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A trip to Coquitlam Centre mall may be slightly curtailed this weekend — and for the near future — as retailers close temporarily, opening hours are reduced, kids’ play areas are off limits and the food court has fewer offerings.
This week, as concerns about COVID-19 resulted in strict rules for social distancing for businesses, churches, conferences and others, including limits to 50 people in a particular area, Coquitlam Centre has taken its own steps to limit the spread of the virus.
“Morguard is committed to the health and safety of our tenants, guests, staff and communities,” a spokesperson told the Tri-City News in an email. “Currently, retailers have the option to reduce their store operating hours, though some have chosen to close completely. All public events have been cancelled, and the Kids Play Park and Kids Interactive Lounge are closed.”
So far, there have been no reports of anyone with COVID-19 in the mall, according to Brittany Sliede, senior marketing coordinator for Morguard, which operates Coquitlam Centre.
Some stores, such as Best Buy are still open, according to the website. For more information, the mall recommends you contact each store directly.
With changes in place to adapt to the new pandemic reality, the mall at times looks like a ghost town, with a number of large retailers, such as Hudson’s Bay, not operating, and some food court businesses shuttered.
Currently, food court businesses can only supply take out and there is no sitting at tables allowed. That means small businesses at the food court are particularly hard hit, according to one outlet owner, who has been forced to close temporarily for lack of business.
“This is absolutely devastating to small business owners. At this time I will wait for things to settle and then re-open,” Chachi’s sandwich shop owner Darrin Gutoski told The Tri-City News.
He said he hopes that once things get back to normal, people get back to supporting their local small businesses.
That may already be happening as the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, along with local business associations, have launched a champaign called #WeGotThisTri-Cities which urges people to continue to support small businesses by purchasing gift cards; not cancelling memberships at gyms, art studios and other businesses; ordering take out or delivery; and supporting favourite businesses on social media by liking their content, sharing their posts and writing reviews.
Meanwhile, many larger operations, such as U.S.-based Walmart and Costco, are seeing a surge in customers as people stock up in case they have to go into isolation. While the BC government has assured consumers that supply chains are stable, stores are selling out of dry goods, toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
“Those businesses will do just fine,” said Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Hind, who came up with the #WeGotThisTri-Cities campaign together with Proudly Local, Austin Heights, PocoBIA and The Tri-City News.
A list of businesses that are still operating will be compiled and made available online at www.tricitieschamber.com
Meanwhile, shopping habits as people scour stores for meat, paper products, cleaning producs and medications are having a devastating effect on some people who can't find what they need. One man The Tri-City News spoke to at the Coquitlam Centre Wamart said he had been to three stores looking for fever medication for his sick wife. The only silvier linging was that his family doctor doesn't think it is COVID-19.
Read more of our COVID-19 coverage here.
— With files from Stefan Labbé
