Lime Ridge Mall’s extended hours aimed at potential influx of Toronto area lockdown shoppers

Lime Ridge Mall has extended its shopping hours in anticipation of out-of-town shoppers who may flock to Hamilton for Christmas shopping from regions in lockdown.

While the move drew criticism from some on social media, who viewed it as an invitation for people from COVID-19 hot spots to visit Hamilton, the manager of the mall defended the extended hours as a way to keep shoppers safe by spreading them out over more time.

In a memo issued by mall general manager Liem Vu to retailers that was widely circulated on Twitter, Vu stated that the move aims to spread out" foot traffic in the shopping centre and allow more time for visitors to shop safely," while noting the lockdowns in Toronto, Peel and York.

The new hours will remain in effect until Jan. 2.

Speaking to The Spectator on Tuesday afternoon, Vu said the decision to increase the mall's hours hinged on both the regular holiday shopping season, as well as ensuring shoppers have complete social distancing" while visiting Lime Ridge.

My No. 1 priority ... is to make sure that the community is safe," said Vu. The extra hours not only provide safety for the shopper, but also provides safety for the staff ... appropriate social distancing is way more comfortable than jam-packed at peak time."

Vu said the decision isn't an open invitation for people from regions in lockdown.

We want people to shop with a purpose and not to come to Hamilton if they don't have to," he said. I'm not hiding from the fact that Peel Region, Toronto and York Region are closed."

Speaking to The Spectator on Tuesday, Mayor Fred Eisenberger said the news of the extended hours runs counter" to the advice the city has given residents: Unless you have essential things you need to get, stay home.

I don't think it is at all a good idea," said Eisenberger.

John-Paul Danko, a city councillor on the Mountain, took to Twitter to remind people that only essential activities are permitted under current COVID restrictions. Going to a shopping mall in person is not essential," he tweeted.

He also didn't interpret the mall's memo as specifically inviting" shoppers from lockdown regions - but instead a response to the lockdown situations outside of Hamilton.

I think they are reacting to the reality that that is what's happening, to be responsible and to make sure that there is the room within the mall," said Danko.

Safety measures at Lime Ridge include directional arrows, hand-sanitizing stations, mandatory screening at the entrances, as well as a decreased occupancy of 2,400 people, down from more than 4,000 pre-pandemic.

Vu said it would have been irresponsible" for the mall not to extend hours if it would allow (customers) to be safe."

The opportunity is there," said Vu. My responsibility is to my community, my shoppers, my clients and to my staff. And I had the opportunity to make them feel safer and spread it out."

In a provincial COVID-19 update Tuesday, Health Minister Christine Elliott also cautioned people from lockdown regions to avoid travelling to an area that is at a lesser level even though Hamilton is in the red."

We want people to stay in place, stay in your own homes as much as possible ... it's the stay home time of the year," said Elliott. For right now, please don't go shopping in other areas that are lower zones. That just increases the community transmission, increases our numbers and puts more strain on our hospitals to deal with it."

But Danko was critical of the province's messaging.

If we were actually living up to the red zone standards, nobody would be at the mall because it's not essential," said Danko. There is that disconnect between what we're asking people to do and what people are actually doing."

Eisenberger said with the news of extended hours, the city will be putting additional resources" into bylaw enforcement at Lime Ridge to ensure they're following the requirements of the city.

Thus far, he said, the mall has been very good at adhering to requirements," but he worries the extended hours and potential crush of people" will be much more difficult to manage."

I expect and will demand that they manage it effectively with all the regulations that are in place," said Eisenberger. If they fail to do that, bylaw will be there and charges will ensue."

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com