hess players who frequent the tables at the food court inside the former Irondequoit Mall in suburban Rochester are getting the boot.

Mall officials complain they take up too many tables, are too loud, and bring in their own food.

David Worl, a retired school psychologist, tells Democrat and Chronicle,

The mall, now known as the Medley center, is undergoing refurbishing after suffering hard times, during which the chess players say they stuck with the mall, while retailers, and shoppers, fled.

Mall owner, Adam Bersin, says food court seats full of people who are not eating do not fit the image of a thriving retail hub, "It's kind of tough for (vendors) to see 15 guys sitting in the food court eating food they brought in from the outside."

Last week, Bersin put up a sign announcing a ban on chess or card games beginning Thursday, but he is thinking of giving them leeway until they find a place to play. He adds they are always welcome between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., when the mall is open to walkers.