Region's shops get ready to reopen their doors to customers once again
After a year of uncertainty and three lockdowns, businesses across the region are preparing to open their doors to customers once more.
Under the Government's roadmap out of lockdown, non-essential businesses are set to reopen on April 12.
High streets and shopping centres across the Black Country and Staffordshire are gearing up for customers to flock to their stores with enhanced cleaning measures and ensuring social distancing can be in place.
Richard Scharenguivel, the manager of the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton said the opening will come with a new brand in the city centre.
He said: “While the city has been in national lockdown the Mander Centre has remained open throughout to enable our essential retailers to continue trading.
“Health and safety measures introduced as a result of the pandemic continue to ensure the safety of our customers and staff and we are stepping up cleaning as a result of the reopening of non-essential retailers.
“From April 12, we are very much looking forward to celebrating the opening of the first Frasers in the UK, alongside the opening of non-essential stores, and we are delighted Frasers has picked the Mander Centre to open its first concept store with hundreds of quality brands in the line up."
Bosses at New Square Shopping Centre in West Bromwich said an enhanced cleaning schedule will start to coincide with the increase in customers expected.
Jackie Clay, centre manager at New Square said: “Obviously the centre has remained open during lockdown for those stores still operating, so measures currently running such as removing the bench seating and the additional signage and hand sanitising stations will remain in place.
"There will also be an enhanced cleaning schedule to account for the increase in footfall expected. The in-store experience is the decision of each retailer, but many have already put measures in place such as shield screens and social distancing markers. We’re going to be keeping our customers up to date on our policies and any changes to opening times through social media and our website."
Merry Hill Shopping Centre will be announcing its list of reopening stores in the coming days.
A spokesman for Merry Hill said: “We are eagerly awaiting confirmation as to when we can reopen the centre and we know many of our visitors are excited to be planning their first shopping trip back with us soon!
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve been working hard to get the centre ready and we will announce in more detail what visitors can expect from their long-awaited visit to the centre next week. This will include details on what stores will be open, as well as a reminder of how we continue to keep our visitors safe.
“As we approach our reopening, we’d also like to thank our hard-working teams across the centre as well as our key workers in the local community, particularly for everything they have done over the last few months.”
