Charlotte Premium Outlets, SouthPark, Concord Mills malls closing due to coronavirus
Three major Charlotte-area shopping centers are closing as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread.
Simon Property Group announced Wednesday it will close all of its retail properties, which includes SouthPark Mall, Concord Mills and Charlotte Premium Outlets. The temporary closing is effective at 7 p.m. Wednesday through March 29, according to the statement.
“The health and safety of our shoppers, retailers and employees is of paramount importance and we are taking this step to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Simon CEO David Simon. Simon is the largest shopping mall operator in the U.S.
Two other local malls, Northlake in Charlotte and Carolina Place in Pineville, announced shorter hours on Monday to allow more time for deep cleanings. Officials at those malls were not immediately available for comment Wednesday.
A statement from Northlake Mall said: “ Our management teams are closely monitoring this situation, adhering to local and national guidelines. We will remain in close contact with local health officials to ensure we are following mandates that apply to our center so we can continue to make informed, proactive decisions.”
Belk department stores, based in Charlotte, announced all of its stores would be closed at the end of business Tuesday through the end of the month because of the coronavirus. Customers can continue to shop online and through the store’s app, the message states.
Other large retailers, like Macy’s, Apple stores, Anthropologie, REI, Madewell, JCrew and Nike, had already announced store closings.
Movie theaters, including those with mall locations, also were ordered to close by Mecklenburg County’s public health director during a Tuesday night meeting as an effort to curb mass gatherings as cases rise of COVID-19, the strain of the new coronavirus.
Some 929 people work in the movie theater industry in the Charlotte region, according to the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
On Tuesday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper ordered bars and restaurants to close, except for takeout and delivery, leaving thousands of people without work across the state.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 4:06 PM.