Nice piece! The Trumbull mall is definately an interesting place to visit. Just to let everyone know, A&S was an anchor at this mall for many years until 1995-1996. At that point, the anchor became Macy's. So, it was Read's, then A&S, and finally Macy's (now shuttered). In addition, Woolworth's had a very large store in this mall until the late 1980s or early 1990s.

"A&S"? Never heard of that store; what kind of items did they traffic in? They must've had a less-than-impactful dent in the history of retail since I couldn't find anything mentioned in my travels.

Do you remember where Woolworth was? My guess would be in the foodcourt where Steve & Berry's is now. It was probably somewhere in the original mold of the mall since it was part of the original line-up when Trumbull Shopping Park was but a plaza.

Keep the history coming! I need some more actual accounts!

A&S was short for Abraham & Straus. That was a department store company that was owned by Federated for many years. Most of the stores were in the NY/NJ/CT area. Federated decided to change the name of those outlets in the 1990s to Macy's to save money. That same department store in Trumbull may have been a Jordan Marsh as well before A&S. A lot of name changes for one store!

Anyway, Woolworth's may have been where the current Old Navy is now (I'm not 100% sure though). I remember going there as a child in the 1980s. It was rather large (similar in size to one outlet in Stamford, CT) in comparison to the other five and dime stores. The current Steve & Barry's at the mall was a Kid's R Us for many years.

I knew it! I had only guessed in the slightest Steve & Barry's was Kids "R" Us by the "racetrack" and stripes around the store's interior face. I discounted it was Kids "R" Us eventually because I noticed there were no Toys R Us stores in the area (closest: Milford). The only mall Toys R Us or Kids R Us I ever knew of was at Holyoke Mall in Mass., and they were coupled.

I would've grabbed a photo of it, but mall security was patrolling that area in particular. Too bad because I came with shooting the food court as a highest priority. Next time, perhaps...

Thanks again, "anonymous".

I used to go to the Trumbull Mall all the time when I was in college at Fairfield University...never really thought of it as a military bunker but I definitely agree that once you're in there, it's so easy to get turned around and disoriented. Awesome piece!

Having grown up in the'70s and '80s with Trumbull Shopping Park only a few miles away, I've been there a lot over the past 30 or so years and I as far as I know it was an enclosed mall from the begining though quite a few stores were only accessable from outside(Connecticut Post Mall in Milford was an open air shopping center untill the early '80s when a roof was added with full enclosure a year or so later). Originally there was Reads at one end and Korvettes at the other with Waldbaums in Korvettes' basement. Woolworths was in the middle with a 2 floor set up (the upper level is currently the Gap and either the store to its right or left and the lower level is most of what is now FYE, the 2 levels were staggered side by side not directly over and under). The Old Navy store in lower level was a Herman's sporting goods, the food court and the hall leading to it (where Hot Topic, Forever 21, etc.. are) were office space rented out to Skikorsky Aircraft later converted into the New England mall which featured cobblestone floors, lamp-posts and old fashioned style storfronts opening to a plaza where the foodcourt is today featuring a large artificial tree at it's center complete with a soundtrack of chirping birds. Off to one side was a large book store called the Bookbeast (where Mcdonalds and Sieko of Japan are), a music shop (where the escalators are) and the infamous video arcade (where Taco Bell is). Steve and Barry's (yes, formally a Kids R Us) was shipping/receiving space. The entire rear section (JC Penny wing) was added later. Originally the rear stretched from the back of the Reads building to Walbaums, with Woolworths' lower level opening to the rear parking lot as well as Herman's a mall enterance and several smaller stores which were only accessable from outside. Also the front hall on the upper level and the Lord & Taylor court were later additions. From Waldenbooks to the jewelery store at the other end were the original oustside mall front. Evidence of this can still be seen in the stone pillar by the jewelry store's enterance. The reason for Circuit City being outparcel is it was built on the site of the former Trans Lux movie theater. Any other questions, just ask.

There was a fire tonight (1/30) at the Mall. Right now there's no link to the story on the website for Channels 3, 8, or 30. They said the fire started in a store under construction and spread to the food court. Extensive Smoke and Water Damage to both areas.

Before A&S came to Trumbull, Jordan Marsh took over the Read's spot. The JCPenney wing was built around 1986 believe it or not, it's fairly recent to the mall. I remember the "Grand opening" of the wing and shops.

The Woolworths was a 2 level store, occupying the space just across from the G.Fox upper level and had entrances on that level as well in back first level just below where Ann Taylor is now. Im not sure what store is there currently.

The mall was dumbell shaped until the JCPenney wing opened. It was expanded again when they hollowed out the lower level and built the L&T. In this process, a food court was built. Similar to WestFarms, Food courts were not common in malls during the 1980's, it was only shortly towards the end of the decade that they started appearing.

Also, the GFox although originally 3 levels, was not extended out beyond the basic footprint, it too went through an expansion in the 1980's adding another lower level under the Men's store. There was also a restaurant directly in front of the down escalator on the 2nd floor.

Read's had the best in-store bakery on the lower level near the escalators, and a restaurant as well, in the northeast corner of the store.

I also remember walking into Fox's on the main floor and just to the left was a new Fendi boutique.

That's all for now..its getting late!

I grew up about a mile up the road from Trumbull Shopping Park. Any questions or comments about past merchants I can probably answer or add information to. That place was great. I remember how it seemed to be a town unto itself. Lots of mom-and-pops obviously. That definitely had something to do with the feel of it back then. It seems cold and shallow now. It has morphed so many times, its amazing how they made all of the corridors connect.

Nicholas,

A&S (Abraham & Strauss) was pretty much a typical Federated nameplate, probably closer to Macy's than Jordan Marsh was. Pretty much one day the Jordan Marsh signs were removed and the A&S signs were slapped on.

Bennigan's just closed, one of 4 in the state to close for reasons that pretty much equaled a lack of business or rents that were too high. Ruby Tuesday is again the only restaurant.

Rumor has it a large plot of land between Exit 48 and a the Main Street entrance will become open-air retail as well. Whole Foods is a name that is being tossed around, as is Nordstrom's. If Target is going into the former Macy's space (demolition could begin very soon), then is disconnected Nordstom's could make sense. There really is no other logical fit, unless they build one between what will be Target and the Lord & Taylor.

Nicholas, it's too bad you didn't get to see the arial photos of the mall in the community room (if they are still on the wall). Showed all the original configuration with a lot of stores facing Main Street still having outdoor entrances. Super Drugs, Arthur's, and Waldenbooks come to mind.

They should bring back the YORK STEAK HOUSE! Anyone remember that place? Push your tray along and dont forget the pudding. LOL

I grew up in Monroe/Trumbull and have so many good memories of that mall. I still live in Trumbull. My grandma worked at Reads since the day it opened until the late Jordan Marsh days. That bakery rocked! I used to get spinach filled croissants. My gramps retired from sikorsky and became the groundskeeper at the Trans Lux theartre. My brother and I saw every single movie from 1981 till 1990 for free at that theatre. How can I forget the garbage bags full of popcorn he used to bring us with a flashlight during the movie. LOL Remember the middle theatre? It was 3 times the size of the ones to the left and right.

I remember that Arcade where Taco Bell is and I used to love the Bookbeast across the way. Dont forget Kay-Bee Toy and Hobby and Graf Wadman records. Two more of my favs. Woolworths was great too. I used to slide down those metal handrails next to the escalators to go to the first floor. Remember the resturant they had in there? My mom worked there when she was a teen. I rememeber going down the escaltor by gfox to hit waldbaums with mom to do the grocery shopping.

Ah the memories. I wish I could go back...

I just stumbled upon this trying to find out what new stores/restaurants are coming next.

I grew up in Trumbull, and live close by now. This brings up a lot of memories. Carl Graf's (or Graf Wadman) records was awesome. It was small, but a hip spot. I don't remember book beast and I especially don't remember A&S and I think I would. I remember Read's to Jordan Marsh to Macy's. Maybe A&S was short lived.

What was the drug store across from Woolworth's - Super 8 or something??

I grew up in Trumbull in the '60's and actually remember the mall being built. I am pleased to share my recollections of it. There were vehicle entrances from the front(Main St.)side and the rear(Madison Ave.)side. Entry into the mall itself was limited. A vast majority of the stores were only accessable from the inside. I do not recall there being as many outdoor entrances as others have said.
The two level mall was originally H shaped, and fully enclosed, with anchors D.M.Read's on one end and E.J.Korvette's on the other. A central corridor connected the two. On either side of the corridor were a variety of stores, with their entrances facing into the corridor. The stores in front also had storefront windows facing the parking lot, while the stores on the rear side had solid exterior walls since the way the mall was built they were actually one floor above ground level. At each end of the central corridor was a smaller perpendicular corridor separating the central corridor from the anchor stores. These corridors, particulary the Read's side, which was bigger, contained some small stores and kiosks. Because the upper floor was ground level in front and the lower floor was ground level in back, entry was tricky. Entry from the front was available only from the Read's corridor, the Super X drug store, which was about midpoint of the mall, and I believe Korvette's had their own front door. The bottom level was below ground in front and thus only accessable from the outside from the rear. The rear entrances were at the lower corridor of Korvettes, Woolworth's lower level, which was about midpoint of the mall since it was located directly across from Super X, the Waldbaum's food store, (which also featured one of those roll your groceries out on the conveyor belt things), had it's own separate entrance and Moony's sporting goods store, which later became Herman's. Read's also had a side entrance.
Once inside the mall the only ways to maneuver between floors was either through Woolworth's, which had escalators, or at either small corridor. The Korvette's side had a stairway to the rear where you could either exit or access the lower level, and the Read's side had escalators going up or down to the front where you could access the lower level but could not go directly outside.
The lower level featured the same central corridor as the upper level, but there were no central stairways or escalators. The lower level featured a few stores but it was mostly the boarded up basements of the upper level stores and shipping/receiving. The majority of the lower stores were on the front side with no outer storefronts since it was underground. The rear, which was ground level, was mostly solid wall except for the few stores.
As far as the stores go, memerable ones were Woolworth's, which contained a restaurant that served up everything from sandwiches and light entrees to banana splits. The booth seats were along the front windows looking out into the mall. They also had a pet dept. on the lower level with fish, parakeets, etc. Some of the other stores were Ray Pacific's, an upscale mens store, Arthurs mens store, and beneath Arthur's on the lower level was Artie's Place, the young persons version of Arthurs where you could buy bell bottoms and tie-died shirts, black lights, posters etc. After all this was the '60's. Alexander's was also on the lower level under Super X, as was a restaurant/pizzeria called Progresso's. There was also an Orange Julius. Food courts as we know today, were not yet invented. There were many more stores that I have forgotten. Perhaps someone can remind me. I've not been to the mall in a long time, but when I go I try to envision the original layout.
Last but not least, the Circuit City was originally the United Artists (UA) cinema. I believe it was just one screen at first since multi-plexes were not yet in-fashion and was later expanded to two or three screens.
This is my recollection of the mall as a child from about 40 years ago.

All this information is extraordinary. I thank you all for giving your first hands. Keep it coming! It appears I will soon have to edit the page.

I also want to announce an update: The former Macy's has been demolished and will make way for Target (after all) in Fall 2007.

And yes Korvettes too, I forgot to mention....along with Waldbaums, as I was told from my folks.

I do, oddly enough, remember the United Artists Theater. I remember seeing Aladdin back in 92' when I was only 4 years old. In 96' Circuit city possessed the former Theater...That I do remember.

There is one more thing that I must say about the renovation: I hope they don't scrape the Fountain away!

The original Reads Dept Store in Trumbull Mall had the restaurant on the second floor. My mom and I went their to eat every Friday night. Also remember the clothing store Together that had the clothes on a conveyer belt on hangers near the ceiling going around the store?

Remember Fabric Tree outside the original Reads--it was where Regis Hair Salon is now--? We used to shop at Arthur's where Express is now. There was a door on the exterior of the mall and also one on the wall opposite the Regis Salon.

Remember, Carol Shoes, near where FYE is today. They had great carpet in there. That was next to Mooney's sporting goods which turned into Herman's. Used to get all my school supplies at Woolworth's and to finish the trip off had a Waffle ice cream sandwich (vanilla, choc,straw slab between two waffles) Oh how vivid the memory. Hill's was there before Waldbaums. At the time, the food court consisted of Orange Julius and the Chocolate chip cookie factory (my first job)and not much else. I remember it like it was yesterday.

I grew up in Easton from 1975 - 1989 and went to the mall often. I think I was the only one of my group of friends that didn't work there; Baskin Robbins, Hermans and others. I remember as a VERY young kid fishing pickle samples out of a pickle barrel that I think was near where Baskin Robbins was/is. I remember the arcade and Book Beast across the deadend hallway. Decent memories!

Here's a couple of additions to the collective memory:

The Pie Plate restaurant next to the music store in the lower level (they had all kinds of great pies)

I remember spending lots of time (and money) at that arcade which was right near the lower level entrance (which looked like a loading dock)

I grew up on the Madison Avenue side of the mall - what we considered the "front" of the mall. I can remember the mall being built. I was about six years old.

On the Madison Ave side, from left to right, was Hills Supermarket with E.J. Korvettes above it. Next to Hills was Kay's, then the mall entrance with the escalators inside, then the liquor store, then the card shop, then the lower Woolworth's entrance (where FYE is now), then Mooney's Sporting Goods (which moved from Bridgeport), then the lower level mall entrance, then Read's.

On the Main Street side, there was Read's, Arthur's, the upper level mall entrance, an Optometrist, the SuperX Drug Store, the Danish Hearth, the Bagel Barrel, a restaurant (I think on the corner), the mall entrance where Progress Pizza was just inside on the left. The O was crossed out on Progresso on the sign. A slice of pizza was $0.25. Then Korvettes. The wall of Presidents was across from Progress on the side of Korvettes.

At Christmas there would be huge Christmas trees in the circles at the bottom of both the Main Street and Madison Avenue sides of the mall.

There would be organized car races in the parking lot on the Madison Avenue side near Green Street. We would cut through Greet Street to walk to the mall.

For years the only stores on the lower level were Mooney's and Artie's Place. The walls of the rest of the lower level were painted yellow. Artie's Place had the clothes going around the ceiling perimeter on a conveyer track.

The UA Theatre played movies like the Sound of Music, the Singin Nun and Mary Poppins for months - not a few weeks like today's movies.

Korvette's closed about 1978. It was a great store. KorVal pharmacy items and KorSonic electronics were regular purchases for our family. I remember they sold Beatle wigs. They also had 4 foot above ground pools filled with water on display. A toy department, a great record department, and a lawn and garden department. Between the two escalators in the current Macy's, there was a marble staircase. Korvette's was like Sears but better.

Woolworth's had the diner and the cafeteria. They sold stuff Korvettes didn't like fish and turtles, Woolco appliances, plastic flowers and ceramic knick knacks. Someone mentioned the ice cream waffle sandwhiches. I can still see that freezer near the register on the lower level / Madison Avenue side.

The mall wasn't as big back in the 1960s but it had better "stuff".

Until the mid 1980s, the UA theater was a one screen theater. Huge screen. Then, they chopped it up into three theaters and fancied the place up. By today's stadium seating standards, it was laughable, but for then...

The Steve and Barry's in the former Kids R Us has shut down not too long ago! Also, one thing I find odd is that the new target dug out a whole new mall enterance on the bottom floor!

The entrance to Woolworth's on the upper level was in the corridor that connects Target to Macy's. The lower level to Woolworth's was where F.Y.E is now (the entrance closest to Starbuck's).

The food court sucks now. When I started working in the mall in 1987, there was a real Chinese food place not Panda Express. You could get Greek,Seafood,Mexican, and really good pizza. Can't forget Original Cookie Factory where Nathan's is now. Would gladly take Orange Julius over Nathan's anyday. There was a deli called Kam's on the other side of the mall and down a ways from that was Roy Rogers. On the corner where McDonald's is now there was a really nice bakery. Starbuck's used to be Gloria Jean's Coffee and before that it was a popcorn shop called Maison Du Popcorn. There used to be a little hole in the wall "French Bistro" called Paris Croissant.

I grew up in Trumbull in the 60s. Around 1967, I saw two Hell's Angels in Progresso's. I was about 12 and my friends and I followed them around the mall until we got scared! Later, I read that Hell's Angels from California motored across the country to attend a rally in Vermont. They must have come up the Merritt Parkway.

Great Blog...I grew up in Easton in the 60s and 70s: The card store on the Madison Avenue entrance side was called "Winkler's Card and Party Shop"...they had those smiley buttons that were so popular in the mid 70s, halloween masks and cards. I also recall, that if you took a left out of Progresso's Pizza, and looked down the corridor, there was a travel agency at the other end. My Mom used to take me to the restaurant on the second floor at Read's...it seemed like a grown up place to eat - so, I thought it was very fancy. Remember the escalators back then at Read's? They always had a green light, from below, that was at the bottom and top of the escalator...probably to help people realize where to step: I was about 5, so, of course, it was a green monster living underneath.

I have an update about the mall. FYE and the Arcade moved their location closer to the food court. Forever 21 now occupies the old FYE space. It has also been announced that the mall will now undergo a renovation with a new food court that will actually have WINDOWS! Also, there will be an entire interior renovation!

Westfield Trumbull mall had just finished a 35 million dollar makeover and it was nice to see the malls before images like the fountain that was my favorite place and now they replaced it with a children's play area and they really down sized there chrismas tree it used to be two stories tall now it barley reaches 1 1/2 stories. bottom line i miss the old mall but the new one is beautiful.

I lived 5 minutes away,used to cut through Green St.I remember the Pickle Barrel, Baskin Robins, Bookbeast,their was a Pizza joint upstairs that had awnings I think,DaDarrio music downstairs,I smoked so much weed then played all day in the at ade

Does anyone who grew up near the UA Theatre back in the 70's have any recollection of seeing the original Star Wars at the theatre? And when it premiered there? I remember stopping at the mall on the way back from a class trip to the Peabody Museum, (presumably to get lunch at McDonald's?) and seeing the sign at the theatre that said Coming Soon "Star Wars" Dec 17th? Think it would have been in 1977?