Southdale Center, Albertville and Twin Cities Premium Outlets reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic

Tommy Wiita
[KSTP]

The company, Simon, announced that it will reopen Albertville Premium Outlets, Southdale Center and Twin Cities Premium Outlets Monday.

As part of the reopening process, Simon says it has published its comprehensive COVID-19 exposure control policy, developed in conjunction with a team of leading health experts in order to deliver an elevated set of safety standards at their properties. Additionally, the properties have joined forces with local nonprofits to support initiatives aimed at assisting those experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19.

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"The health, safety and well-being of those we serve will always be our highest priority, and we have developed a thorough and detailed set of protocols highlighting the exceptional measures we’ve implemented to safeguard shoppers, retailers and employees as we reopen,” said John Rulli, President of Simon. “We also recognize that individuals and families in our communities are suffering significant hardship as a result of both COVID-19 and the economic shutdown, and we believe that reopening our properties will not only help people get back to work during these challenging times, but also enable us to use our properties to further support charitable initiatives." 

The safety protocols put in place include:

  • Enhanced sanitization and disinfecting using the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) approved products with an emphasis on high-traffic locations such as dining areas, restrooms, escalators, stairs, directories, trash bins and door knobs. 
  • Shopper safeguards that include making available protective masks, sanitizing wipes and temperature testing at entrances or property offices, as well as the encouragement of pre-visit health screenings to ensure shoppers stay home if they have exhibited COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms within 72 hours. 
  • Hand sanitizing stations will be deployed throughout the properties.
  • Signage promoting CDC guidelines for maintaining personal hygiene will be prominently displayed throughout the properties. 
  • Preemptive employee health screening to ensure that employees do not arrive at work within 72 hours of exhibiting COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms.
  • Employee safety protections including implementing the CDC's COVID-19 frequent hand-washing protocols, and offering personal protective equipment in addition to other CDC recommended practices. 
  • Promotion or enforcement of social distancing practices, including company limitations, furniture and restroom spacing, closure of play areas and strollers, as well as coordinated traffic flow with traffic signage and distance markers.

All Simon properties had closed on March 19 in order to address the spread of COVID-19. The centers are important economic engines for their local communities, providing more than 3,800 jobs and contributing $38 million of sales tax and $10 million in property tax revenue to the state, according to a news release.

To see Simon's full COVID-19 Exposure Control Policy, click here.