Danbury Fair Mall To Reopen With Some Changes

DANBURY, CT — The Danbury Fair Mall is set to reopen, along with many other local businesses, as the first phase of the state's return to business-normal begins on May 20.

The mall's cooling system has been modified to improve air flow, according to Mayor Mark Boughton, and hand sanitizing stations have been added in various areas. Shoppers will be required to both wear a mask and maintain six-feet distance from others, changing the either/or proposition standard in most retail outlets since the start of the lockdown.

There is no firm date for the start of phase two, Boughton said.

The mayor gave the update during his nightly livestreamed "COVID-19 Update" on Thursday night. He also stressed May 20 was just the very beginning of the first phase of businesses reopening, and that an uptick in positive cases could slow or even roll back openings. Fourteen new cases were confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours in the city, but there have been no new deaths reported, Bougton said.

At his daily coronavirus conference, Gov. Ned Lamont again expressed his hesitation at allowing limited-capacity indoor dining during phase one of the reopening. Boughton noted that the mall has removed the seating from its food court in preparation for May 20.

New hours for the mall at reopening will be Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from noon to six. Not every store will be open on May 20, and shoppers are advised to call ahead to ensure they are not disappointed.

Also on May 20, the birthday drive-by's by police and firefighters will be "phased down," according to Boughton, who cited the high volume of requests. The first responders will honor any existing commitments, but will not be taking anymore.