South Coast Plaza, the same but not the same, reopens after coronavirus shutdown
By Orange County on June 11, 2020
In what feels like another era, Kenya Roberts bought a gift at the Louis Vuitton in South Coast Plaza.
By the time her sister opened the present a week later, California had gone on lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus. The trinket wasn’t quite to her liking, but an exchange would have to wait.
A shopper carries a bag as she makes her way through the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A shopper rides the escalator at the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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A shopper enters the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
As some shoppers wait in line to get into a store, others ride the escalator at the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shoppers stand in line as they wait for the opening of the Louis Vuitton store on the first day of the reopening of the South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shoppers wear masks as they make their way through the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A on the floor directs shoppers at the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A sign directs shoppers at the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A workers keeps the railing on the escalator clean as shoppers return to the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shoppers make their way through the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shopper pass a welcome sign as they enter the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shoppers wear masks as they wait in a long line for the Zara to open on the first day at the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shoppers wear masks as they ride the escalator at the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shoppers wear masks as they make their way through the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A on the floor directs shoppers at the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shoppers wear masks as they ride the escalator at the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shoppers wear masks as they make their way through the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A sign in the window of Zara welcomes shoppers at the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The sun casts shapes on the floor as shoppers wear masks while they make their way through the reopened South Coast Plaza retail shopping center in Costa Mesa on Thursday, June 11, 2020, after it was closed for three months due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Roberts would finally get the chance Thursday, June 11, to select something else for her sis. On the morning of South Coast’s understated grand reopening, she stood in a line with two dozen others waiting for a turn inside the swank boutique.
“I feel like I’m in a dream – seeing the world as it was, but then again not, before all this happened,” said Roberts, who lives in Chino and works as a waitress. “There were all those little things we took for granted, like not having to wear face masks. I wish we could click our heels and go back.”
Indeed, Costa Mesa’s high-end shopping center looked the same yet also quite different.
Arrows plastered along passageways directed visitors to walk six feet apart from one another. Hand sanitizer dispensers were stationed throughout. With the exception of that surprising line outside Louis Vuitton, stores were sparsely populated. A jazz quartet’s enchanting music sounded almost melancholy, given the hard times.
And then there were those masks – an entrance requirement.
Paper face coverings are now distributed to those who forget their own. With drinking fountains turned off, customers are offered bottled water. They also can nab packets of hand sanitizer. A restroom attendant disinfects after each use.
It’s the price of doing business in the new normal.
Salvatore Ferragamo manager Dustin Brons-Trust awaited customers inside his freshly sanitized store. In a quick tour, he pointed out changes made to keep visitors and employees safe.
“We have hand sanitizer at every touch point,” Brons-Trust explained. “For one less touch point, we removed the caps from sample bottles of fragrance. There will be only one customer at a time per sales team member. We have pushed out our seating for social distancing. Customers will put on a new pair of hosiery each time they try on shoes.”
Despite the new challenges, Brons-Trust said, “We are super-excited to reopen and to give our customers the same luxury experience.”
Linda Lu negotiated the aisles of Macy’s department store, where staff wore matching black masks.
“I’m just window shopping today – I’m not touching anything yet,” said the Santa Ana resident. “I’m a furloughed ultrasound tech, so I’ve been cooped up at home for three months. It feels great to get out.”
A clique of four Laguna Beach High boys celebrated their last day of school. “We’re here for the designer sales,” asserted Keanu Morris, 17, as his buddies teased him about his fashion sense.
“It’s weird to be here,” Morris said. “Everything is so weird now.”
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