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A Guide to the Retailers Reopening Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic
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2019

This month, many states will start easing stay at home restrictions set because of the coronavirus pandemic, permitting businesses nationwide to begin reopening their doors.


Fashion retailers have been heavily impacted by the pandemic, which has forced many to shutter their doors, furlough their staffs or reduce operations. Several companies, including J. Crew and Neiman Marcus, have filed for bankruptcy due in part to the virus.

After nearly two months of limited operations, major retailers such as Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, among others, have started implementing reopening strategies, which include resuming operations in states with relaxed restrictions, offering curbside pickup or by-appointment services.


Check back on this post, as it will be updated as news develops.

Here, WWD looks at the major U.S. retailers that have started reopening their doors.

Belk:

The department store chain reopened stores in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee and will be operating at limited capacity. Belk also offers curbside pickup.


Bluemercury:

The beauty retailer will reopen 115 of its 171 stores by May 15 in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Ohio, among other states. The open stores currently are restricted to curbside pickup, but will soon offer curbside service on a limited schedule.

Bluemercury will be open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The retailer has plans to slowly roll out curbside services in other states starting in June.


Burlington:

The retailer reopened 27 of its stores on May 11. It expects to open more locations in the coming weeks.

Burlington is adjusting store layouts to accommodate social distancing guidelines.


Chico’s FAS:

The parent company of Chico’s and White House Black Market has launched a three phase reopening strategy, starting with fulfilling online orders through store inventories. It will then offer curbside pickup at its locations and shop by appointment services in the next two weeks.


Columbia Sportswear:

Columbia Sportswear reopened 30 stores in the U.S. as of May 15. This allows 250 furloughed retail employees to come back to work.

Store layouts have been adjusted to abide by social distancing guidelines and clothing tried on in fitting rooms will not be put back on shelves for 24 hours.


Dillard’s:

The department store chain reopened roughly 140 locations across the country.


DSW:

The shoe retailer reopened 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

DSW’s parent company, Designer Brands, has implemented “contact free” shopping by limiting transactions to credit, debit and gift cards, creating merchandise try on areas and offering special shopping hours for senior citizens and other at risk customers.


Express:

The fashion brand began reopening stores in Georgia and South Carolina and has plans to reopen roughly 300 stores across the country by Memorial Day.


Gap Inc.:

Gap Inc. is reopening 800 stores among its brands, which include Old Navy, Athleta, Gap, Banana Republic, Janie and Jack, and Intermix before the end of May.


J.C. Penney:

The retailer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 15, is reopening seven locations in Little Rock, Ark.; McDonough and Augusta, Ga.; Omaha and Lincoln, Neb.; Moore, Okla., and Riverdale, Utah. It expects to reopen more stores in the next few weeks.


Kohl’s:

Kohl’s reopened roughly a quarter of its 1,100 stores in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. It is also reopening a portion of its stores in Florida and Tennessee.

Stores will be operating on limited hours and social distancing measures will be followed.


Lacoste:

Lacoste has reopened stores in Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Ohio.

The brand is offering customers access to real-time data around its health and safety initiatives. Customers will be able to scan a QR code at the stores to receive live updates on how many times and when the location was last professionally cleaned and find out how many people are currently in the store.


Macy’s:

Macy’s has reopened 68 locations since the beginning of May.

The retailer is following social distancing guidelines and sanitation requirements by closing certain floors or departments. Some locations will only be operating the “At Your Service” counters for pickups and returns.

The retailer reopened an additional 50 locations on May 11. Macy’s expects that all its stores will be operating at some capacity in the next six to eight weeks.


Moscot:

The eyewear brand has started reopening stores in New York state in regions where stay at home restrictions have relaxed. Moscot is offering in person and virtual appointments through its stores as well as curbside pickup.