Security guards patrol mostly empty Modesto mall defying statewide stay-at-home order
Modesto CA March 23 2020 Vintage Faire Mall, Stanislaus County’s largest indoor shopping center, remained open to the public Saturday despite the statewide stay-at-home order issued because of the coronavirus crisis.
Security guards remained onsite and patrolled inside and outside of the mostly empty mall.
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to close restaurants, retailers and other businesses across the Central Valley, the Modesto mall was still allowing people to enter the facility this week. But inside the vast majority of the stores were closed.
Those include major national brands like Macy’s, J.C. Penney, Apple, Sephora, H&M, Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister Co. and Footlocker which have shuttered all retail locations across the county due to coronavirus.
Around noon Saturday at the mall it appeared five retail stores and two kiosks were open, not including the center’s restaurants. The rest of the shops were closed and locked down with security gates. Many had removed merchandise but mall security still patrolled both inside and outside the grounds.
Those still operating were LensCrafters (by appointment only), Hairology (hair salon), Pheroni (men’s clothing store), Jenny’s (new clothing store with a “grand opening “sign), and Flip Flop Shops (shoe chain selling flip-flops and sandals). Only two kiosks appeared open, a portrait stand and a stand selling toys and games.
About a dozen people could be seen wandered through the mall Saturday, including families with children marveling at the closed stores and others milling about.
The food court restaurants were all closed, and Carl’s Jr. was the only restaurant inside the mall still open and offering takeout. The mall’s exterior restaurants had all closed their dining rooms, but were offering pickup and/or delivery including Buckhorn BBQ, Chipotle, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili’s, Johnny Carino’s, Stone Fire Pizza by MidiCi, Panera Bread and Mimi’s Cafe.
When contacted this week by The Bee, Vintage Faire management said they were working on a statement about the mall’s status in light of the global pandemic. Then Thursday evening Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all of the state’s residents to self isolate at home except for essential tasks. Non-essential businesses were also told to close.
The Vintage Faire Mall management has not responded to requests since the order for comments on the mall’s operations status.
The mall’s policies on spread of COVID-19 have evolved over the past two weeks. On March 10 they issued a notice to shoppers on Vintage Faire’s website and social media accounts about its enhanced cleaning efforts. Two days later Vintage Faire canceled its planned visits with the Easter Bunny.
