The Simon Property Group announced all its retail properties, including the Williamsburg Premium Outlets, closed through March 29 due to coronavirus concerns.
The property group clarified: “Essential retailers such as pharmacies and food delivery/take-out may be available. Please check ‘Stores’ and ‘Dining’ for contact info.”
“We’re not closed,” a manager from Food Lion said Thursday. “We’re open during regular hours.”
RELATED STORY: Williamsburg Premium Outlets closes due to coronavirus concerns
On Wednesday before the closure took effect, Adam Terrien, the restaurant’s general manager said Oceans & Ale was open, offering curbside pick up.
He added they already closed the patio and guests were not allowed inside the restaurant.
“Our goal is to weather the storm,” he said, noting they want to make sure employees are paid.
Terrien said he contacted the mall manager Wednesday because he was unsure if the closure applied to restaurants and grocery stores like Food Lion or just retail.
WYDaily followed up with the Oceans & Ale on Thursday and spoke with Oscar Wong, one of the managers.
He said Terrien was off Thursday and confirmed they were open every day from noon to 8 p.m.
Michael Claar, operations director for Alewerks Brewing Company, said they closed their outlets L.A.B. location on Monday prior to the announcement.
“Ours was more where people would be congregating closely, touching surfaces,” he said. “We were following the trends of other assembly businesses like restaurants.”
Claar said some of the stores had already opted to close and he felt like it was a matter of time before the mall closed, too.
On Tuesday, the mall reduced its hours from noon to 7 p.m., announcing the changes through email and phone calls on Monday evening after 6, Claar said.
He was notified of the latest closure through email and phone calls at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday about three hours before the announcement took effect.
The brewery company’s taproom is closed to the public, but they are offering curbside services, online pick up orders for beer and started delivering in the Williamsburg area, with 100 percent of the tips going to staff.
Their hours are Sunday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. In fact, the brewery is still keeping their schedule of beer releases.
“We’re certainly preparing to reopen at that date but obviously we are in a day-to-day situation,” Claar said, adding they would monitor CDC guidelines. “The support we’ve been receiving is very emotional in a good way.”
“We’re just hoping for the best.”
Jill Frank, BRAVE Public Relations for the Williamsburg Premium Outlets, wrote in an email Wednesday that she was not handling media inquiries about the closures.
But when WYDaily asked if the closures applies to all tenants or just retailers with the exception of restaurants and grocery stores, she responded with additional information, including a news release.
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