Starting this weekend, some malls in metro Atlanta and across north Georgia plan to reopen.
Many malls have been closed for more than a month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Simon real estate company, which operates several popular malls in metro Atlanta, said in March that they were closing to protect its shoppers and workers.
“The health and safety of our shoppers, retailers and employees is of paramount importance and we are taking this step to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said David Simon, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Simon.
Here’s a list on when malls are planning to reopen:
- Lenox Square: Beginning May 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
- Phipps Plaza: Beginning May 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
- Mall of Georgia: Beginning May 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
- Town Center Cobb: Beginning May 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
- North Georgia Premium outlets: Beginning May 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
- Sugarloaf Mills: Beginning May 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
- Calhoun Outlet Marketplace: Beginning May 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
North Point Mall in Alpharetta said in a statement it is working on plans to reopen.
“While closely monitoring the new direction from Governor Kemp, we are diligently working on plans to safely reopen our shopping centers. The well-being of our guests, tenants and employees is our highest priority. We will share detailed next steps on our reopening plans and look forward to welcoming our communities back to our shopping centers. Thank you for your understanding and support,” the mall said in a statement to Channel 2 Action News.
Channel 2′s Mike Petchenik was in North Fulton County, where the usually packed Lenox Square was quiet on Wednesday. But in two days, Simon, the company that owns Lenox Square and six other locations across metro Atlanta, will reopen it.
McDonough resident Tanya Moore told Petchenik she won’t be going.
“i would love to go to the mall, even just to go window shopping just to get out of the house,” Moore said. “But I’m fearful of people not taking safety precautions, and I’d rather be safe.”
Mark Toro is with North American Properties, the developer of Avalon in Alpharetta. The outdoor live-work-play has opened back up for the first time in weeks.
“Retail has been heavily impacted,” Toro said. “At this point, it’s about recovery and repair and restarting the economy.”
Toro said that so far, three restaurants opened patio dining only. A nail and hair salon also reopened, but with strictly-enforced social distancing guidelines in place.
““It runs the gamut from propping open bathroom doors and sanitizing them every 15 or 30 minutes, to one-way sidewalks so that the patrons are not interacting with each other moving in different directions,” Toro said.
He said the openings at Avalon will start this weekend, and he expects other restaurants to follow suit.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
