Boston, MA Kimco Realty Corp., one of North America’s largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use assets, is rolling out a Curbside Pickup program at its Texas shopping centers, with plans for a nationwide expansion in the coming days. The company is designating curbside pickup parking spots at its centers for use by all tenants and their customers. The program is designed to help businesses adapt to the new shopping habits that have emerged as a result of the pandemic, and to allow customers to ease back into a daily shopping routine while feeling safe and comfortable.

Kimco is committed to finding innovative solutions for its tenants during the pandemic that are consistent with federal and state health guidelines. The program was initially rolled out to Grand Parkway Marketplace in Spring, Texas with 60 parking spots designated.

“Since the start of the pandemic, the Kimco team has had a singular focus – finding ways to support our valued stakeholders during these unprecedented times,” said Conor Flynn, Kimco’s CEO. “While curbside pickup was already gaining traction before the pandemic, some of our national retailers are now reporting a 200% increase in curbside pickup orders. By formalizing the process and expanding it beyond national retailers to our local mom and pops, we hope to help tenants quickly ramp back up sales as the economy begins to open again. Our Curbside Pickup program takes the best practices we have learned from our large national players and shares them with our small business owners, while also adding a level of convenience and comfort for customers who are still eager to support their favorite local establishments.”

Throughout the crisis, Kimco has continued to support its tenants in a number of ways. Through direct email communication and with its COVID-19 Response Page, the company is providing valuable health, safety and financial assistance information. Moreover, hundreds of tenants have taken advantage of the company’s Tenant Assistance Program (TAP) offering free legal guidance in applying for government-sponsored small business relief funds that may be critical to their survival over the coming weeks.