Roseville Galleria Mall Reopens, But Things Will Look A Bit Different
ROSEVILLE (CBS13) — The Roseville Galleria mall reopened on Friday morning - welcoming back customers for the first time in two months since the state started shutting down over the coronavirus.
But your next shopping spree is going to look a little bit different.
The mall will be limiting the number of customers allowed inside, and hours will be modified from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Still, businesses in and around the shopping center were just glad to see shoppers coming back.
"It's been exciting just to see it come back. I have driven through here the last couple months and been depressed," said shopper Joe Padly.
The parking lot is packed at the Galleria in Roseville. Shoppers say only a few stores are open and not everyone is practicing social distancing inside @CBSSacramento pic.twitter.com/4EeD5LYdTf
— Renee Santos (@RSantosTV) May 22, 2020
Padly was visiting Pet Food Express at The Fountains across the street - and the management there was doggone happy to see him back with his dog Bowser.
"It has been a good thing for the morale of our team and morale of our customers to be able to do things with their pets again," said manager Steve Stollman.
He says reopening Roseville Galleria will bring in even more business.
"I suspect we are going to see more foot traffic, which is really exciting because we are all looking for a little normalcy right now," Stollman said.
More people shopping means more people touching things in public spaces. It had some a little leery about heading out to the Galleria just yet - even if there are more sanitization and new safety protocols in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"Not today. I am afraid it's going to be crowded a little bit. But I will," said resident Ana Phelps on whether she'll be shopping at the mall.
Phelps opted for a walk and coffee with a friend outside. But Padly says retail therapy is just the right cure for what ails this country now. It's a risk he says we need to take to get back on track.
"The faster they can get these things open the better off it will be for our economy and the American spirit," Padly said.
Along with ramping up disinfecting efforts in common areas, the Roseville Galleria is requiring employees with a fever or cold and flu-like symptoms to stay home.
While the Roseville Galleria is opening in time for Memorial Day Weekend, other malls in the area were still only offering curbside pick-up as of Friday. Arden Fair Mall officials said they were waiting for Sacramento County to release its modified version of the stay-at-home order before announcing any reopening date for in-mall shopping.