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May 20, 2020

After two months dark, CT Post Mall reopens — kind of

PHOTO | New Haven BIZ Meet the press: Connecticut Post Mall General Manager Sterba (left) meets with reporters Tuesday.
By Michael C. Bingham

In the restaurant business they call it a “soft opening.” In the mall business they call it...opening.

The Connecticut Post Mall in Milford reopened for business Wednesday morning, along with many other retail businesses, offices and restaurants (outdoor dining only) included in Phase 1 of Gov. Ned Lamont’s gradual reopening scheme. 

On Tuesday afternoon the mall’s management hosted a press preview of what the post-pandemic shopping environment will look like.

For one thing, all store workers as well as customers will wear masks. Hand-sanitizer dispensers will be ubiquitous. Public restrooms will be cleaned continually. Plexiglass shields will separate cashiers from customers. 

Oh, customers. The big question Tuesday was, will there be any when the Milford Mall reopens after ten weeks’ slumber at 11 a.m. Wednesday, or will most consumers continue to be too terrified to venture out in public spaces? General Manager Ken Sterba acknowledged he didn’t really know what to expect. “That’s the million-dollar question,” he said Tuesday.

Another million-dollar question on Tuesday: How many mall retailers will actually reopen on the first day. “Our best guess is about 20 to 25 stores,” Sterba said.

The mall’s Target store was never closed. Of the main anchor stores, only Dick’s Sporting Goods was to reopen Wednesday. Boscov’s department store was to reopen Thursday, Sterba said, followed Friday by Macy’s. Other mall stores were likely to reopen in June, Sterba said, while still others might hold out even longer.

While the COVID emergency continues, mall stores are to be restricted to 50% of their normal ccupany, as defined by the fire marshal.

Sterba said the mall was also investing in ultraviolet light sanitizers for use on stairway and escalator hand railings.

Although Lamont is allowing restaurants to reopen Wednesday with outdoor seating only, the vendors in the mall’s food court will not be among them. The food court will reopen for to-go service only in the near future, Sterba said.

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