Department stores are reopening in one of the country's biggest shopping destinations. Here's what to expect.

• Several of New York City's most notable department stores reopened on Wednesday after closing in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
• At Saks Fifth Avenue, escalators are being purified by new UV light systems.
• Nordstrom also reopened its Manhattan locations on Wednesday. Macy's reopened its Herald Square flagship on Monday.

Some of New York City's premier shopping destinations reopened for business on Wednesday after shutting their doors for months in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Flagship stores for Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue were among them — and things are a little different from how they were in March.

At Saks, the handrails on all 22 escalators are being sanitized with ultraviolet light. Only seniors and those with health problems will be allowed to use the elevator. And, everyone must wear a mask inside.

"We look forward to our grand reentrance to New York and showcasing new and innovative ways to shop while maintaining the high level of service for which Saks is known," Marc Metrick, president of Saks Fifth Avenue, said in a press release.

The department store has also implemented several new services to appeal to customers who are keeping safety top of mind.

Shoppers can make appointments to browse the store before or after hours. The store can prepare dressing rooms with items shoppers pick out in advance. If they'd prefer to stay home, shoppers can also take a virtual shopping trip with the help of a store associate and videoconferencing.

The retailer is offering an invite-only service called Saks at Home, in which items are sent to customers' homes; customers can hold on to what they want to keep, while a Saks representative will come pick up everything else.

It's also offering same-day delivery to the Hamptons and continuing to offer contactless curbside pickup, returns, and purchases.

Nordstrom's reopening involved similar social distancing protocols and increased sanitation measures, including adding barriers at registers and ending certain high-touch services. It's also keeping certain returned merchandise off of the sales floor for a longer period of time than it would have in the past.

On Wednesday, Nordstrom reopened its New York flagship store, as well as its Men's Store, two Nordstrom Rack locations, and two Nordstrom Local stores.

Macy's opened its Herald Square flagship store on Monday when New York City entered Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan.

Stores were able to open for delivery, curbside, and in-store pickup and drop-off when Phase 1 began on June 8, but many opted not to restart business until this week.

With tourism down as the pandemic continues and many New Yorkers having fled the city, it remains to be seen when and how many shoppers will end up returning to Manhattan's destination department stores.

But, retailers are optimistic.

"The reopening of our New York flagship store is a pivotal milestone for Saks Fifth Avenue and another opportunity for us to set the standard for delivering a safe, easy and personalized shopping experience," Metrick said.