OVIEDO, Fla. — Dine-in restaurants are not the only businesses that saw customers Monday for the first time in over a month.
Several malls, including the Oviedo Mall, opened their doors again under phase one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to reopen Florida.
Watch: Denied unemployment benefits in Florida? Here’s what you need to do
Even before the stores opened, mall walkers paced themselves in the empty corridors.
Mall manager Kevin Hipes said he did not expect a huge crowd for the first day back.
"We do want people to stay safe and comfortable when they come out," Hipes said.
Watch: Carnival Cruise Line announces plan to restart voyages Aug. 1
Store managers were also in early doing some last-minute preparation for customers. They wiped down things that people touch, such as credit card readers and counters.
"We are excited to be open," store manager Crystal Merz said. "We've been getting phone calls on whether we are open or not and what time we are open until, so I expect people coming because of Mothers’ Day."
INTERACTIVE MAP: Coronavirus cases in Florida
Food court businesses are only allowed to have 25% of the dining room filled at any time.
Not every store is open inside the mall, the Blue Jasmin Boutique is open for business, while Barnes and Noble is not. On day one, only 23 out of 67 stores opened at the Oviedo Mall.
Businesses that remain closed for now include two anchor tenants, Regal Cinemas and Dillards.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
