Shopping malls and retail stores resumed operating with several restrictions on February 1. As of the regulations, the shopping centers will work from 10:00 to 19:00, while the trade facilities will remain closed on weekends.
Levan Meskheli, director of City Mall notes that on the very first day of opening slight increase of customer number is noted comparing to the same period of the last year.
“Customer flow is slightly high comparing to previous February or late January, but no significant increase is noted, because most of the customers visit the shopping malls on the weekends. The curfew also affects the business, as employed customers are not able to visit the stores during the week”, Levan Meskheli noted.
The director of City Mall also spoke about the problems of the lack of public transport, however, noting that he looks the issue in the long-term.
"Public transport can get the epidemic condition harder in the long-term. We do not look at the issue in terms of revenue because now we have more expenditures than revenue at this stage. Our main goal is somehow to save the sector from collapse and well-known brands not to leave the market. Turning them back is related to the large sums," Levan Meskheli said.
According to him, during the period when the shopping malls were closed, they continued to communicate with partners not to leave the market.
