The Vanity Fair Outlet in Williamsburg reopened for just a few days before abruptly closing.
The company posted June 2 on their Facebook page a list of locations, which included Williamsburg, that would be reopening on June 4. However, just a few days later on June 9, the company posted a new list of locations reopening throughout the country. The Williamsburg location was not listed.
Carol Hobeck was visiting the area with some friends and went to the store on June 8 to do some shopping. Around 5 p.m. she and her three companions were approached by employees and told the store was closing two hours early. When Hobeck asked why, she was told there was a “manager issue.”
Hobeck said the store’s employees were abundantly polite and respectful, but they also seemed distracted in wanting to get the customers out of the store as soon as possible. Hobeck was allowed to pay for the items she had already picked up and was told that she would be contacted by the corporate office.
She was never asked for her contact information but Hobeck assumed it was because she was a rewards member with the store so her information was already on file.
However, Hobeck never received any word from the corporate office about what exactly happened.
She commented on the Vanity Fair Outlet post from June 9 explaining what had happened to her in the store and that she was concerned if an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. The company responded to the comment two days later stating that it had closed due to “unforeseen staffing constraints,” and is working to reopen soon.
Julia Burge, director of external communications for Kontoor Brands, Inc., the umbrella company for Vanity Fair Outlet, said there have been no known cases of the virus among staff at the Williamsburg location.
Burge said while the Williamsburg location was initially allowed to reopen, it closed shortly afterwards due to a lack of staff.
Burge said the location had to temporarily close while they identified the necessary management needed to run the store.
“Several employees decided they did not want to return from the temporary furlough and the remaining management staff were unable to meet the scheduling commitments needed to keep the store open,” she wrote in an email.
She said the company is hoping to reopen later this week.
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