Dozens of once-glamorous designer stores in New York are now empty, desolate, and cleared out after Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered all non-essential workers to remain home to combat the spread of the coronavirus sweeping the state.
The once-bustling Big Apple has turned into a ghost town following lockdown and self-isolation orders.
Upscale stores such as Chanel, Balenciaga and Celina – once the crown jewels of big city shopping – are now eerily empty and forlorn as companies clear the shelves and remove their merchandise.
On Friday, Cuomo ordered nonessential business to keep 100 percent of their workforce at home, tightening restrictions on New Yorkers from Sunday onwards.
New York City is reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic with the number of cases in the state climbing to 20,875. New York’s cases account for an astonishing five percent of cases worldwide.
Dozens of once-glamorous designer stores in New York are now empty, desolate and boarded up after Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered all non-essential workers to remain home to combat the spread of the coronavirus sweeping the state. A locked down Chanel store on Madison Avenue in Manhattan pictured on Monday, the streets empty of its usual shoppers
Designer store Balenciaga cleared its shelves of clothing, shoes and jewelry and even stripped the display of its mannequins and decorations, leaving nothing behind at its Madison Avenue, Manhattan store on Monday
The French luxury designer brand Celine also emptied out its store on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York, as pictured above on Monday afternoon
The lights were still on at the glamorous Celine store on Madison Avenue in Manhattan where workers cleared out the merchandise as the shop will be closed indefinitely until the lockdown is lifted
On Fifth Avenue, the H. Stern jewelry store was seen left completely empty, every last diamond and bauble picked up and stored away for when businesses can reopen
A look at the empty jewelry display cases at H. Stern pictured above on Fifth Avenue as workers are ordered to stay at home
On Friday Governor Cuomo ordered all nonessential workers stay at home, leaving luxury stores with no choice but to close. The empty H. Stern jewelry store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan pictured above
The Mulberry store in Soho, Manhattan was also cleared of its clothes and accessories as the store closed down in light of the coronavirus crisis. The empty shop pictured on Monday
For many businesses, the future is remains in the dark. It’s not clear when the lockdown will be lifted nor when stores will be allowed to open again, or when customers will feel safe enough to shop.
On Monday the ritzy shopping street Madison Avenue was silent, the stores lining the block locked shut.
Some stores have even cleared their display windows, leaving naked mannequins and laying bare the empty store within.
On Fifth Avenue, the H. Stern jewelry store was seen left completely empty, every last diamond and bauble picked up and stored away for when businesses can reopen.
While some stores like Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana still had merchandise in their display windows, the stores themselves were shuttered and will remain so for the unforeseeable future.
The Gucci store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York shut its doors but left some items on display in the shop windows
Balenciaga’s Madison Avenue store was shockingly empty, with only the furniture remaining in the designer shop on Monday
An empty Kendra Scott store in Soho, New York pictured above as business across the city shutter due to a lockdown
Manhattan’s streets were empty on Monday as residents stayed inside their homes to slow the spread of the coronavirus and fashion stores closed down
Midtown Manhattan is famous for its bustling crowds of tourists and shopping, but on Monday the street was a ghost town with not a single person in sight
A shoe store pictured on the quiet Madison Avenue in New York on Monday. It’s not clear when these fashion stores will be allowed to open again
The ritzy Bulgari store pictured above on Fifth Avenue. New York residents have been told to remain at home and only essential employees such as state staffers or health workers are allowed outside in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19
On Friday Gov. Cuomo ordered nonessential business to keep 100 percent of their workforce at home, tightening restrictions on New Yorkers that started on Sunday. The shuttered Mikimoto and Bulgari stores pictured above
‘When I talk about the most drastic action we can take, this is the most drastic action we can take,’ Cuomo said during a press conference from Albany on the lockdown and ordering nonessential workers to stay home. ‘This is not life as usual. Accept it. Realize it. Deal with it.’ The empty Fifth Avenue Street in New York pictured above
Victoria Secret kept their display lights on but not a shopper was in sight on Monday as stores are closed through the New York City area except for grocery stores and pharmacies
‘When I talk about the most drastic action we can take, this is the most drastic action we can take,’ Cuomo said during a press conference from Albany, announcing all nonessential workers should stay home.
‘This is not life as usual. Accept it. Realize it. Deal with it.’
The move to force businesses closed will force people to lose their jobs, something Cuomo acknowledged.
To ease the blow the governor suspended evictions across the state for 90 days.
‘We’re all in quarantine now. We’re all in various levels of quarantine and it’s hard,’ he said.
On the Upper East Side eateries closed down and boarded up their doors and windows – a sign that restaurant owners are giving up on the hopes of opening up again for some time.
Even bustling tourist sites like Times Square were shockingly silent and empty as New Yorkers remain indoors.
The move to force businesses closed will force people to lose their jobs, something Cuomo acknowledged. To ease the blow the governor suspended evictions across the state for 90 days. An empty Fifth Avenue shop pictured Monday in Manhattan
Designer stores Armani and Dolce & Gabanna kept their display windows set up despite the New York lockdown. The luxury stores pictured on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Monday
In Monday’s press conference Cuomo announced that the number of New York coronavirus cases has climbed to 20,875 statewide. New York’s cases account for an astonishing five percent of cases worldwide. The shut down stores along Fifth Avenue pictured above
The Supply House restaurant on the Upper East side was closed and boarded up on Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic
PQR Pizza Quadrata Romana located in the Upper East Side in Manhattan boarded their doors and windows after Governor Cuomo ordered the city to go into lockdown mode
A shuttered pizzeria pictured on the Upper East Side on Monday as a local takes a solitary walk during lockdown in New York City
The usually lively Times Square in New York was left empty and eerily silent on Monday afternoon as residents were ordered to stay in their homes
In Monday’s press conference Cuomo announced that the number of New York coronavirus cases has climbed to 20,875 statewide. New York’s cases account for an astonishing five percent of cases worldwide.
The number of cases have jumped by 5,707 since Sunday.
There are at least 12,305 cases in New York City’s five boroughs and 157 people have died so far.
An increase in overall testing is the reason behind the surge in New York’s numbers.
Washington state and California follow behind New York as states with the second and third worst outbreaks in the US.
In the US, there are now more than 39,000 cases of the virus and more than 400 people have died
Tomorrow, New York’s state doctors will start trialing anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine.
The drug has not yet been proven as effective in battling the virus, but President Trump drummed up excitement over it when he called it a ‘game changer’ last week.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House coronavirus expert, said more work was needed before it could be heralded as a solution.