Westport Toys 'R' Us To Close End of January

Toys 'R' Us in Westport, Connecticut will be closing on January 31, 2008.

One of our readers and Connecticut resident, George Ligouri, drove up to the Route 1 strip mall location along Post Road East in Westport upon a late December day and was baffled upon finding "20-40% store closing" signage which greeted him upon a unsuspecting lunch break. Store associates informed just one of many sad, long-time customers of the store's month-to-live, citing its terminal stage.

Remaining stock that won't be sold off in the various markdowns will likely be exported to sister stores. Closure cites no other reason than what appears to have been a struggling, underperforming store.

The Westport store which opened in 1992, succeeded a fallen Child World, a once rival toy retailer who dominated the market long before Toys 'R' Us stole the thunder throughout the 1980's, expanding rapidly into the 1990's with its own large selection of high-quality brand-name toys and games.

Child World declared its closure in 1992, selling off most of its assets and locations, some of which in many states became future sites of Toys 'R' Us shortly after.

The Caldor Rainbow believes the company had planned to shutter the Westport store months prior the post-Holiday shopping season announcement, springing the news on December 26 and after a season of frenzied Christmas shopping -- an otherwise popular time to announce store closures without hindering the shopping season.

Uncertainy in unsafe toys and recalls have lead (pardon the pun) the defeat of toy sales this year apart trends dictating a sad, sorry end to strictly-based toy retailers. Fellow toy retailer K-B Toys is believed to also be at its wit's end, which had plans shutter a bulk of the company's stores months before the holiday shopping foray.

The Westport store, which followed in a hardship of being within a misplaced setting, distant from a major shopping mall, countered conventional company strategy of placing stores within thriving near-mall markets. Apart the company's own woes, to which it has been suffering for a good decade, the Westport store hadn't an adjacent Babies 'R' Us, which is otherwise the company's profiteer these days.

There's been no word on any other stores slated to join in closure. The Norwalk location, also no neighbor to any malls and located along US-1, continue to remain open along the state's other 7 locations in West Hartford, Waterford, Waterbury, Danbury, Manchester, Milford, Newington and Hamden.

Historically, the Toys 'R' Us chain has had a successful run in Connecticut, with most stores kept well in accordance with remodeling efforts. Having only ever closed one store, East Haven and one relocated in Waterbury, the company prides Connecticut as a continually healthy market for the company.

East Haven, doomed from the start, operated out of a former Stop & Shop, marred by its troublesome, "sinking" land was eventually forced to close in 2002. The late East Haven store was reportedly one of the company's most notoriously troubled locations for its being located along the often hectic Frontage Road. The location has since been razed and bolstered for a CarMax used car emporium in 2006.

Waterbury, which was home to the state's first store opening in 1980, closed its longtime original Wolcott Street location in 1998 at the fallout of the Naugatuck Valley Mall and relocated following the opening of the new Brass Mill Center, relocating to the Brass Mill Commons strip plaza, adjacent the new mall. Waterbury, aside being the state's premiere location, was rewarded with the state's first "Concept 2000" model, which prompted many others around it soon follow.

Will more closings ensue? Following a mass closure which saw an end to 87 stores statewide in January 2006, the company has been keeping its remaining 586 U.S. locations vital since. Connecticut was one of the rare, few states that hadn't suffered any closures.

The company's CEO, Jerry Storch hopes to revive a staggering company. You saw some of what's in store for Toys 'R' Us following a new marketing campaign unveiled this past Fall/Autumn, but Storch has a plan beyond ads and an aspiration to bond Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us stores (like the former Toys 'R' Us and Kids 'R' Us joining) into one and like a few already displayed in Auburn, Mass. and Johnson City, N.Y. You can read up on that recent story on ABCNews.com.

De-Malls of Connecticut Chronicle: Charter Oak Mall

The Caldor Rainbow presents...

The De-Malls of Connecticut Chronicle featuring the late Charter Oak Mall in East Hartford.

In this segment, we'd like to explore malls that once were, and are no more or have been dramatically reformatted for today's landscape.

Charter Oak Mall; East Hartford
940 Silver Lane

Opened on April 12, 1976 (Bradlees opened on March 15, Stop & Shop, Medi-Mart opened on April 12)
Dimensions: 200,000 sq. ft. enclosed/sidewalk mall
Original Anchors: Bradlees, Stop & Shop, Medi-Mart
Current Anchors: Aaron's, Burlington Coat Factory, Super Stop & Shop, Big Lots
Known Today As: Super Stop & Shop-Burlington Coat Factory Plaza

Opened on April 12, 1976, the Charter Oak Mall was a roughly 200,000 square foot small enclosed shopping mall in East Hartford, shortly off Interstate 84 as well as (then) I-86, along the town's shopping district and direct artery into Manchester, Silver Lane. Anchored within the boundary of a typical strip-style complex, flanked by Stop & Shop Companies on each end beginning from left-to-right; Bradlees department store, Stop & Shop supermarket, and Medi-Mart drug store (within Stop & Shop). Shortly after opening, a four-screen Showcase Cinemas, which had currently existed, became recognized as apart of the mall's left-end as a supplemental outparcel.

Today, Showcase Cinemas, which has managed its conquest to more than triple its space into 14-screens since its original 4 at opening, is entirely closed as of 2006 as is still standing vacant.

In 1976, the mall featured the usual array of mixed chains, local and nationally known, from Radio Shack, Fayva (shoes), Sackett's Hallmark and even the Massachusetts-based Papa Gino's Restaurant, all of which today are no more. Shortly after a contest of restaurants attempted to move in including Red Lobster, which was much ballyhooed citing traffic overflow in local papers and across the way Denny's, who had their restaurant on the outskirts of the mall property, near Silver Lane which has since become occupied by office space.

Today, the Charter Oak Mall is no more. Locals know it well as the Charter Oak Mall, but its property owners have dropped the name altogether, simply identifiable through the plaza's anchors.

Retrospectively, it's hard to throw the blame on its two original anchors fleeing for the failure of the mall. When the state decided to seal up access from I-84/86 via Forbes Street, mainline access became crippled. Regardless, strong anchorage of Bradlees and Stop & Shop kept patronage and parking spaces filled -- for most of its life even those who've vanished since the 70's: Medi-Mart, an heir appearent akin to today's successful Walgreens (once a competitor to Stop & Shop's drugstore-pharmacy branch, later sold to them), is inherently integrated into today's Super Stop & Shops as Walgreens succeeds the former Red Lobster space near Silver Lane today.

Bradlees, a discounter who needs no jog in memory remembering from their prime ages of the 70s and 80s into their 2000 collapse, had a difficult time finding a new anchor after its early closure in the mid-1990s, eventually urged Burlington Coat Factory to move up the street from its former placement along Silver Lane.

A good idea of what Bradlees looked like at the Charter Oak Mall upon its March 15, 1976 opening

As any one who's studied the landscape of smaller malls existing today will know the current day rarity of the dying breed of shopping center. The faddist indoor mall of the 1960's-1970's have largely demalled in many markets, eclipsed by regional mammoths and big box-power centers that have replaced them in today's retail landscape. If the concepts haven't swung into opportunist discount arrangements, keeping their mold like East Brook Mall in Willimantic, Hawley Lane Mall in Trumbull they've converted them into outdoor centers like New London Mall, or like in East Hartford's case, they've been decimated into mere strip plazas or entirely vacant power centers like the neighboring town's Manchester Parkade.

While the vestigial land is largely held together by a thrice remodeled, triumphant Super Stop & Shop, the supermarket chain eventually took over most of the formerly, withering enclosed mall portion containing the once small handful of shops and restaurants, leaving its original placement to succeeding closeout discount anchor Big Lots on the far-right end, while the fallen Bradlees on the far-left of the mall is now headed by a subdivided building: Aaron's (Rents) and Burlington Coat Factory. Remaining strip store space is held by smaller shops, including Dollar Tree.

The year-plus loss and inability to fulfill the landspace of the Showcase Cinema to a neighboring Manchester complex caused its parent company to shutter the age-old East Hartford adjacent mall location in mid-2006 setting harder times against the continual sponging sprawl of the Buckland Hills-Manchester area, which continues to devastate both towns' historic districts of forgotten retail, including a once centerpiece Manchester Parkade.

Vestiges of a Ghost Mall
Looking closer, the ghost of the mall still exist. Apart from the architecture being roughly the same for both former anchor spots, upon entering the mall from Silver Lane, one can find a truck sign for "Mall Delivery." On the building's far-right end side, aside the original Stop & Shop (currently Big Lots), is a small Bradlees label scar hiding under the wall's paint. Most noteworthy, visibly off the interstate is a vintage Stop & Shop trailer, doning the 1970's logo, which seems to be immobile, and is a staple artifact on the site hearkening back to the former mall days.

A genuine Bradlees label scar on the far-right building side of Big Lots


"Mall Delivery" sign, visible from the Silver Lane entrance

Got anything on the Charter Oak Mall? Send us an e-mail or leave a comment about your experiences. Make sure you head over to Dead Malls and read Jim Sawhill's testimony on the late mall, a Connecticut local who seems to have a solid recollection.

All newspaper advertisements courtesy of The Hartford Courant. All digital images property of The Caldor Rainbow.

As Advertised Special! ~Wintry Mix Snowbound Edition '07~

Roll your carts back down the aisle! At this time, The Caldor Rainbow has a few pieces of news to divulge.

We're encountering nor'easter-style snowfall at this moment which includes rapidly falling snow and coarse-grade flakage resulting in whiteout conditions and cancellations galore. Here at the Caldor Rainbow, we appreciate and observe the wonderful happening (unless you have to transport in it)/ Especially, we like snow shortly before Christmas as its festive and cheery but not so much afterward. At that point, it's just terminal frost.

The Caldor Rainbow makes some old-fashioned circa-1995 corrections via MSPaint on a very fallable WikiPedia entry on Caldor.

We're in the process of doing clean-up on some older pages to make us all the better, better than other certain pages who borrow our images and sanction lots of shoddy misinformation. This includes some of our mall entries but most importantly in lieu of our Caldor Store Locator, we're going back -- that's right folks turning that clock back by correcting and expanding information on our previous Bradlees profile to make it tighter, firmer and more accurate. Stay tuned for the grand reopening of our Bradlees Profile and Store Locator.

Other pages that have faced modifications: the East Brook Mall page has had information added including original newspaper advertisements, factual errors corrected and even unearthing the original logo the mall had. The Caldor Rainbow has not yet revisited East Brook Mall since we did the entry last December 2006, but we hope you'll digest some of the new additions.

While we won't make light of every page modification, check back on some pages as they are often corrected or updated for accuracy. As always, keep the comments and feedback flowing on in.

We've heard word on the status of the currently languishing, vacant Bristol Centre Mall, and the plans for it to demolished which will be taking place any day now. Steve Collins, a blogger for the Bristol Press claims it has "no more than one month to live." Last month, we reported the closure of the mall's anchoring support and mirrored a story about The City hoping to raze the site by around this time so we're keeping a look out. We will be there in full force to document the dismantling with pictures even if it means your humble correspondent will have to freeze his hands off capturing this important event.

Daniel Fife, a fervent Toys "R" Us explorer and retail enthusiast has discovered yet another time-warped Toys "R" Us store, which against its originality has faced an egregious, disgraceful and lazy white paint job over the once colorful rainbow palette. This time, the store is in Saint Clairsville, Ohio. Since there's no satellite or birdseye imagery (a wonderful tool, thanks to Microsoft), only Dan could've found it by driving intense mileage. Go see what else he's found on The Ames Fan Club forums.

In time, everyone have a festive holiday and Merry Christmas!

EDIT (12/17/2007): Steve Collins blog report "Mall has no more than a month to live" added.

CALDOR Store Locator

Where Was Your Local CALDOR?

Ever drive by a former retail establishment of yesteryear and reminiscence? Wondering what your former Caldor has evolved into by today's retail landscape? While you can probably take a guess, maybe you're not too sure or already know because you've shopped there since (or refuse to?). If a bunch of them didn't become used for Ames shortly after only for them to follow in Caldor's demise, their leases were bought up by the likes of today's retail giants, mostly that of Wal-Mart and Kohl's.

I'll tell you something Caldor shoppers, after doing research for this project its baffling to imagine a success story like Caldor, which plummeted into oblivion. Like its rival Bradlees, Caldor shared its peak of success during the 1970's, only to fizzle out by the 1980's and of course facing hard times a decade later.

We all can remember some of the odds and ends about each individual store. Whether it was notoriously dingy, never got an up-to-date remodel, maybe that other one did get one. Maybe you even remember what kind of wall paint/paper colors it had, the musty smells (currently tenanted at today's Kmart stores) and the people who worked there. What store did you most frequent? My store(s) were New Britain and Southington, which were real hole in the wall stores which had the rainbow logo all the way up until their final clearance.

I remember the "rainbow" stripes with a clock underneath, directly over the entrances and even the zebra/peppermint-styled globe-disguised surveillance cameras hanging from the ceilings at the New Britain store.

The infamous "swept wing" facade unveiled in 1972 for the 21st Anniversary. Every child's dream was to climb up onto the roof on one of the wings. (West Hartford-Elmwood pictured).

Feel free to input on your thoughts, memories, or general musings or stories you might have about one not forgotten store... and you don't have to be from Connecticut to get in on the memories.

Below is a list of all the former CALDOR locations we've discovered that existed of in the hometown state of Connecticut. Much like our BRADLEES and AMES store locators (graciously filled in by Ames Fan Club), we're doing a quick list and detailing them by location, by towns. Thus far, and unlike Bradlees, the only towns which shared two simultaneously operating stores was Norwalk and West Hartford. Norwalk had the original store and one additional in West Norwalk. West Hartford had its first store in 1972, and then one in Bishop's Corner in 1984. Both West Hartford stores were inherited from fallen or relocated retailers.

The original stores were (in no particular order): Norwalk (the first store), Hamden, Brookfield-Danbury, Greenwich-Riverside, Manchester and Waterbury; all built before 1966. Today, there is currently one vacant location, WEST HARTFORD-ELMWOOD, and one, GROTON, still unoccupied by a retailer and still largely intact. All original stores contained a "Furniture Mart," exclusive locations whereby showrooms showcased furniture.

Additionally, we had a difficult time finding out information on New Haven and Fairfield County-area stores (especially Branford). If anyone has any information, kick it our way if you would be so kind. This might have something to do with the Hartford Courant and its general lack of reporting on the New Haven Register's "turf."

We urge if you choose to explore these locations (especially GROTON), you do it at your own risk. On stores that are active as other retailers today, there could be some small artifacts lurking among the shadows of facade.

QUICK LIST of CONNECTICUT LOCATIONS
A simple list as if you were being quizzed about former Caldor stores: town and what the store is today. Refer to the DETAIL LIST for specifics and possible imagery.

AVON became Wal-Mart
BRANFORD became Kohl's
BRISTOL became Kmart, then/currently Price Chopper Supermarket
BROOKFIELD-DANBURY (F) became subdivided into Kohl's, Sleepy's
DERBY became Wal-Mart
ENFIELD became Kohl's
FAIRFIELD became Kohl's
GROTON became property of Pfizer Global Research & Development: Kings Heights
GREENWICH-RIVERSIDE (T) (F) became subdivided into World's Gym, Walgreens
HAMDEN (F) became Kohl's
MANCHESTER (F) became Ames, then Outlet Marketplace, currently vf Outlet
NEW BRITAIN became Wal-Mart
OLD SAYBROOK became Wal-Mart
MIDDLETOWN became Ames, then/currently Home Depot
MILFORD (M) became subdivided and expanded mall space; Borders, Target, Dick's Sporting Goods
NORWALK became Wal-Mart
NORWICH (M) became Bob's Discount Furniture, currently vacant
NEWINGTON became Stew Leonard's Fresh Farm Market
RIDGEFIELD became Kohl's
ROCKY HILL became Wal-Mart
SOUTHINGTON became Wal-Mart
STAMFORD (T) (P) (F) became Burlington Coat Factory
TORRINGTON became Ames, then expanded, relocated Big Y World Class Market
TRUMBULL (M) (T) became Kohl's
VERNON-ROCKVILLE became Ames, then/currently Price Chopper Supermarket
WATERBURY (F) became subdivided into three parcels; Bernie's, Planet Fitness, vacant space
WATERFORD became Lowe's Home Improvement
WALLINGFORD became Kohl's
WILLIMANTIC-MANSFIELD (M) became Ames, then/currently Kohl's
WEST HARTFORD-ELMWOOD became Ames, now currently vacant
WEST HARTFORD (BISHOP'S CORNER) (P) became Marshalls
WEST NORWALK became Wal-Mart

(M) INSIDE MALL/ACCESS LOCATIONS
(T) TWO-LEVEL LOCATIONS
(P) PARKING GARAGE LOCATIONS
(F) ORIGINALLY CONTAINED "FURNITURE MART"


DETAIL LIST of CONNECTICUT LOCATIONS

In the DETAIL LIST, we've detailed aspects about each location: plaza name (if available), street location and major route. Within, you'll find the opening year of the store and finally what's become of the store since. We've also tried to provide as many visuals as possible, some of which are from the ever resourceful SiteRide, The Hartford Courant and those of The Caldor Rainbow.

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AVON
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Wal-Mart Plaza
225 West Main Street
Route US-44

Opened in October 13, 1970.

Became Wal-Mart

10th Connecticut store. Was an architectural prototype store.

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BRANFORD
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Branhaven Plaza
1060 West Main Street

Opened sometime between 1973-1976?

Became Kohl's

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BRISTOL
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HUB 6 (currently known as Bristol Commons)
99 Farmington Avenue
Route US-6

Opened on October 1, 1976.

Became K-Mart, then became/currently Price Chopper Supermarket.

Was originally W.T. Grant/Grants, which became Caldor after bankruptcy in 1976. Was located in HUB 6 (plaza) from 1972 until 1991 when new ownership renamed plaza The Bristol Commons. Grants was original anchor from 1972 until 1976. K-Mart opened a short-lived store following Caldor in 1999 until 2002. K-Mart shuttered its Bristol location following a company-wide move to close 248 stores across 40 states; Connecticut closed two; one in Bristol.

2007: "Village" facade and clock tower plaza themes still evident from later Caldor-era days. Sealed "automotive garages hubs" used for office space for Caldor still evident from Grants days, patched by Caldor for its opening. K-Mart took over location in 2000, then closed shortly after in 2003.

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BROOKFIELD-DANBURY
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106 Federal Road
Route US-202

Opened before 1965?

Became subdivided into Kohl's and Sleepy's

Often mistaken for a Danbury location as its adjacent the Danbury townline.

Remains of Caldor (white/red/gray colors) within Sleepy's parcel (Photo credit: SiteRide). Unconfirmed if this artifact still exists today.

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DERBY
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656 New Haven Avenue
Route CT-34

Opened in 1973 (?)

Became Wal-Mart

Report claims building style was "swept wing"-style.

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ENFIELD
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Elm Plaza (currently and also known as Kohl's Plaza)
95 Elm Street
(Near) I-91 Junction

Opened in 1976.

Became Kohl's

Succeeded from former W.T. Grant/Grants, which became bankrupt in 1976. Location was embattled with K-Mart and Two Guys interest for site. Plaza is known as Kohl's Plaza and Elm Plaza simultaneously.

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FAIRFIELD
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290 Tunxis Hill Road
Route US-1 & CT-58

Opened sometime between 1973-1976?

Became Kohl's

Store featured "Grand Re-Opening" expansion, completed March 1979. Original opening date unknown. Was directly across the street from rival Stop & Shop plaza.

Photos from SiteRide (1), (2) Note: Building structure apart entrance resemble GROTON location?

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HAMDEN
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2850 Dixwell Avenue

(F) ORIGINALLY CONTAINED "FURNITURE MART"

Opened on before 1965?

Became Kohl's

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MILFORD
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Connecticut Post Shopping Center, later known as Connecticut Post Mall, currently known as Westfield Connecticut Post
1201 Boston Post Road
US Route-1

(M) INSIDE MALL/ACCESS LOCATION

Opened in April 1977.

Became expanded mall space, redeveloped into Dick's Sporting Goods, Borders and Target amongst other space.

Caldor opened at the cusp of mall enclosure/redevelopment, which completed in 1978. Store might've been two levels, but one level was unused for retail space.

Photo from SiteRide, taken sometime in the mid-to-late 1990's.

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MANCHESTER
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The Plaza at Burr Corners
1145 Tolland Turnpike

(F) ORIGINALLY CONTAINED "FURNITURE MART"

Opened on June 15, 1966.

Was the first store in the Hartford area, 12th store chainwide. Formerly located off I-93, Wilbur Cross Parkway before becoming Exit 60 off I-84. Contained a furniture outlet and "Garden Shop."

Became Ames, then Outlet Marketplace, currently vf (Vanity Fair) Outlet

2007: Apart from a few paint touch-ups and other slight modifications, building still largely a ghost of Caldor. Former brick-pillars entrance facade still evident from Caldor. Rectangular label scar evident on building far-left side, confirmably used by Ames.

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NEW BRITAIN
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655 Farmington Avenue & Corbin Avenue

Opened on November 17, 1972.

Became Wal-Mart

The 21st Anniversary store: 21st company-wide store built for 21st Anniversary. First store to display new corporate "rainbow" logo and modern "swept wing" entrance facade look. Contained almost exact look until its closure.

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NEWINGTON
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Newington Fair
3350 Berlin Turnpike

Opened on May 12, 1994.

Became vacant from 1999-2006, was redeveloped and is currently Stew Leonard's Fresh Farm Market.

Store still skeletal within mold of Stew's, was gutted in Summer 2006. Was vacant from 1994 until early 2006; during then was used for limited storage and other events from nearby Toys 'R' Us. Was the last true vacant/unused by future tenants store in Connecticut.

Retrospective gallery from Caldor to Stew Leonard's, a project undertaken by myself from 2006-2007.

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OLD SAYBROOK
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Old Saybrook Plaza
655 Boston Post Road

Opened on August 17, 1976.

Became Wal-Mart

Was originally W.T. Grant/Grants, which became Caldor after bankruptcy in 1976. Caldor expanded original building from enclosed mall portion.

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MIDDLETOWN
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Washington Plaza
909 Washington Street
Route CT-66

Opened on August 1976. Was 21st store in Connecticut.

Became Ames, demolished for Home Depot.

Was originally W.T. Grant/Grants, which became Caldor after bankruptcy in 1976.

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NORWALK
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500 Connecticut Avenue

Opened in 1977.

Became Kohl's

Photos from SiteRide, from mid-to-late 1990's Caldor-era.

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NORWICH (NORWICHTOWN)
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Norwichtown Mall
42 Town Street

(M) INSIDE MALL/ACCESS LOCATION

Became Bob's Discount Furniture, now currently vacant

Was originally W.T. Grant/Grants, which became Caldor after bankruptcy in 1976.

Store was graciously renovated by Bob's occupation, but contains rectangular label scar along building side as well as Caldor 90's-era colored stripes. Store contained mall access only. Bob's Discount Furniture closed in 2006. Automotive bays still existant from Grants, later used by Bob's as merchandise pick-up.

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GROTON
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King's Highway & US-1 Junction

Opened on March 16, 1973.
Closed on March 1996.

Became/property of Pfizer Global Research & Development: Kings Heights

2nd store opened in 1973, 23rd store.

2007: Building still exists as an "Existing Occupied Warehouse," exterior largely intact albeit partially renovated interior. Facade and block-lettering label scar still visible. Entire former shopping center is fenced off and regularly monitored by gate/security (except on weekends?).

Photos: taken November 4, 2007.

Original thanks to Joseph Rifkin "Surviving Caldor In Groton Confirmed"

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GREENWICH-RIVERSIDE
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1333 East Putnam Ave
Route US-1 & Sound Beach Avenue Extension

(T) TWO-LEVEL LOCATION

Opened before 1965?

Became subdivided into Walgreens and World Gym

Was a two-level retail space location.

Photo from SiteRide, from 1990's Caldor-era.

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RIDGEFIELD
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Copps Hill Plaza
125 Danbury Road
Route CT-35

Opened in October 1976.

Became Kohl's

Was originally W.T. Grant/Grants, which became Caldor after bankruptcy in 1976.

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ROCKY HILL
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Townline Road Shopping Center
80 Town Line Road
Silas Deane Highway & Interstate 91 Junction

Opened on August 21, 1970.

Became Wal-Mart

Was an architectural prototype. Featured "Home Improvement Center," which made an addition, opening in 1973.

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SOUTHINGTON
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Caldor Village (currently Wal-Mart/Plaza)
235 Queen Street
Route CT-10

Opened on August 17, 1973.

Became Wal-Mart

Fourth of fifth stores planned for opening in 1973, also 25th store chainwide. Building style resembled "21st anniversary swept wing" style all the way up until the end. In later years, there was a rented music store parcel on the far-left end. Formerly apart of Caldor-Village Shopping Center, shared plaza with Village IGA. Clearly evident aged plaza lighting leftover from Caldor-era found on building side, outparcel area.

Yours truly worked here as Wal-Mart from September 2003 until January 2004 as a seasonal cashier.

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STAMFORD
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Broad & Summer Street

(T) TWO-LEVEL LOCATION
(P) PARKING GARAGE LOCATION

Opened in 1966.

Became Burlington Coat Factory

One of the earliest stores was also apart of a concept was the only downtown location in Connecticut. Retained parking garage and two-levels of store space for current tenant.

Photo from SiteRide; from mid-to-late 1990's.

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TORRINGTON
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Torrington Parkade
420 Winsted Road

Opened on October 1971.

Became Ames, then demolished for expanded and relocated Big Y World Class Market.

Opened in 1971, succeeded from Sears which opened in 1967. Caldor closed in 1999, then Ames took over from 2000~2003 then vacant until 2007. Building has been demolished as of June 2007. Big Y and Lowe's will soon occupy all space in Torrington Parkade.

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TRUMBULL
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Hawley Lane Mall
100 Hawley Lane

(M) INSIDE MALL/ACCESS LOCATION
(T) TWO-LEVEL LOCATION

Opened in 1971.

Became Kohl's

Reportedly did not contain exterior entrance, access was through mall only. Was the first mall-inclusive location built in Connecticut. Store was two-levels of retail space, contained "conveyor belt" escalators between levels.

2007: Rectangular "Red/Accent"-era label scar evident on building side.

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VERNON-ROCKVILLE
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Tri-City Plaza
35 Talcottville Road
Route CT-83

Opened on October 10, 1976.

Became Ames, currently Price Chopper Supermarket

Was the chain's 40th store, 24th Connecticut store. Originally Grant City (W.T. Grant Co.), which became Caldor after bankruptcy in 1976.

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WATERBURY
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Bernie's Plaza
855 Lakewood Road & Wolcott Road

(F) ORIGINALLY CONTAINED "FURNITURE MART"

Opened before 1965?

Became vacant, renovated and subdivided into Bernie's and later, Planet Fitness (far right end), leasable parcel (far left end).

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WATERFORD
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Cross Roads Centre
Interstate 91; Exit 81

Opened in 1988

Became Ames, demolished/currently Lowe's Home Improvement

Joseph: The Caldor had the ORANGE TYPE-WRITER style lettering, in 1997 they replaced the orange lettering with the last red and white logo. Then in 1998 it closed. In 1999 Ames moved in then closed a few years later. In 2005 the former Caldor was demolished in place for the current Lowes.

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WALLINGFORD
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Wallingford Mall
1248 South Broad Street
Route US-5

Opened in November 4, 1969.

Became Kohl's

Was an architectural prototype. Was located in a plaza/shopping center referred to as "Wallingford Mall."

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WILLIMANTIC-MANSFIELD
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East Brook Mall
81 Storrs Road
Route CT-195

(M) INSIDE MALL/ACCESS LOCATION

Opened on April 3, 1975.

Became Ames, became remodeled and renovated Kohl's

Was the 20th Connecticut store and 33rd company-wide store. Was the second mall-inclusive location built in Connecticut. Location did not contain exterior entrances, access was through mall only. Renovation vastly improved store, remodel included reducing store space; removing former loading docks and adding rear lot access (without driving around otherside of mall), and adding rear parking lot and lot-to-store entrance (without entering mall). Main/front entrance still requires mall access.

Retained major label scar from the eras!: The blocky-lettering and rectangular ones near loading dock up until demolition for Kohl's/remodel (photo credit: Chris Fontaine; The Ames Fan Club).

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WEST HARTFORD-ELMWOOD
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983 New Britain Avenue

Opened on November 2, 1973.

Became Ames, was used shortly after for climate-controlled storage facility, currently vacant

Was the 26th store and last of the five built in 1973 with "swept wing" facade. Succeeded from/originally Star's Family Fair (discount department store). Building was renovated into Caldor (left side) and a Waldbaum's (right side) in 1973. Visited this store as Ames during its final week of clearance, area is sketchy and the plaza always contained a horrible odor. Ames reportedly never made use of entirety of former Caldor store space.

2007: Store is vacant and largely preserved (!) upon exterior as it was when it was Caldor. Interior is currently gutted completely into a warehouse. Rectangular label scar used by Ames still evident, possibly held over from before Ames occupation. Building was used by private firm for climate-controlled storage but has abandoned it for possible asbestos infestation. Area is very distressed, building is rapidly decaying.

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WEST HARTFORD/BISHOP'S CORNER
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Bishop's Corner
333 North Main Street & Albany Avenue (Route US-44)

(P) PARKING GARAGE LOCATION

Opened in 1984.

Became Marshalls

Was formerly and originally flagship location for Lord & Taylor. Lord & Taylor moved into Westfarms Mall in 1982, leaving the space vacant shortly after. Contains largely unused parking garage with Marshalls access from within garage. Building was also possibly subdivided into Blockbuster, Quizno's and Barnes & Noble Booksellers; now vacant. Building rear contains former Edward's, which became Adams-IGA also currently vacant.

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WEST NORWALK
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650 Main Avenue
Route US-7

Opened in 1951.

Became Wal-Mart

Photo from SiteRide, taken mid-to-late 1990's. This was the first Connecticut store.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For more on Caldor, look into these other studies and photo galleries.

The Ames Fan Club Forums: "Caldor"
Always worth plugging our ever-resourceful buddy, Chris Fontaine and his outstanding Ames Fan Club.

Flickr Sets
Our very own galleries of various Caldor stores; formerly and currently vacant. Be sure to check out those East Patchogue, New York galleries, which was a former W.T. Grants and some featured in the showcase.

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All dates of opening and locations have been verified by source, Hartford Courant and advertisements. They still may be subject to error, if so, please inform us to make corrections. This document is subject to editing and expanding. All research took many hours and was tirelessly done and compiled by The Caldor Rainbow -- do not reproduce our collection efforts/findings. To inform us if we've made an error by emailing myself at XISMZERO@yahoo.com or by leaving a comment.

The BRADLEES store locator/retail profile is currently under reconstruction therefore is unavailable. Please be patient with us.

Last modified: February 16, 2008.

Save The "Danbury Fair" Neon Sign

Will Macerich replace the neon "Danbury Fair" sign in accordance with the upcoming remodel?

According to the architectural firm 505 Design, the outfit commissioned to renovate the Danbury Fair Mall, it appears there are a series of new signages displayed at the revitalized mall in and outside as part of the mall's 21st year, 21st Century renovation project, which came to (red and green) light(s) at the cusp of the Holiday shopping season 2006 and shortly after, an interest mirrored by The Caldor Rainbow.

As regulars know, this will strike Danbury Fair Mall's first renovation since its opening over 20 years ago, and will seek to vastly improve the decoratives as well as the tenant set to accomodate a more affluent appeal, which has since eluded the mall's imagery with a more humble setting of the 1986 mall.

With all this change, will all this effect that shining star neon on the outskirts of the mall's lot? While Macerich has expressed no plans to revamp the exterior at this time, and the site's displayed signages seem to only await to replace existing older ones at street level, we can't help raising awareness for the ultimate one. Namely, the towering shining star neon, a former symbol of the massive mall at the edge of Danbury has been familiar to patrons and motorists who've overlooked the grandiose, two-level Danbury Fair Mall on the I-84/US-7 split for many years. The signature, vintage-esque neon sign on the outer-limits of mall property could face peril soon.

The iconic neon, which has graced the mall since its 1986 grand opening as the primary icon to attract shoppers has been a staple of Danbury. The Caldor Rainbow contacted Macerich upon numerous attempts, inquiring about the fate of the sign, but were unable to obtain any comment (though one receptionist mistook me for expressing interest to purchase it!).

The Caldor Rainbow hopes Macerich will observe the vestigial importance of the sign and seek to preserve its heritage of the mall's history by keeping it gleaming atop its perch on the outskirts of the property, to remain as a beacon of those who've sought its beloved sheen all these years.

As far as the renovation has been going, we have not visited Danbury Fair since July 2007, but have heard and seen it coming along more so than the official site claims. You can refer to the firm's website for a more updated set or just head over to our contact Joseph Rifkin's Flickr Set. Certainly, we've never seen such a cutting-edge, quasi-experimental look not too far from those seen during the 1960s-70's boom for a shopping mall, which edges one such impressive effort seen at Natick Collection and a spread recently done by our pals at Labelscar. The Caldor Rainbow notices this remodeling effort, and one such doppleganger in New Jersey will further diminish the heritage of the original Fairgrounds to which each mall were richly modeled after.

While the renovation is still on for a Spring 2008 completion, our contact Joseph Rifkin shows us most of it has already been completed. You know we'll be back soon for more interior developments soon but in the meantime, check out our proud, "historic" photo sets of the mall shortly before the reformat.