Concord Mills, SouthPark, other malls to reopen soon. Shoppers will see changes.
SouthPark and Concord Mills malls and Charlotte Premium Outlets and will reopen on Friday, May 8, owner Simon Property Group announced.
That is the same day Gov. Roy Cooper’s COVID-19-related stay at home order is scheduled to end for North Carolina. The governor had previously outlined plans to reopen the state in phases during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Simon is the largest mall operator in the U.S. Its other N.C. property, Carolina Premium Outlets in Smithfield, is also set to open May 8.
In South Carolina, Gaffney Outlet Marketplace and Haywood Mall in Greenville opened Friday.
The planned reopenings are based on “current state and/or local stay-at-home or closure orders, which are subject to change,” according to a Simon statement on its website.
The mall operator detailed numerous safety precautions its properties would have, including: workers will be required to wear masks and take hand-washing breaks; properties will limit entrances, hours and the number of people in the buildings; malls will add floor signage to direct foot traffic, remove chairs in dining areas and tape every other sink in the bathroom; and drinking fountains and play areas will be closed.
Each night, the common area of the properties will be thoroughly sanitized and disinfected, and Simon encouraged each retailer to do the same for their stores.
And all shoppers will be encouraged to wear masks or facial coverings while shopping, and to to frequently wash or sanitize their hands while shopping, John Rulli, Simon president and chief administrative officer, said in the statement.
Simon Property Group closed its malls and outlets nationwide on March 18, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
Northlake Mall closed at the end of business on March 23, following Cooper’s ban on gatherings of 50 or more people to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Mecklenburg County’s stay at home order took effect on March 26.
Staff writer Adam Bell contributed.
This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 10:06 AM with the headline "Concord Mills, SouthPark, other malls to reopen soon. Shoppers will see changes.."