A growing number of retailers are closing stores or limiting their operating hours as customers remain home in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
A growing number of retailers are closing stores or limiting their operating hours as customers remain home in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
Over the weekend, some Canadian mall owners announced they would cut back shopping hours by as much as 30 per cent for at least the next two weeks.
Starting Monday, Cadillac Fairview, which owns 70 malls across six provinces, will limit operating hours at all its locations to between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Ivanhoe Cambridge, which owns almost 30 malls across six provinces, is suggesting reduced operating hours to its tenants, although mall doors will remain open according to their usual schedules.
Starbucks Canada said people will still be able to make purchases in-store and online, but they’ll be encouraged to take items to go and have taken the step of removing seating from its stores.
The coffee chain also said it’s also temporarily closing stores in “high-social gathering locations” such as those in shopping malls and on university campuses and workers whose hours will be affected by the pandemic will get “catastrophe pay.”
Outdoor retailer MEC said in an email to its members that it was reducing store hours to noon to 6 p.m. every day — except noon to 5 p.m. on weekends in Quebec — starting today.
Retailers aren’t the only ones making changes, as some health clubs are also being affected. Beginning Monday, all GoodLife Fitness and Fit4Less clubs are shut down. Goodlife said all member payments are being suspended as of Tuesday and any paid-in-full memberships will be put on freeze until further notice and expiry dates will be extended.
Additionally, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation announced on Sunday that it would temporarily close all casinos in the province by Monday.
As of Sunday afternoon, Canadian health officials have recommenced people avoid gatherings of 250 people or more but have not advised retailers to shutter. However, some businesses are limiting their operations on their own initiative.
U.S. retailers cut hours, close outlets
Walmart in the U.S. said over the weekend it is limiting hours to ensure stores can keep sought-after items such as hand sanitizer in stock. More than 4,700 Walmart and Neighborhood Market locations in the U.S. will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 pm. until further notice. Most Supercentre stores are typically open 24 hours while some Neighborhood stores also have 24-hour service.
Other retailers are following Apple and closing their stores, includin