Concord Mall Offers Free Market Warrior A Deal: Remove Three Bumper Stickers And "You Can Stay": May Hold Press Conference to Explain Position
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CONCORD, N.C. — Talks between the operator of a politically conservative kiosk and the management of Concord Mills Mall went nowhere Tuesday.
Now, the kiosk operator, Loren Spivack, and his controversial merchandise will have to be gone at the end of business on Friday.
Spivack says the mall managers offered him a deal. If he removed three bumper stickers and a T-shirt that all made negative political statements about President Obama, then he could renew his lease that is due to expire Friday. Spivack refused the offer, calling it a matter of "principle."
"This was a very difficult decision for me," Spivack said. "We are here supporting freedom of speech."
One of the bumper stickers the mall wanted him to stop selling reads: "Al Qaida's two favorite days, 9/11 and Nov. 4, 2008," a reference to last Election Day when Obama defeated John McCain.
Spivack says mall management told him "those sentiments were too provocative."
In a statement, Concord Mills Mall said it had the right to remove controversial items in an effort to provide shoppers with "a pleasant, neutral environment."
The statement read, in part, "Simply, we met with Mr. Spivak in good faith to resolve the issue and offered what we believe to be a fair and equitable solution. Mr. Spivak has not agreed to remove the objectionable merchandise and will be moving out of Concord Mills at the end of his lease."
Click here to read the full statement.
Spivack admits it is a privately-run business and added if they want to create "a conservative free zone" they had the right to do it.
Spivack says he will continue to sell his merchandise online and will look for another place to set up a new kiosk.
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