Simon Malls Prepares to Reopen 49 U.S. Shopping Centers, CNBC Reports

America’s great mall reopening experiment just secured a fresh batch of guinea pigs. CNBC reports Simon Property Group, the largest U.S. mall operator, plans to reopen 49 malls and outlet centers by May 4.

Shoppers seem to think malls are germier than a Chuck E. Cheese ball pit, and federal guidelines require that businesses enhance their sanitation practices to reopen. So Simon’s stepping up its cleanliness protocols with...

• Traffic measurement tech to limit customer entry
• Free temperature checks, masks, and hand sanitizer for customers
• Floor decals to direct foot traffic
• Reduced hours for overnight deep cleans

One problem: I visit the mall for the dressing room montage opportunities, not laps around the food court. At the moment, a large chunk of Simon’s tenants have yet to reopen their stores. Gap Inc. and Macy’s, both operators at Simon properties, told the NYT they don’t plan to open stores this weekend.

When stores return…they’ll look like they’ve seen things. Along with the measures above, Simon’s encouraging retailers to adopt contactless payment options. Retailers may also want to rearrange their shelves and inventory to become social distancing-friendly.