‘If you’re gonna get it, you’re gonna get it’: NC malls reopen despite COVID-19 fears

GASTONIA, N.C. — Businesses started reopening as North Carolina entered Phase One at 5 p.m. Friday night.

One big opening in Charlotte on Saturday -- SouthPark Mall.

Channel 9′s DaShawn Brown reported a line of shoppers waiting at the front entrance waiting for stores to reopen. SouthPark, along with other Simon Properties such as Concord Mills and Charlotte Premium Outlets, have been closed for 50 days due to COVID-19.

The mall is encouraging one way traffic and prefers shoppers wear masks. It has also removed a lot of the furniture and most of the restrooms are closed.

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In a statement, Simon Properties said reopening Saturday should provide a much needed boost between their properties. They estimate more than 7,000 jobs.

Twenty minutes to 5 p.m. on Friday, the parking lot at Eastridge Mall in Gastonia was filled with mostly employee cars and Willie Adams.

“We haven’t had the mall in about two months so you know we need our mall back,” he said “I am glad it is finally over with, everybody can get back to normal.”

COVID-19 is not over though. But North Carolina’s case rate has been stable enough, abd the state entered into phase one of reopening Friday at 5 p.m. That means malls are able to reopen. Eastridge in Gastonia and Carolina Mall in Concord opened Friday.

"I'm not scared of it," Adams said.

Unphased by COVID-19, Adams and about two dozen others eagerly awaited the reopening of Eastridge. All for different reasons.

“My first purchase is a pair of Timberlands, two pairs of jeans and a new shirt,” Adams said.

“Before this virus, we would come over quite a bit,” said Anette Davis, who came to the mall to buy a child’s bike.

“I need some shoes,” Shetrece Whatley said. “The stores that have been open like Walmart and Target; they don’t really have nothing.”

When the clock struck 5 p.m., Adams, Davis, Whatley and many others entered Eastridge Mall to slight cheers and applause. The mall has been closed for more than six weeks.

Perhaps no one was more excited to see customers than Beth McCraw. She's owned Creations, a gift boutique, for 25 years but was one month away from having to close for good.

“When you own your own business you put your heart and soul into this, and I have,” she said. “I’ve actually cried a few tears. A lot actually. I have to breathe deeply just to try to get through every day. I’ve put everything in this business, and I don’t want to lose everything.”

Eastridge General Manager Steve Stout wants people to treat the mall like any other business that is open.

"Take the same precautions as you do when you go to the grocery store, when you have gone to other stores that have been open the past month," Stout said.

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Roughly 25 stores welcomed customers on opening night. More than half remained closed. Belk is opening Saturday. Dillard’s is opening Monday. Many stores to reopen are requiring employees to wear face masks and have occupancy limits. The mall’s couch seating areas are closed. The food court is only open for takeout.

Despite the precautions, many shoppers chose to forgo masks and social distancing and said they aren’t worried about the virus.

“If you’re gonna get it, you’re gonna get it,” Whatley said. “That’s just how I feel about it.”

Local businesses reopening means some people can head back to work Local businesses reopening means some people can head back to work

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