The Timmins Square is set to reopen this Friday, June 12, with a number of regulations in place.
Under the new regionalized approach to reopening, the Porcupine Health Unit is one of 24 regions allowed to move into the second phase. It means malls, patios, and services such as hair salons are permitted to open as of Friday.
Stores at the Timmins Square will have flexibility with their hours of operation, so shoppers are encouraged to check the mall’s website or contact retailers directly for information on their operating hours.
“For the foreseeable future, our tenants will establish and adhere to a range of heightened health and safety protocols such as full compliance with all mandated sanitation, physical distancing and self-screening measures to name a few,” Terri Andrianopoulos, RioCan’s vice president of marketing and communications, said in an email.
“It is expected that retailer reopening will continue to occur gradually over a transition period. Some businesses may open before others, and some may choose to adjust their operating hours.”
There will be signage and markers to ensure proper physical distancing. The food court is allowed to be open but common seating areas such as tables and chairs have been removed and food must be taken to go.
Certain shopping centre services, such as stroller rental, have been temporarily eliminated, Andrianopoulos said.
There will also be an increased number of hand sanitizer stations and touchpoints, such as door handles and washroom fixtures, will be cleaned more frequently.
Some stores like Hallmark and Wicked Stuff are going to reopen this Friday, while Winners will open its doors next Wednesday, June 17.
Wicked Stuff and Hallmark’s owner Shawn Stack said he’s excited to see his regular and new customers back but he also doesn’t know what to expect when they reopen.
"We hope people come out but I really don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know if they’ve gotten used to us just selling them stuff online but we really hope they come back. I have no idea what to expect.”
Come Friday, the new safety precautions will include posters outside of both stores asking customers if they have any symptoms and asking them to stay home for two weeks if they do. Once they enter the stores, shoppers will be asked to sanitize their hands and follow the arrows on the floor. A plexiglass barrier has also been installed at both stores.
During the lockdown, he said his business has been “horribly” affected as he had to lay off about 12 staff at three of his stores, including Alfie’s Cigar Store on Third Avenue.
However, he kept a strong online presence by providing online sales and curbside pickup with puzzles being the most sold item, he said.
“We’ll have to downsize which is not good but we have to watch every dollar now, so we’ll have to tighten up now.”
"We'll figure something out," he added. "We have survived a lot throughout all the years. There's always ups and downs in the market, we've survived everything."
