Satisfying a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie craving Sunday in Santa Monica wasn’t easy.
Girl Scouts were ordered to temporarily stop selling cookies outside of grocery stores this past weekend after confusion surfaced about whether the practice was legal.
A grocery store manager’s comment after being cited by the city for an unpermitted outdoor art sale on Saturday, Feb. 23, led to a widespread misunderstanding by Santa Monica Girl Scout troop leaders and officials that they would not be allowed to sell outside retail locations when their annual cookie sale began March 1.
“Apparently at least two grocery store managers decided not to allow the Girl Scouts to sell in front of their stores this past weekend, concerned that they might be cited by the city,” said city building official Tim McCormick. “But the city’s focus is only on unlawful commercial activity.
“The city encounters many situations where businesses want to conduct business activities outdoors. The substantial impact those activities can have on residential and business neighbors is our concern.”
Joannie Ransom, the executive director of Angeles Girl Scouts Council, said the 600 Girl Scouts in Santa Monica didn’t sell cookies on Sunday until the matter could be cleared up.
“One of their pledges that they take is to honor authority,” she said. “But now the girls are selling cookies like mad.”
Ransom added that once she discussed the issue with city officials Monday, she realized girls were still allowed to sell outside of grocery stores.
“The city was great,” she said. “I was very impressed with the city manager’s office. They were very helpful.”
The Girl Scouts set their own goals for cookie sales and focus on community projects like beach clean-ups and working senior citizens in local convalescent hospitals throughout the year.
Girls will be on hand selling cookies for the next three weeks outside of most Santa Monica grocery stores and Rite Aid drug stores.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 5, 2002. Read the original PDF.