In these Rona times, the closures due to COVID continue to climb. While walking around Ala Moana, I noticed a few more shuttered storefronts.
Banana Republic, amazingly, has been closed for some time.Abercrombie for Kids closed its doors.Forever 21 didn’t make it in 2021.
Foot traffic at the mall does seem to be picking up as the weeks go by, but it’s much less crowded now than during the peak holiday season. Hoping more businesses can weather the prolonged COVID economic impact.
Is this thing working? Sadly due to COVID and all its social distancing restrictions, Black Friday shopping doesn’t feel like Black Friday shopping. Sure, online sales have already started earlier in the week and more specials are inbound, so maybe the frenetic craziness of BF shopping may actually happen.
I mean I didn’t even think twice. Autographed, bonus songs, different covers, and supposedly limited supply (even though there’s a limit of 4 CDs per order). I do like the Folklore album so perhaps Taylor’s music spoke to me during these COVID times. Or maybe, just maybe, I have a weak mind.
With Hawaii’s Stay at Home, Work from Home emergency order in place, only businesses categorized as Essential Activies remain open. So when visiting Ala Moana, it’s eerily empty with only food vendors and restaurants allowed to operate. Even then, many chose to stay closed.
The escalators were also shut down, assumedly to save on operations, maintenance, and cleaning.
Hoping these closures of the small businesses are only temporary. But the real prize of this dreary visit is the patbingsu from Jejubing Dessert Cafe. Recently opened during the height of COVID breakouts on Oahu, the cafe is still open for takeout and is well worth the drive and eat in the car.
This is the green tea regular size, but I think I’ll stick with the tiramisu. Mango is good albeit a little sweet, and you can’t go wrong with the kinako bingsu.
If you’ve walked around a shopping mall during this COVID time, you’ve seen the desolation firsthand. Very little customers and permanently closed stores are common sights. So much so that here are nine business that have gone bankrupt:
Hmmm, should I be insulted since I did NOT win the Adidas raffle for the new Yeezy 380 “Blue Oats?”
I learned that the reflective version was very limited, but I didn’t consider that this non-reflective version would be difficult to get. And even though Adidas held a raffle, I thought winning one would be probable.
In these Rona Times, this Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bar is a popular seller. Found at local markets, finding these frozen boba drinks on a stick isn’t so easy.