THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 TAG: 9505160118
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Call it the revenge of civilization.
A 7-Eleven store at 24th Street and Pacific Avenue, long a hangout for wayward teenagers and people with generally too much time on their hands, has come up with a novel idea to discourage loitering: classical music.
The convenience store has begun piping into the parking lot Beethoven, Bach and other great masters' works through a loud speaker on the presumption that any metal-lovin' gearhead rocker would flee at the first strains of a violin.
``It's worked at a majority of locations where we've tried it,'' said Bill Reames, the loss prevention manager for the Southland Corp.'s southern Virginia and Tidewater region.
``I've got one system near Norfolk State University that's working. There's a system in a Richmond store in the Fan District where it's working. The ones at the Oceanfront are still in their infancy, so only time will tell.
``For the most part, people move on,'' he added. ``They don't want to hear the music. But it may be that as time goes on people will get used to it.''
Reames oversees 333 stores from Richmond to the Outer Banks. Twelve stores use classical music to deter loitering. The system is a service of 3M Co., a multinational corporation most commonly known for its audio and videotape and Post It notes, the ubiquitous yellow pieces of paper with adhesive on the back.
``They're really trying to do their part,'' said Barbara Yates, the owner of Angie's Guest Cottage, a bed and breakfast across the street, who has complained for years about loitering at the convenience store.
``I have been on them for years about people hanging out there,'' she said. ``They're trying to do their part.''
The store has a trash bin in its parking lot that is enclosed by a wooden fence, making it a tempting place for public urination. To prevent that, the store, at Yates' request, planted pyracantha, a prickly shrub that discourages close contact.
And in another gesture to help the Oceanfront business district, the convenience store has hired security guards to patrol stores at 17th and 27th streets, as well as the 24th Street address.
``I can't say enough good stuff about 7-Eleven right now,'' Yates said.
The store took the action, in part, because recent Oceanfront regulations prohibit cruising and on-street parking at night during the upcoming tourism season. With fewer places to hang out on the street, store owners have noticed increased traffic in their store's parking lots.
The classical music is received through a satellite dish.
``I'm probably the only loss prevention manager with Southland who has used it. My peers have started to gain interest,'' said Reames, who personally prefers country music.
``We'll do what works. The police are giving us their cooperation. We hope to have a problem-free summer. I know that's asking a lot, but we'll see what happens.'' by CNB