Case study Restoring Order at a Busy South Willow Street Shopping Plaza

01 The client

About the Client

The Hobby Lobby Plaza is located in the South Willow Shopping Center at 1525 South Willow Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. South Willow Street is part of Manchester’s Lower South Willow neighborhood and serves as one of the city’s most active retail and shopping hubs. The plaza houses multiple tenants serving shoppers, employees, and businesses throughout the day and evening hours. As an anchor retail location in a high-traffic commercial corridor, the plaza attracts significant foot and vehicle traffic from the surrounding community and region.

02 The challenge

The Challenge

The Hobby Lobby Plaza faced serious recurring disruptions affecting both safety and operations. The South Willow area is a dominant retail corridor along Route 28, the area’s primary commercial and commuter corridor, which made the property attractive to car enthusiasts. Car clubs were gathering at the plaza almost daily for informal meets and parties. These gatherings escalated to dangerous activity—drivers performed burnouts in the parking lot, leaving tire marks on the pavement and creating serious safety hazards for customers, employees, and parked vehicles. Beyond the car club activity, the property also struggled with trespassing, individuals sleeping on loading docks, dumpster diving, and illegal dumping. These issues degraded the property’s appearance and created an unwelcoming environment for legitimate customers and tenants.

• Near-daily car club meets and burnouts
• Trespassing and people sleeping on loading docks
• Dumpster diving and illegal dumping

03 The plan

The Security Plan

American Alliance Security deployed a targeted overnight security strategy matched directly to when unauthorized activity typically occurred. Officers began providing coverage from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., the peak hours for car club gatherings and trespassing activities. During these hours, security personnel monitored the property vigilantly and coordinated directly with the Manchester Police Department to address the recurring car club meets. This collaborative approach with local law enforcement proved essential to disrupting the organized gatherings.

After the car club activity ceased and the other recurring issues were brought to a manageable level, American Alliance Security worked with the client to develop a cost-effective maintenance strategy. Rather than continuing expensive around-the-clock coverage, the security team recommended five randomly scheduled mobile patrols each night, each lasting approximately one hour. This approach maintained an unpredictable security presence that continued to deter unauthorized activity while significantly reducing the client’s security expenses.

1. Targeted overnight coverage

   Officers on site from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., the peak hours for activity.

2. Police coordination

   Direct work with the Manchester Police Department to end the car meets.

3. Cost-effective patrols

   Five randomly scheduled mobile patrols each night once order was restored.