The Effect of Pandemic to Indonesia Economy and Business, Hypermart Closes and Retail Falls

INTERNATIONAL    |  EFFECT  OF PANDEMIC ERA  -    JAKARTA -

The retail industry collapsed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hypermart supermarkets have officially closed their outlets at Solo Grand Mall (SGM) since yesterday. Previously, news of the closing of this supermarket was widely circulated in a number of Instagram accounts for information about Solo since Tuesday (3/8/2021) night WIB.

The news reads, “Goodbye, thank you for shopping at our store August 9, 2021 our store will be closed to the public. Hypermart Solo Square & Hartono Solo are ready to help meet your daily needs”.

Reporting from Solopos, Tuesday (10/8/2021), Hypermart, which is located in the basement of SGM, has closed. This can be seen from the rolling door that stretches from the entrance close to the elevator until the cashier area is closed. However, from the transparent rolling door gap, it can be seen that most of the items in the shop are still arranged.

Previously, on Wednesday (4/8/2021), a number of goods at Hypermart SGM began to be packed into cardboard boxes. Items that have been packaged such as in the electronics section and some food/beverages. Hypermart is included in the essential sector that is allowed to open during the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) which has been in effect since July 3, 2021.

Apart from being allowed to operate offline, Hypermart also serves online sales through Chat and Shop and the Grab Mart application.

Apart from being allowed to operate offline, Hypermart also serves online sales through Chat and Shop and the Grab Mart application.

End of contract

Public Relations of SGM, Ni Wayan Ratrina, said that the Hypermart at SGM was closed as of Monday (9/8/2021). According to him, Hypermart closed its outlets because the lease period had expired and had not been extended.

“Hopefully the PPKM will not be extended so that new brands can enter so that they can meet the daily needs of the community. Hopefully Hypermart will be more successful and SGM can also provide the best for the community," he said.

The woman who is familiarly called Ina added that Hypermart was the first anchor tenant to open at the same time as the establishment of SGM on December 3, 2004. The departure of Hypermart from SGM is a big loss for the management because of the slick cooperation that has been built for more than 16 years.

“Many direct messages [DM] to Instagram malls or personal chats asking about Hypermart. We said it was closed," he said.

One of the visitors, Mika, admitted that he was sad to know that the SGM Hypermart had closed. He subscribes to shopping for daily necessities here.

“Usually I hang out at SGM, so I shop for household needs. Hopefully the pandemic will end soon so that no supermarkets are closed anymore. I feel sorry for the employees," he explained.