One Department Store Stands: Dillard’s Still Remains Open During Coronavirus Pandemic

With nearly all department stores closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, one lone store remains open in states where there has not been a non-essential business shutdown order.

Dillard’s (DDS) has reportedly chosen to remain open even as its competitors Macy’s, JC Penney, Nordstrom, Kohl’s, and Bloomingdale’s have closed temporarily. Even the malls where some Dillard’s stores are located have shut their doors, but the department store chain continues to operate as the COVID-19 pandemic wages on.

Unlike many of its rivals, Dillard’s has not issued a statement on its website about the coronavirus or about what it is doing to prevent the spread of the virus. Instead, it is business as usual for the company, which has about 290 stores located throughout the U.S.

According to sources for CNBC, employees are “begging” the retailer to shut its doors, with one employee saying, “What is scary is people are coming in and touching everything because they are bored ... and we are open for business.”

A Dillard’s spokeswoman told the news outlet in an email that “We are open with limited hours where not ordered to close by state or local government mandate. We are promptly cooperating with any such actions.”

Dillard’s is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday at most stores unless otherwise designated. The company did say on its website that due to high demand, shipping on orders placed on its website would be delayed until March 27.

Shares of Dillard's stock were up 21.41% as of 3:15 p.m. EDT on Tuesday.