The shoppers are back and malls are busy again

Aeon Mall One at the same time yesterday, KT/Jason Boken

Two months following the November 28 incident, shoppers across the capital have headed back to the malls in force with renewed confidence, ready to spend without fear, as attested to by the crowds seen at both Aeon malls this week.

Aeon One was ordered to close in November following the detection of a virus infected shopper having been in the mall.

Five days later, the mall was given the green light to re-open following the Ministry of Health having tested a total of 3,201 people who were working or shopping in the mall at the time of the incident. All of the tests proved negative for the virus. The mall was opened in stages with stricter guidelines set in place as denoted by the government.

It did, however, take time for the malls across the city to regain their lost traffic. Although safety guidelines were in place and being adhered to throughout shopping centres, people were still avoiding them down to the fear of infection.

Now, the malls are back into the swing of things. Food courts and shops, virtually empty not that many weeks ago, are once again filled with patrons.

Thomas Rimmer, an expat and regular shopper at Aeon Mall One, explained that he has noticed the difference in the mall’s traffic lately.

“To be honest I thought it was the right decision to close Aeon at the time. At the end of the day, it was better to be safe than sorry, although, once the mall had reopened it was a bit of a ghost town. Things seem to have started to pick back up. It does seem to be busy every time I come and people don’t look worried anymore,” Rimmer said.

He is not the only one thinking that: Aeon mall workers have also noticed an uptick in the number of visitors, shoppers, browsers and diners alike.

Srey Pov, shift manager for Oriental Princess, said that she has seen a gradual increase in footfall numbers.

“I think with all of the safety precautions in place people feel safe here now. The shop I manage has seen revenue gradually increase and the overall feeling at the mall is that things are back to normal. It did take time for this to happen but things are back on track,” Pov said. Khmer Times