Here are the dozens of Fresno stores closing as coronavirus concern grows
Retail chains began closing locations nationwide on Tuesday or earlier in the week to help reduce the risk of coronavirus, leaving Fresno shopping destinations like Fashion Fair, Fig Garden and River Park with just a smattering of open stores.
Chains that buoy Fashion Fair like J.C. Penney and Macy’s are temporarily shuttered, as are popular stores like Foot Locker, Disney and Apple.
Those business decisions were made before the Wednesday announcement from the city of Fresno asking residents to “shelter in place” after 11:59 p.m. Wednesday through the end of the month to limit the spread of coronavirus. The city also ordered the closure of non-essential businesses, which includes retail clothing stores, bars and movie theaters, to name a few.
Macy’s made the announcement Tuesday it would be closing all stores, including its department stores and the discount Macy’s Backstage store at Fashion Fair.
“The health and safety of our customers, colleagues and communities is our utmost priority. As a result of the recent COVID-19 developments, we have decided to temporarily close our stores,” said CEO Jeff Gennette, adding that the company will work with government and health officials on the right time to reopen.
A stroll through Fashion Fair showed many businesses were blocked off by the doors that usually only roll down at the end of the day’s business. Fig Garden and River Park parking lots were mostly empty on Wednesday and few people could be seen window shopping.
Sacramento’s Arden Fair mall closed late Tuesday, marking the first major shopping destination in the state to close in the Central Valley. The mall has about 165 stores, compared to Fashion Fair’s more than 75.
Some shops in Fashion Fair continued business on Tuesday, including Forever 21, GameStop and Kay Jewelers, many with reduced hours.
Online shopping for most stores is ongoing.
Officials from the management teams for Fashion Fair, River Park and Fig Garden did not return requests for comment from The Bee.
Here are the stores that were known to be temporarily closed before the city’s order took effect:
Fashion Fair
The Children’s Place
Sephora
Abercrombie & Fitch
American Eagle
Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret
Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champ Sports, Footaction
Hollister
Lululemon
Lush cosmetics
Vans
GNC
H&M
Disney
Apple
Hot Topic
Lucky Brand
Tilly’s
Journeys
Michael Kors
River Park
Chico’s
White House Black Market
DSW
The Children’s Place
REI
H&M
Macy’s
Fig Garden
Chico’s
Soma
Williams-Sonoma
Other areas
Skechers
Tagua
The Discovery Shop
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 1:23 PM.
