CENTRAL VALLEY – The mall empire that owns Woodbury Common Premium Outlets says its shopping mecca in Orange County will reopen next week, in spite of state plans for a gradual reopening of businesses that requires most retail stores to wait until a second phase. UPDATE: Simon will not open NY stores on May 16
Simon Property Group announced Tuesday that it already has opened 59 shopping centers in 13 states that have lifted their coronavirus closure orders, and will open 18 more within the next week. The schedule indicates that seven malls in New York — including Woodbury Common, Shops at Nanuet, and The Westchester in White Plains — will open on May 16.
UPDATE: Simon Malls will not open NY stores as announced, same-day retraction states
That is the day after New York’s closure order expires. But Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a plan on Monday for a four-phase reopening of businesses in each of 10 regions of the state that can begin only after a region has met all seven benchmarks set by the state for new coronavirus cases and other measures.
As of Monday, the seven-county mid-Hudson region where Woodbury Common and the Nanuet and White Plains malls are located had met four of the seven criteria. Even if it satisfied all seven by May 16, the first phase of reopening is only for construction, manufacturing, supply-chain wholesalers and retail stores that offer curbside pickup.
