Back to Business at Tanger in Riverhead
The Tanger Outlets in Riverhead was bustling with shoppers at the start of the Fourth of the July weekend as most of the stores in the outdoor mall have reopened following the pandemic shutdown.
While indoor malls remain closed, stores at Tanger each have their own entrances and are allowed to be open at 50 percent capacity. Temporary hours are 11 a.m to 7 p.m.
A few stores — like Brooks Brothers and the Disney Outlet — have remained closed, but most have reopened after June 10, when retail stores were given the green light. Stores that have reopened include Under Armour, Children’s Place, Restoration Hardware, Old Navy, Michael Kors, Lululemon Athletica, Ellie Tahari, and Coach. A full list of open stores, updated daily, is available on Tanger’s website.
On Thursday, shoppers lined up on sidewalks in front of some of the entrances to the individual stores as employees kept track of how many people were already inside due to the state’s rule that it can only be at 50 percent capacity. Employees stationed at the entrances offered waiting shoppers hand sanitizer, and inside cashiers wiped down checkout surfaces and credit card machines in between customers.
Signage and floor decals are placed throughout the property, reminding shoppers to distance themselves from one another. Protective face coverings are required in order to shop.
A Tanger spokesperson said the outlets center is “working with our retail partners to create a shopping environment that prioritizes the well-being of our valued shoppers, retail partners and employees, in accordance with the latest guidance from government and public health officials.”
Tanger also worked with tenants to assist in reopening plans, inclusive of designating central areas for curbside pickup opportunities.
With plenty of sales for the Fourth of July holiday, Tanger noted it is transitioning away from coupon books to offering digital alternatives. “If paper and plastic offerings are desired by the customer, they will be packaged and delivered to the shopper in the most touchless, sanitary fashion,” Tanger’s website said. A complete list of COVID-19 protocols for the mall is available online.
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