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Shared from Orland Park, IL
Orland Square Mall Slated To Reopen May 31
In addition to enhanced sanitizing and safety protocols, Simon Property said it will recommend that business tenants follow similar rules.
By Tim Moran, Patch Staff
May 6, 2020 1:13 pm CT | Updated May 6, 2020 4:12 pm CT
The Orland Square Mall has a planned May 31 reopening date. (Tim Moran / Orland Park Patch File)
ORLAND PARK, IL — The Orland Square Mall, which has been closed since March 18 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, is slated to reopen on May 31. The Simon Property Group that owns the mall announced this week their plan to open all their Illinois mall properties on that date.
Other Simon shopping centers scheduled to reopen on May 31 include Chicago Premium Outlets, Gurnee Mills, White Oaks Mall in Springfield and Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg.
“Shopper response to our reopenings has been very positive. Initial traffic has been better than expected, and at times we have had to limit access to our properties to ensure enthusiastic shoppers adhere to the social distancing standards outlined in our COVID-19 safety protocols,” John Rulli, president and chief administrative officer of Simon, wrote in a statement on their reopening.
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“Overwhelmingly, consumers have relayed to us how excited they are to be out shopping again. With more and more stores opening every day, we expect our retailers will be able to take advantage of significant pent-up consumer demand,” Rulli said.
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Simon has already opened a few of their malls in across the United States, including five in Indiana, and has others slated for openings earlier than Orland and others later. The planned openings, according to Simon, are in line with state stay-at-home orders and remain subject to change.
In its reopening announcement, Simon outlined safety protocols it is taking with each mall reopening, including preemptive employee screening for coronavirus, requirements that all employees wear masks and frequently wash their hands. Employees that fail health screenings will be sent home.
“We recommend that tenants also implement these protocols,” Simon said.
Malls will implement occupancy limits and use “traffic measuring technologies” to ensure that occupancy does not exceed one person per 50 square feet of space, Simon said, adding, “As needed, we will restrict the number of open entrances to the property while complying with local fire code requirements, and have queueing protocols in place to manage traffic. Each tenant will be responsible for managing to targets set by state or local authorities for their leased spaces.”
In addition to limited hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday to allow for “enhanced sanitizing and disinfecting,” Simon said these measures will be taken:
Proactive Encouragement of Social Distancing Guidelines. Our employees and security officers will actively remind and encourage shoppers to maintain the proper distance from fellow shoppers and workers, and refrain from shopping in groups. Tenants should do the same within their leased spaces
Furniture Redeployment to Support Social Distancing. Food court seating will be limited and spaced in a way to encourage social distancing. Additionally, no reusable customer service items will be available (e.g., trays, utensils, cups, etc.). Common area seating will also be reduced and reconfigured to support social distancing ‘Temporary Closure of High-Interaction Areas. All play areas, stroller and valet stations and drinking fountains will be temporarily closed. Restroom Spacing. In restrooms, every other sink and urinal will be taped off to encourage the proper spacing between individuals
Deployment of Traffic Flow Signage and Social Distancing Markers. We will deploy directional signage and dividers to separate shoppers entering and exiting the property, as well as diners ordering and picking up food in the Food Court. We will also deploy social distancing markers where needed to manage queues (e.g., at food court counters) to maintain 6 feet of spacing.
Shoppers will be encouraged to wear masks and to take their temperatures and perform health checks before visiting the mall, and stay home if they have symptoms.