Some stores have closed forever, others have re-opened with little fanfare and new precautions to help both employees and shoppers feel safe and comfortable, including reserving store elevators for seniors and those with health issues.
Most retailers and restaurants in Midtown have re-opened, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstroms, Tiffany, Uniqlo, Nike and Apple.
Some are by appointment only, but all require face coverings and social distancing.
Saks Fifth Avenue
The iconic flagship store has removed the plywood and barbed-wire fencing to deter the looting that poisoned recent peaceful Black Lives Matter protests, so we can all see new window displays proclaiming its love for NYC.
It’s the Pandemic version of the store’s famous holiday windows and facade
Saks Fifth Avenue 2019 Holiday Lights
“It feels like forever that the store has been closed,” Saks President Marc Metrick told the NY Post of the reopening. “Our mood is very positive, but we are not doing doorbuster sales, concerts or bringing in designers to welcome people back.”
Saks Fifth Avenue has installed more than 100 hand-sanitizing stations throughout the store. Customers will be greeted at the entrance with signs reminding shoppers to wear masks and keep six feet apart at all times. The signs will also explain that someone is continually keeping track of how many people are in the store, although the maximum capacity set by the company to keep people clear of COVID-19 remains unclear.
Shoppers will be encouraged to use the escalators, which now sparkle with an iridescent glow of purple and green thanks to the cleansing ultraviolet lights.
Store elevators will be reserved for senior citizens and those with health issues, the company said
Decals on the floor will tell shoppers exactly where to stand when they get on the escalator.
Upper management, a group that includes executives in marketing, human resources and sales, now act as the store’s “wellness team,” and are monitoring the floors to ensure people are practicing social distancing and wearing masks.
Nordstrom
The upscale department store chain is re-opening six outposts in New York City, including the flagship Nordstrom NYC and Nordstrom Men’s Store on West 57th St., along with two Nordstrom Racks and two Nordstrom Locals.
According to Footwear News, safety measures include conducting health screenings for employees before they come to work, as well as proving face coverings for both staff and guests.
The retailer is limiting the number of customers and employees in its stores to allow for social distancing, as well as reducing hours of operation and including cleaning and sanitization. In addition, tried-on merchandise will be removed from the floor for a period of time, and high-touch services will be paused or modified for now.
Nordstrom stores in NYC have been shut since mid-March.
According to the Fifth Avenue Association business group, these retailers and restaurants have re-opened. In alphabetical order, since that’s the only fair way:
Apple (By Appointment) – 767 Fifth Avenue
Armani – 717 Fifth Avenue
Armani Exchange – 645 Fifth Avenue
AT&T – 590 Fifth Avenue
Bergdorf Goodman (Pickup) – 754 Fifth Avenue
Blancpain – 699 Fifth Avenue
Breguet (By Appointment) – 699 Fifth Avenue
Bulgari (By Appointment)- 699 Fifth Avenue
Burberry – 9 East 57th Street
Cartier – 653 Fifth Avenue
Chanel – 15 East 57th Street
Club Monaco – 597 Fifth Avenue
Coach – 685 Fifth Avenue
David Yurman – 5 East 57th Street
Dior – 21 East 57th Street
Dolce and Gabbana – 717 Fifth Avenue
Ermenegildo Zegna – 4 West 57th Street
Fendi – 598 Fifth Avenue
Gucci – 725 Fifth Avenue
Harry Winston (By Appointment)- 701 Fifth Avenue
Hublot – 743 Fifth Avenue
Intimissimi – 601 Fifth Avenue
Louis Vuitton – 1 East 57th Street
Metropolitan Club – 1 East 60th Street
Mikimoto – 730 Fifth Avenue
Miu Miu – 11 East 57th Street
Nike – 650 Fifth Avenue
Omega – 711 Fifth Avenue
Prada (Pickup) – 724 Fifth Avenue
Rolex (By Appointment) – 665 Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue – 611 Fifth Avenue
Salvatore Ferragamo – 655 Fifth Avenue
St. John – 665 Fifth Avenue
Tag Heuer – 685 Fifth Avenue
Ted Baker – 595 Fifth Avenue
Tiffany & Co. (Pickup and Appointments)- 6 East 57th Street
Uniqlo – 666 Fifth Avenue
Valentino – 693 Fifth Avenue
Van Cleef & Arpels (By Appointment) – 744 Fifth Avenue
Wempe – 700 Fifth Avenue
Yves Saint Laurent – 3 East 57th Street
Zara – 666 Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue Assn. photo
Dining Now Open:
Avra Madison (Outdoor dining)- 14 East 60th Street
Armani / Ristorante 5th Avenue – 717 Fifth Avenue
Benihana – 47 W 56th St
Benoit (Outdoor dining) – 60 West 55th Street
Blue Bottle Coffee – 10 East 53rd Street
Del Frisco’s Grille (Outdoor dining) – 50 Rockefeller Plaza
Nobu (Outdoor dining)- 40 West 57th Street
Red Peony (Outdoor dining) – 24 West 56th Street
San Pietro Ristorante (Outdoor dining) – 18 East 54th Street
Valbella (Outdoor dining) – 11 East 53rd Street
What do you think about this? We welcome your comments.