2024 list “off-limit” businesses for Fort Carson soldiers
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs has been added to Fort Carson’s latest list of “off-limits” areas that soldiers are not allowed to go. A total of 12 businesses in the Pikes Peak Region are on that list.
This year’s list included seven different bars/clubs and five other businesses. Some have been on the list in previous years, others are new to it, and some business owners are not thrilled.
“If one person gets hurt, then nobody gets to go there anymore,” said Debbie Kanatzar, a shopper at the Citadel Mall.
Fort Carson’s latest “off-limits list” was released on July 19. Any location on the list forbids armed services personnel from going to these businesses while in uniform.
“I was here yesterday and the store that I was in, somebody ran in, grabbed something enough to set off the alarms. Thankfully, the two security officers were standing right outside, but it was scary,” added Kanatzar.
A new addition to the list is the Citadel Mall, and people like Kanatzar agree with the Mountain Post, that the shopping center is no longer safe.
“We want all businesses to make it, but not at the risk of customers getting injured,” she added.
This comes after a series of crimes in the area, including a shooting in December that left one person dead.
“You’ve got things happening in the parking lots, things happening in the stores. You’ve got kids that are running rampant without parental guidance,” she adds.
The military says the purpose of the order is to “prevent service members from being exposed to locations where crimes regularly occur or environments that could potentially jeopardize their health or welfare.”
Another new addition is Blondies, but for Latin Quarters, it’s their second year in a row on the list.
“We proved ourselves, you know, we proved ourselves to be better, we showed improvement, and now it’s just right back on,” said Selvin Padilla, the co-owner of Latin Quarters.
He says he is frustrated about being on the list for a second time, and worries he will lose business.
“We’re not looking for trouble. We don’t mess with anyone, and we just try to bring in whatever we can,” he added.
Other locations include Club La Cosota, La Palapa, Sugar Tree Massage, Pleasures Adult Entertainment Center, La Tarazza and more.
To find the full link from Fort Carson, click here.
“I’ve had military folks come in here all the time knowing they can’t, but they still do. We can’t stop that. And we tell them, we warn them like, ‘hey, you know you’re not supposed to be here,’ but yet they come,” added Padilla.
The military also says, “establishments that endorse human trafficking and prostitution are also off limits.”
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