T-L Photo The Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville reopens today after about two months of being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Ohio Valley Mall will reopen its doors to the public today after being closed for weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Joe Bell, spokesman for the Cafaro Co., the mall’s parent company, said the mall will resume normal operating hours today, in accordance with the state’s safe opening protocols. The mall closed on March 13 when Gov. Mike DeWine ordered the closure of all non-essential business amid the pandemic.

Many of the retailers will be opening on various days throughout the next week or so. Bell said the reopening will begin slowly with not all retailers opening back up on the first day.

“Things are going to roll out probably slowly. In the experience of other malls around the country, it’s going to start with not every one of the retailers opening right away,” he said.

Some of the retailers may need additional time to restock inventory, fill staff positions or continue cleaning, he said.

“For whatever reason, they’re not all opening at the same time. What we have seen is as the days pass by, more and more of them (retailers) do open,” he said.

The mall and its retailers have taken extra precautions and implemented safeguards to ensure the safety of employees and customers including extra cleaning, barriers to encourage social distancing and employees donning face coverings in keeping with state and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Some retailers will also offer curbside pickup service.

Bell said he was unsure as to which retailers would choose to open today. He recommends that customers call ahead to ensure an individual store is open.

The mall will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Boscov’s is one retailer that has announced it will reopen its Ohio Valley Mall location today. It is hosting a weekly Monday shopping hour for “more vulnerable” customers from 11 a.m. to noon.

“We ask other customers wait patiently to shop until after these hours,” the company states on its website.

Boscov’s also has established the following new shopping policies:

∫ All customers and co-workers must wear a face covering within the store.

∫ Customers and co-workers must follow social distancing guidelines as outlined by the CDC and remain at least 6 feet away from other individuals.

∫ Customers will be asked to follow entrance and exit patterns while shopping. Each store will have at least one designated entrance and all other doors will be used as exit only.

∫ Store officials will closely monitor store traffic to stay well below the governor’s capacity guidelines.

∫ During this period, all returns must be taken to the courtesy desk.

Deep cleaning practices have been implemented, and dressing rooms are temporarily closed.

This week Boscov’s will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.