USA TODAY International Edition
Some Macy’s stores to reopen next week
Macy’s is planning to reopen some stores in states where restrictions placed to stem the spread of coronavirus have been lifted.
Macy’s plans to open 68 stores on Monday, the company confirmed to USA TODAY on Thursday, followed by reopening approximately 50 more locations May 11. If coronavirus rates slide and they gain approval from local and state governments, Macy’s would reopen all 775 stores by the middle of June. Macy’s did not specify which locations would reopen.
Details of the plan were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The retailer will institute several significant changes to the shopping experience, including “no touch” consultations in beauty departments and the suspension of alteration services. Both employees and customers will be encouraged to maintain social distancing practices, and hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout stores.
Macy’s employees must perform wellness checks before reporting to work, and wear masks at all times. Workers “processing multiple goods or interacting with customers at high traffic registers” will wear gloves, Macy’s says. The chain says frequently visited locations will be cleaned more regularly.
Macy’s closed all of its stores March 18 and later furloughed most of its 125,000 employees.
Several states have eased restrictions enacted to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 1 million people in the U. S. with a death toll over 61,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
The changes have prompted businesses financially hurting from the pandemic to reopen some locations. Simon Property Group announced plans to reopen 49 malls in 10 states starting Friday.