Maine Mall closes after Mills' mandate

Photo / Renee Cordes A hand sanitizer station at the Maine Mall earlier this month. The mall has temporarilty closed after Gov. Janet Mills mandated that all nonessential businesses shut their public facilities Tuesday.

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By Staff

The Maine Mall has temporarily closed after Gov. Janet Mills Tuesday mandated that all nonessential businesses shut their public facilities to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Shopping centers are listed as nonessential under Department of Homeland Security classifications, guidelines the state is using as well.

While the mall itself is closed, essential stores and restaurants with exterior entrances remain open, the mall's owners, Brookfield Properties Retail Group, said on the mall's website. The post also indicated some food court restaurants may be open.

The mall, in South Portland, has 115 stores, both inside and on pads outside. The post lists two essential businesses as being open: Maine Mall Eyecare, which is open by appointment, and Spectrum. The post doesn't specify what other stores may be open or if the doors to the mall will be locked.

Citing the mandate that all bars and restaurants close to dining, the post said, "We expect all Maine Mall restaurant, bar, and food court tenants to comply with the mandate. We anticipate that food court tenants may continue to operate for carryout and delivery service. Seating in the food court will not be permitted."

Stand-alone stores and those with their own entrances are still closed if they are nonessential, including furniture stores.

"Thank you for your understanding and support," the website post says. "Our heartfelt wishes for your health and safety. We look forward to welcoming you back in the near future."

The Maine Mall is the largest enclosed shopping center in the state. The largest open air mall is the Marketplace at Augusta, which has 1.3 million square feet of space. At that mall, stores that are essential — including Home Depot, Walmart, Spectrum and restaurants — are open, but nonessential stores are closed.

Essential businesses include grocery stores, those that home care and repair services, automotive supply and repair shops, and others.

Clothing stores, fitness studios, nail salons and certain other retail businesses are not considered essential.