More in store: “Nonessential” S.F. shops, malls to begin allowing customers inside.
Closed nearly 3 months, malls ‘going to look a lot different’
San Francisco’s stores will reopen to customers Monday after nearly three months of coronavirusrelated closures. Shoppers no longer have to rely on curbside pickup and online sales.
The reopenings will include Westfield San Francisco Centre on Market Street downtown. The mall has weathered not only the pandemic but also a fire set a few weeks ago during police brutality protests.
“Westfield is looking forward to welcoming back our San Francisco guests as we reopen our doors and begin to recover from the COVID19 pandemic,” Leah Heil, vice president of shopping center management, said in a statement. “We are committed to providing the best experience possible for the community and for our teams, and are working closely with local officials and civic groups to ensure a safe and clean environment as businesses resume operations.”
Stonestown Galleria will open Monday as well. The city’s other major indoor shopping center, the Japan Center Malls, will remain closed for now.
On March 17, San Francisco health officials shut down stores deemed nonessential — such as jewelry, shoe, clothing and toy stores — in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. On May 18, they allowed most retailers whose buildings faced the street (but not indoor malls) to offer curbside pickup.
The city has issued a more stringent set of guidelines for malls because they attract crowds. In addition to limiting the number of customers and adding signs about social distancing, malls must submit a plan to the city stating how many businesses, staff and customers are expected back. This can be hard because the effects of the pandemic on shoppers’ behavior are so uncertain.
“I’m still waiting for clearer city
guidelines. I reached out to them more than a week ago,” said Greg Viloria, director of community affairs and marketing for the Japan Center Malls. “We’ll be holding a town hall meeting with merchants to educate them about what needs to happen before we can open.”
Viloria did not say when the Japan Center Malls could open, but said almost 90% of the food vendors are in business, offering delivery.
“It’s going to look a lot different for retail shops,” he said. “Many of our merchants had to lay off employees, and they don’t know if they’ll be able to rehire people soon.”
Westfield, which is also opening its Valley Fair mall in San Jose, said shoppers can expect plenty of hand sanitizer and an increase in the number of handwashing stations, along with protective masks. It will also increase the frequency of cleaning with a focus on hightouch areas such as restrooms, play areas, dining areas and water fountains. It will monitor and limit the number of guests entering the mall.
Chris Martinez, who owns a skate shop on Sixth Street in San Francisco, used to have lunch meetings at the Westfield mall, a block away. “I’m excited it’s reopening,” he said. “If you want to go to the mall, go to the mall, but do it the proper way — make sure you’re far enough from other shoppers. You don’t have to hug and kiss everyone.” Martinez said he is planning to stop by the mall Monday, with mask and gloves in tow.
Stonestown Galleria, which currently has 16 stores offering curbside service and 10 other businesses deemed essential, will reopen with hand sanitizer throughout the mall and signs to remind customers to keep social distance. Not all stores will open right away, according to Darren Iverson, the mall’s senior general manager.
Hours will be reduced to “allow for intense cleaning,” Iverson said. (Stonestown will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.) Security will provide masks for people who need them, he added, and stores have been asked to limit capacity and adopt social distancing and safety procedures.
Some smallbusiness owners remain nervous as Monday’s reopening rolls around.
“I don’t expect people to be lining outside my shop on Monday,” said David Heller, coowner of Beauty Network, a beauty supplies store on Geary Boulevard. “It’s scary times and I don’t think shoppers will come out in droves like before.”
Jenna Littlejohn, an assistant manager at Bird & Beckett Books and Records in the Glen Park neighborhood, said the store is sticking to curbside pickup and isn’t sure when it will allow customers inside.
“We’re going to keep doing curbside because it’s the safest,” said Littlejohn, who said the curbside business is strong, with many people calling in orders by phone. “And if we do open our doors, as long as we have a few customers in at a time, I don’t think it’ll pose any immediate threat to staff or others.” Chronicle staff writer Ron Kroichick
contributed to this report.