Local malls open after COVID-19 shutdown
Posted May 14, 2020 11:25 am.
Last Updated May 15, 2020 6:05 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Shopping malls in Calgary reopened after being shut down for several weeks due to COVID-19.
Chinook Centre in south Calgary opened at 11:00 a.m. Thursday with dozens of people lining up.
Hundreds of vehicles, most of them from employees, were in the parking lot earlier that morning.
Customers have entered the Chinook Centre. I counted over a hundred as they went in. A lot of security are posted around the mall. #yyc #Alberta @660NEWS pic.twitter.com/OU9X8jejS6
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) May 14, 2020
According to general manager, Paige O’Neill things will look very different for shoppers heading in.
“Our key goal is to keep a safe and clean environment for our guests. That means everything from social distancing signage, extra security. Our dining hall is take-out only.”
O’Neill added it will be one-way traffic throughout the mall with multiple hand sanitizing stations set up.
She said if anyone is caught breaking the social distancing rules, they will be asked kindly by security to respect the guidelines.
Mall staff are working to implement health precautions before it opens. @CFChinookCentre's GM says their goal is to create a clean & safe environment for everyone. Adds, if someone breaks the measures, they'll be asked to be respectful by the extra security #yyc #Alberta @660NEWS pic.twitter.com/U3VSvpV0QU
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) May 14, 2020
Just over 40 stores are expected to open at Chinook and all of them will have a limited number of people that can enter.
“Hopefully, everyone is patient because we have about 45 retailers open,” said O’Neill.
Meanwhile, the general manager of Cross Iron Mills north of Calgary said staff there are also ready to open again including several food joints.
“Our Tim Horton’s restaurant will be open, our Boston Pizza. We’re going to have about five or six of the food court retailers will be open,” said James Moller.
He said because Cross Iron Mills is so big, they’re not too concerned about overcrowding in the halls.
Individual stores will have their own rules about how many people are allowed in at one time and staff will be wearing masks and shoppers will have the option of wearing one.
