Curbside Retail At Lake Elsinore Outlets Proves Challenging

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — The business of curbside retail has hurdles early on. Granted, it's been less than 24 hours since the state and county gave the OK for retailers in many sectors to reopen under strict coronavirus guidelines, so the ink is barely dry. But the devil is in the state's details.

"Unfortunately, [curbside] just doesn't work for a lot of retailers," said Jennifer Sulpizio, senior property manager fro Athena Property Management, the company that manages the Outlets at Lake Elsinore. Athena is supporting Lake Elsinore retailers that want to open for curbside, but as of Friday morning none had yet signed up at the Outlets, Sulpizio said.

In order for a retailer to offer curbside, there must be an online shopping platform that allows for pickup, and employees have to staff the store to serve drive-up customers and take phone orders — expenses that may put budgets further into the red even if curbside brings in some sales.

"It's just very difficult for them," Sulpizio said.

Christina Camp and her mother own the swimwear shop, Beachbreak. They opened their first Temecula location in 1988, which has since moved to 41720 Winchester Road in the city, and they have a second store at the Outlets. The Temecula spot is doing curbside business, but Camp said it will be another week before she can bring back her three furloughed employees at the Lake Elsinore site and begin offering curbside service for her customers.

"It's not easy to sell bathing suits this way," she said, noting that people like to try on before opening their wallets.

Complicating matters is the state's stay-home order. Non-essential travel is not recommended, and even a trip to a SoCal beach is tricky. Which beaches are open, can visitors go, what are the rules?

"This is our season," Camp said, referring to spring/summer swimwear buying by beachgoers and travelers.

On Wednesday, the county relaxed guidelines for community swimming pools, which is something positive for Beachbreak.

Next weekend Camp said she's determined to make a go of curbside in Lake Elsinore.

"We're going to give it a try," she said.

Sulpizio is looking forward to Tuesday when Gov. Gavin Newsom unveils stringent guidelines for counties that want to expand beyond just curbside retail. Read more about the governor's plans: Reopening Begins In Riverside County As Coronavirus Lurks

"We're waiting on pins and needles," she said.