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Thursday, March 28, 2024

CambridgeSide mall escalators will have riders again when retail reopens Monday after a coronavirus shutdown. (Photo: Marc Levy)

The first CambridgeSide stores reopen for in-person shopping Monday, including Newbury Comics, Guess, Skechers, Olympia Sports, Pandora, Finish Line, T-Mobile and CVS, mall management said Saturday. Retailers statewide have permission to reopen as well.

The mall’s Macy’s plans to open June 15 and Sephora on June 19, with no word on the East Cambridge mall’s Apple Store, H&M or T.J. Maxx.

Starbucks, Dunkin’, Burger King, Panda Express, Gong Cha, World of Beer and other mall eateries will also open Monday, with outdoor seating. Curbside pickup has already been available from some stores and restaurants and will continue, managers said.

The mall, which has around 80 shops and restaurants in total, closed March 22 to avoid contributing to coronavirus infection. But Gov. Charlie Baker issued details Saturday on reopening retail and mall owner New England Development acted quickly, with an announcement coming via email at 3:18 p.m.

“We are pleased to open our doors again,” says Issie Shait, executive vice president of property management for owner New England Development. “We look forward to welcoming shoppers back.”

Baker’s office said it moved ahead with the retail phase of reopening because the trends were good, with low seven-day averages for positive Covid-19 tests and hospitalized patients. The reopening plan didn’t take into account protests against police brutality that have undone social distancing rules over the past 10 days, though, and Cambridge passed 1,000 known Covid-19 infections Monday, with deaths poised to pass 100.

Mall managers will keep doing deep cleanings and offer hand sanitizer and information on proper handwashing techniques – and they remind shoppers that city laws make masks required to shop. City officials also had a reminder: Stores will have occupancy limits that might leave some shoppers in distanced lines outside until space frees up.

CambridgeSide hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday from and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.