, is a Forbes 400 billionaire and has been a heavy contributor to liberal causes and Democratic politicians, including Barack Obama. His son, David, succeeded him as CEO in 1995.

Other stories and commentary on the recent Simon Property Group actions can be found here, here, and here. The controversies were also discussed this week by Glen Beck.

Of course, Simon Property Group is free to select its tenants, and is even free to ban a rally on an adjacent parking lot if the company’s easement agreement with the parking lot’s owner permits it to do so. But those of us who don’t like Simon’s decisions have some freedoms, too. As Loren Spivack told WCNC, “If they have decided to make their malls conservative/libertarian-free zones, where those opinions can’t be expressed, I do think it’s their right to do that, but it’s our right to publicize the fact that they are doing that,”.

Actually, we have the right to do more than that. For example, we can choose not to spend any money in Simon malls and shopping centers. We can also choose to contact retailers who lease space in Simon malls and tell them we will not spend any money in Simon malls and shopping centers. And we can even choose to contact Simon Property Group itself and tell them we will not spend any money in their malls and shopping centers.

Some bloggers are calling for a boycott, not just of Simon Property Group, but of every retailer that leases space from the company. I think that goes too far. It would be better to let retailers know that we are happy to favor them with our patronage; we just aren’t going to do it in a Simon mall or shopping center. Besides, there are so many Simon malls and shopping centers that every large retail chain in the country probably has at least one store located on a Simon property.

Fortunately, I live in a large urban area where there are plenty of alternatives to Simon malls and shopping centers. About the only thing I’ll have to give up is dinner at Medieval Times — and I don’t go there for the show so much as because I like going to a restaurant where I can eat with my fingers.

Here’s a list of Simon Property Group’s malls, mills and town centers, taken from the company’s 2008 annual report. Spread the word.

U. S. properties

Alabama

Factory Stores of America, Boaz

Alaska

Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall (M), Anchorage

Arizona

Arizona Mills, Tempe

Arkansas

McCain Mall, N. Little Rock

California

Brea Mall, Brea
Camarillo Premium Outlets, Camarillo
Carlsbad Premium Outlets, Carlsbad
Coddingtown Mall, Santa Rosa
Del Amo Fashion Center, Torrance
Desert Hills Premium Outlets, Cabazon
Fashion Valley, San Diego
Folsom Premium Outlets, Folsom
Gilroy Premium Outlets, Gilroy
Great Mall, Milpitas
Hilltop Mall, Richmond
Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills
Las Americas Premium Outlets, San Diego
Napa Premium Outlets, Napa
Ontario Mills, Ontario
Petaluma Village Premium Outlets, Petaluma
Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa
Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto
Stoneridge Shopping Center, Pleasanton
The Block at Orange, Orange
The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo
Vacaville Premium Outlets, Vacaville
Westminster Mall, Westminster

Colorado

Colorado Mills, Lakewood
Denver West Village, Lakewood
Mesa Mall, Grand Junction
Town Center at Aurora, Aurora

Connecticut

Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets, Clinton
Crystal Mall, Waterford
The Plaza at Buckland Hills, Manchester

Delaware

Dover Mall, Dover

Florida

Aventura Mall, Miami Beach
Boynton Beach Mall, Boynton Beach
Coconut Point, Estero
Coral Square, Coral Springs
Cordova Mall, Pensacola
Crystal River Mall, Crystal River
Dadeland Mall, Miami
DeSoto Square, Bradenton
Downtown at the Gardens (M), Palm Beach Gardens
Edison Mall, Fort Myers
Factory Stores of America, Graceville
Gaitway Plaza, Ocala
Gulf View Square, Port Richey
Highland Lakes Center, Orlando
Indian River Commons, Vero Beach
Indian River Mall, Vero Beach
Lake Square Mall, Leesburg
Melbourne Square, Melbourne
Miami International Mall, Miami
Orange Park Mall, Orange Park
Orlando Premium Outlets, Orlando
Paddock Mall, Ocala
Palm Beach Mall, West Palm Beach
Pier Park, Panama City Beach
Port Charlotte Town Center, Port Charlotte
Royal Eagle Plaza, Coral Springs
Sawgrass Mills, Sunrise
Seminole Towne Center, Sanford
St. Augustine Premium Outlets, St. Augustine
St. Johns Town Center, Jacksonville
Terrace at The Florida Mall, Orlando
The Avenues, Jacksonville
The Falls, Miami
The Florida Mall, Orlando
The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale (KS), Fort Lauderdale
The Shops at Sunset Place, S. Miami
Town Center at Boca Raton, Boca Raton
Treasure Coast Square, Jensen Beach
Tyrone Square, St. Petersburg
University Mall, Pensacola
Waterford Lakes Town Center, Orlando
West Town Corners, Altamonte Springs
Westland Park Plaza, Orange Park

Georgia

Discover Mills, Lawrenceville
Gwinnett Place, Duluth
Lenox Square, Atlanta
Mall of Georgia, Buford
Mall of Georgia Crossing, Buford
North Georgia Premium Outlets, Dawsonville
Northlake Mall, Atlanta
Phipps Plaza, Atlanta
Town Center at Cobb, Kennesaw

Hawaii

Waikele Premium Outlets, Waipahu

Illinois

Bloomingdale Court, Bloomingdale
Chicago Premium Outlets, Aurora
Countryside Plaza, Countryside
Crystal Court, Crystal Lake
Forest Plaza, Rockford
Gurnee Mills, Gurnee
Lake Plaza, Waukegan
Lake View Plaza, Orland Park
Lincoln Crossing, O?Fallon
Lincolnwood Town Center, Lincolnwood
Matteson Plaza, Matteson
North Ridge Plaza, Joliet
Northfield Square, Bourbonnais
Northwoods Mall, Peoria
Orland Square, Orland Park
River Oaks Center, Calumet City
SouthPark Mall, Moline
White Oaks Mall, Springfield
White Oaks Plaza, Springfield
Willow Knolls Court, Peoria

Indiana

Brightwood Plaza, Indianapolis
Castleton Square, Indianapolis
Circle Centre, Indianapolis
Clay Terrace, Carmel
Claypool Court (M), Indianapolis
College Mall, Bloomington
Eastland Convenience Center, Evansville
Eastland Mall, Evansville
Edinburgh Premium Outlets, Edinburgh
Greenwood Park Mall, Greenwood
Greenwood Plus, Greenwood
Hamilton Town Center, Noblesville
Keystone Shoppes, Indianapolis
Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets, Michigan City
Markland Mall, Kokomo
Markland Plaza, Kokomo
Muncie Mall, Muncie
Muncie Plaza, Muncie
New Castle Plaza, New Castle
Northwood Plaza, Fort Wayne
Teal Plaza, Lafayette
The Fashion Mall at Keystone, Indianapolis
Tippecanoe Mall, Lafayette
Tippecanoe Plaza, Lafayette
University Center, Mishawaka
University Park Mall, Mishawaka
Village Park Plaza, Carmel
Washington Plaza, Indianapolis
Washington Square, Indianapolis

Iowa

Factory Stores of America, Story City
Lindale Mall, Cedar Rapids
NorthPark Mall, Davenport
Southern Hills Mall, Sioux City
SouthRidge Mall, Des Moines

Kansas

Towne East Square, Wichita
Towne West Square, Wichita
West Ridge Mall, Topeka
West Ridge Plaza, Topeka

Kentucky

Factory Stores of America, Georgetown
Park Plaza, Hopkinsville

Louisiana

Prien Lake Mall, Lake Charles
The Esplanade, Kenner

Maine

Bangor Mall, Bangor
Kittery Premium Outlets, Kittery

Maryland

Arundel Mills, Hanover
Arundel Mills Marketplace, Hanover
Bowie Town Center, Bowie
Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg
Marley Station, Glen Burnie
St. Charles Towne Center, Waldorf
St. Charles Towne Plaza, Waldorf

Massachusetts

Arsenal Mall, Watertown
Atrium Mall, Chestnut Hill
Auburn Mall, Auburn
Burlington Mall, Burlington
Cape Cod Mall, Hyannis
Copley Place, Boston
Emerald Square, North Attleboro
Greendale Mall, Worcester
Liberty Tree Mall, Danvers
Northshore Mall, Peabody
Solomon Pond Mall, Marlborough
South Shore Plaza, Braintree
Square One Mall, Saugus
The Mall at Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill
Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, Wrentham

Michigan

Briarwood Mall, Ann Arbor

Minnesota

Albertville Premium Outlets, Albertville
Maplewood Mall, St. Paul
Miller Hill Mall, Duluth
Southdale Center, Edina

Mississippi

Northpark Mall, Ridgeland
Ridgewood Court, Jackson

Missouri

Battlefield Mall, Springfield
Factory Merchants Branson, Branson
Factory Stores of America, Lebanon
Independence Center, Independence
Osage Beach Premium Outlets, Osage Beach
Regency Plaza, St. Charles
St. Louis Mills, Hazelwood
The Shoppes at Branson Meadows, Branson

Nebraska

Crossroads Mall, Omaha
Factory Stores of America, Nebraska City

Nevada

Las Vegas Outlet Center, Las Vegas
Las Vegas Premium Outlets, Las Vegas
Meadowood Mall, Reno
The Forum Shops at Caesars, Las Vegas

New Hampshire

Pheasant Lane Mall, Nashua
The Mall at Rockingham Park, Salem
The Mall of New Hampshire, Manchester

New Jersey

Brunswick Square, East Brunswick
Hamilton Mall (KS), Mays Landing
Jackson Premium Outlets, Jackson
Jersey Shore Premium Outlets, Tinton Falls
Liberty Village Premium Outlets, Flemington
Livingston Mall, Livingston
Menlo Park Mall, Edison
Newport Centre (M), Jersey City
Newport Crossing (M), Jersey City
Newport Plaza (M), Jersey City
Ocean County Mall, Toms River
Quaker Bridge Mall, Lawrenceville
Rockaway Convenience Center, Rockaway
Rockaway Town Plaza, Rockaway
Rockaway Townsquare, Rockaway The Shops at Riverside, Hackensack

New Mexico

Cottonwood Mall, Albuquerque

New York

Chautauqua Mall, Lakewood
Cobblestone Court, Victor
Jefferson Valley Mall, Yorktown Heights
Nanuet Mall, Nanuet
Roosevelt Field, Garden City
Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove
The Galleria at White Plains, White Plains
The Mall at the Source, Westbury
The Westchester, White Plains
Walt Whitman Mall, Huntington Station
Waterloo Premium Outlets, Waterloo
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, Central Valley

North Carolina

Carolina Premium Outlets, Smithfield
Concord Mills, Concord
Concord Mills Marketplace, Concord
Dare Centre, Kill Devil Hills
MacGregor Village, Cary
North Ridge Shopping Center, Raleigh
SouthPark, Charlotte

Ohio

Aurora Farms Premium Outlets, Aurora
Great Lakes Mall, Mentor
Great Lakes Plaza, Mentor
Lima Center, Lima
Lima Mall, Lima
Richmond Town Square, Richmond Heights
Southern Park Mall, Youngstown
Summit Mall, Akron
The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, Dublin
Upper Valley Mall, Springfield

Oklahoma

Eastland Plaza, Tulsa
Penn Square Mall, Oklahoma City
Woodland Hills Mall, Tulsa

Oregon

Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets, Troutdale

Pennsylvania

Bond Shopping Center (KS), Upper Darby
Century III Mall, West Mifflin
DeKalb Plaza, King of Prussia
Franklin Mills, Philadelphia
Henderson Square, King of Prussia
Huntingdon Pike (KS), Abington
Huntingdon Valley Shopping Center (KS), Abington
Granite Run Mall, Media
King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia
Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall
Liberty Plaza, Philadelphia
Lincoln Plaza, King of Prussia
Montgomery Mall, North Wales
Oxford Valley Mall, Langhorne
Philadelphia Premium Outlets, Limerick
Ross Park Mall, Pittsburgh
South Hills Village, Pittsburgh
Springfield Mall, Springfield
The Atrium Office Building, (KS) (M), King of Prussia
The Crossings Premium Outlets, Tannersville
The Pavilion (KS), King of Prussia
Whitehall Mall, Whitehall

Puerto Rico

Plaza Carolina, Carolina

South Carolina

Anderson Mall, Anderson
Charles Towne Square, Charleston
Haywood Mall, Greenville

South Dakota

Empire East, Sioux Falls
Empire Mall, Sioux Falls
Rushmore Mall, Rapid City

Tennessee

Crossville Outlet Center, Crossville
Knoxville Center, Knoxville
Knoxville Commons, Knoxville
Oak Court Mall, Memphis
Opry Mills, Nashville
Raleigh Springs Mall, Memphis
West Town Mall, Knoxville
Wolfchase Galleria, Memphis

Texas

Allen Premium Outlets, Allen
Arboretum at Great Hills, Austin
Barton Creek Square, Austin
Broadway Square, Tyler
Cielo Vista Mall, El Paso
Firewheel Town Center, Garland
Gateway Shopping Center, Austin
Grapevine Mills, Grapevine
Highland Mall, Austin
Houston Premium Outlets, Cypress
Ingram Park Mall, San Antonio
Ingram Plaza, San Antonio
Irving Mall, Irving
Katy Mills, Katy
La Plaza Mall, McAllen
Lakeline Mall, Cedar Park
Lakeline Plaza, Cedar Park
Longview Mall, Longview
Midland Park Mall, Midland
Midway Mall (M), Sherman
North East Mall, Hurst
Palms Crossing, McAllen
Richardson Square, Richardson
Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets, Mercedes
Rolling Oaks Mall, San Antonio
Round Rock Premium Outlets, Round Rock
Sunland Park Mall, El Paso
The Domain, Austin
The Galleria, Houston
The Shops at Arbor Walk, Austin
The Shops at North East Mall, Hurst
Valle Vista Mall, Harlingen
Wolf Ranch Town Center, Georgetown

Virginia

Apple Blossom Mall, Winchester
Charlottesville Fashion Square, Charlottesville
Chesapeake Center, Chesapeake
Chesapeake Square, Chesapeake
Fairfax Court, Fairfax
Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, Leesburg
Martinsville Plaza, Martinsville
Potomac Mills, Prince William
The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Arlington
Valley Mall, Harrisonburg
Virginia Center Commons, Glen Allen

Washington

Columbia Center, Kennewick
Factory Stores at North Bend, North Bend
Northgate Mall, Seattle
Seattle Premium Outlets, Tulalip
Tacoma Mall, Tacoma

Wisconsin

Bay Park Square, Green Bay
Forest Mall, Fond Du Lac
Johnson Creek Premium Outlets, Johnson Creek
Southridge Mall, Greendale

INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES

France

Bay 2, Torcy (Paris)
Bay 1, Torcy (Paris)
Bel?Est, Bagnolet (Paris)
Villabé, Villabé (Paris)
Wasquehal, Wasquehal (Lille)

Italy

Ancona
Bergamo
Bussolengo (Verona)
Casalbertone (Roma)
Casamassima (Bari)
Centro Azuni (Sassari)
Cepagatti (Pescara)
Cesano Boscone (Milano)
Cinisello (Milano)
Collatina (Roma)
Concesio (Brescia)
Cuneo (Torino)
Fano (Pesaro)
Giugliano (Napoli)
Grottammare (Ascoli Piceno)
La Rena (Catania)
Marconi (Cagliari)
Mazzano (Brescia)
Merate (Lecco)
Mesagne (Brindisi)
Mestre (Venezia)
Misterbianco (Catania)
Modugno (Bari)
Monza
Mugnano (Napoli)
Nerviano (Milano)
Olbia
Padova
Palermo
Pescara
Pompei (Napoli)
Porta di Roma (Roma)
Porto Sant?Elpidio (Ascoli Piceno)
Predda Niedda (Sassari)
Rescaldina (Milano)
Rivoli (Torino)
San Rocco al Porto (Piacenza)
Santa Gilla (Cagliari)
Senigallia (Ancona)
Taranto
Torino
Venaria (Torino)
Vicenza
Vimodrone (Milano)
Vulcano Buono, Nola (Napoli)

Poland

Arkadia Shopping Center, Warsaw
Wilenska Station Shopping Center, Warsaw

Japan

Gotemba Premium Outlets, Gotemba City (Tokyo)
Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets, Kobe (Osaka)
Rinku Premium Outlets, Izumisano (Osaka)
Sano Premium Outlets, Sano (Tokyo)
Sendai — Izumi Premium Outlets, Izumi Park Town (Sendai)
Toki Premium Outlets, Toki (Nagoya)
Tosu Premium Outlets, Fukuoka (Kyushu)

Mexico

Premium Outlets Punta Norte, Mexico City

Korea

Yeoju Premium Outlets, Seoul

China

Changshu In City Plaza, Changshu

KS — Managed by Kravco Simon (not owned)
M — Managed by Simon (not owned)

From Nolan Chart.