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* Fashion reacts by temporarily closing stores or reducing hours to curb coronavirus exposure.
Retail store closures continue at a rapid rate as the coronavirus makes its way around the globe.
Over the weekend, a swarm of retailers revealed temporary store closures throughout North America in an effort to contain the spread of the virus and COVID19, the disease it causes. Others said they would have reduced hours. By Sunday, the list included Urban Outfitters, Lululemon, Patagonia, Glossier, Nike, Reformation, Under Armour, Warby Park, Everlane and more. On Monday and Tuesday, the list had expanded even further - with announcements of store closures seemingly coming every hour.
On Monday evening, Seattle-based department store Nordstrom said it was temporarily closing down stores around the country. That same evening, the city of Beverly Hills, Calif., ordered all non-essential retail stores to close. That includes the city's iconic Rodeo Drive.
Then came the big hit: On Tuesday, Macy's announced it would close stores nationwide for two weeks. That includes all Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury stores. The company was one of the largest retailers nationwide to close during the wake of the pandemic. The Neiman Marcus Group, which includes Manhattan's luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman, followed suit the same day, saying it would close both brands until further notice. Saks Fifth Avenue and Hudson's Bay did the same, as did Tiffany & Co., which closed all its stores in North America. Throughout the rest of the day a multitude of smaller companies and brands revealed similar closures.
Most of them said stores will be closed for at least two weeks. While many brands said they would pay their staffs their salaries and benefits during the closures, others did not specify whether they would do so. Meanwhile, WWD estimates show that $150 billion could be at stake in fashion retail sales in the U.S., Europe and Canada as stores shutter in those three regions.
Here, WWD rounds up which stores have closed, which ones have new, shorter hours and what else to expect.
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Abercrombie & Fitch, which includes the Abercrombie Kids, Hollister Co. and Gilly Hicks, in addition to the nameplate brand, closed all stores outside of the Asian-Pacific region for two weeks. Store closures...