Area mall owner Wilmorite says it is disappointed malls cannot reopen when the COVID-19 reopening moves to Phase 4 in the Rochester region on Friday.
Wilmorite says there many locally owned stores and franchisees inside the malls that cannot withstand the shutdown long-term. And Wilmorite says it has prepared the malls for safe reopening and says the wide-open common areas are a positive alternative to cramped aisles at supermarkets and discount stores.
Wilmorite operates the Eastview, Marketplace and Greece Ridge malls.
For now, only mall stores with outside entrances can do business.
Movie theaters, gyms and casinos also are excluded from the Phase 4 reopening, for now.