Tour of a Caldor

We've got more photographs, following in our saga of recapturing the late Caldor of New Britain, Connecticut all courtesy of Jim.

Over the last week, we've shown you a series of exterior shots of the "swept wing" frontage store, now Jim has submitted a series of shots, most of which were taken after the chain shuttered and cleared out the store in mid-1999, giving us a glimpse into what the store looked like in its last days. If you haven't seen the previous posts, you can do so here and here.

July 4, 1990: Dick Tracy Merchandise on a no-frills endcap display, stand fans behind them on "Super Buy" for $37.99!


August 1989: Big red "SALE" and Caldor Low Price! cache


July 1989: A cluttered mess of a store.

According to Jim, the store was remodeled once, in 1988 and never again. This stage sought to end color-coded departments moving onto a red-orange racing-striped motif and a largely white look, but not without brown liners of the floor and faux-wooden poles. The gaps in between the stripes on the back walls formerly held department names. Here's a slew of photos taken after the store closed up, presumably mid-1999, though not disclosed exactly by Jim.

Mid-1999, post closing: Far-left end, facing the back of the store. This was once home to gifts, furniture, domestics and shoe departments -- now empty and void of fixtures.


Mid-1999, post closing: A haunting view of the shuttered store standing at the front gates, looking to the left where checkout counters once where. Yes, those are faux-wooden poles!


Mid-1999, post closing: Another photo, looking to the left-end of the store. Scars below show where shelving once was. If you looked to your immediate left, you'd see the customer service desk, which was located next to the entrance gates.


Mid-1999, post closing: The jewelry/photography departments.

And lastly here's Jim, who submitted all of these wonderful photos. He wished to be pictured here looking sharp in his shirt-and-burnt-orange/brownish-tie Caldor garb in May 1992, which was just one of the uniforms warn over the years. He is still hoping to unearth a portrait of himself in what he refers to as his "shirt/smock/jacket." His photo was taken at the customer service desk, which looked like it contained wood paneling and an unmistakably giant cash register (which had sweet orange digital numbers).

Caldor; New Britain: Summer 1990

Here's another gem for all of you to enjoy: a genuine color photograph of the Caldor in New Britain, Connecticut along Farmington Avenue from July (or August) 1990, according to Jim who sent this one in.

It comes with a caption as well, which he wrote up himself, describing the scene: "Caldors having a clearance on clothing items in the middle of July. It lasted a week."

Doesn't it look wonderful? People shopping on the front sidewalk for discounted clothing on those circular racks we all know under a lusterless sky -- but not without the infinite earthly shower of the rainbow up above -- like a black cat floating in blue sky! Apparently, the store wasn't entirely concerned about the merchandise enough to keep it indoors, away from thieves, and possibly a storm (imagine today's retailers doing this!).

Now in full, vivid color, you can see just how much weathering detriment plagued the stucco-frenzied building aside the once classy looking, environmentally unfriendly tin can automobiles your moms and pops drove!

This comes direct from our contact and former longtime Caldor employee Jim, who supplied us with a few other photos, two of which were his own, from his personal collection. If you haven't seen the others, do so.

Jim will continue to search for more, so stay tuned!

Vintage Caldor; New Britain, Connecticut

Caldor; New Britain, Connecticut. Fall 1991.

If there's one thing we had hoped for following our appearance in the media recently, it's the expansion of scope The Caldor Rainbow reaches -- to all realms, specifically outside the internet. While the net has allowed us to grasp our audience and resources, many valuable readers may not be entirely accustomed or second-nature to the internet and all that lurks within. As with the passing of time, most of the best objects to unearth come in the form of physical rather than digital, before technology made it so easy to mass produce. These gems, with the help of this very technology, can now be preserved and showcased to the world.

That's when one of our newfound readers, Jim, contacted us. Jim, among many others who saw our print article sought us out and decided to share stories and memorabilia, some of which have participated on various topics here at The Caldor Rainbow.

Jim worked at the New Britain store for almost 15 years; from June 24, 1985 until the final, sorrowful day: March 15, 1999, which he describes as a day he will not forgot. Jim, enthused about Caldor, has taken many photos over the ages, now stowed away -- many of which of his late, great store and others around the state has sent us a sampling of these amazing photos of one such long-gone Caldor store in New Britain, Connecticut.

And who knows, seeing as this was the store I came to as a young'n, Jim and I probably met in passing at more than one time.

CALDOR; NEW BRITAIN, CONN., CIRCA LATE 1970's -- REVEALS AN ADDITIONAL ENTRANCE ON THE FAR-RIGHT WHICH WAS LATER SEALED DUE TO HIGH THEFT. Photo courtesy: New Britain Herald.

Caldor opened its New Britain location on Farmington Avenue in celebration of the 21st Anniversary; the 21st store on November 16, 1972. The bizarre, stucco-wall-to-wall 84,000 square foot bunker was well recognized as one of the most unusual looking retail complexes featuring well-known, geometric design traits: a "swept wing" or parallelogram-slanted facades over the triangular entrances as well as the unveiling of the eternal "rainbow" company emblem.

Today, it lives on as the site of Wal-Mart, a succeeding retailer who snatched up many former Caldor locations across the state.

NEW BRITAIN CALDOR ROAD SIGN, AND ONE WHICH STAYED THIS WAY UNTIL THE VERY END.

Stores modeled after this one later opened in Southington and West Hartford-Elmwood among others in 1973. Sadly, the West Hartford-Elmwood store, which was the last one remaining, was celebrated with our recent Hartford Courant story, has since been dismantled, soon to become home to a Price-Rite supermarket.

Towards the end of the chain's life, slipping to financial quicksand, many stores built during the rapid expansion years of the 1970s never quite received their upgrades and renovations like other stores. In this case, the sad, neglected New Britain store was just one of a few in the central Connecticut region which doned the earthy rainbow-eras up until March 1999 -- complete with a cracked roadside sign and withering, falling shards of stucco.

And if that's not bad enough, Jim kept the giant "C" and "O" of the former building signage -- after they came crashing down. A sonic symbol of The End of Caldor.

We greatly appreciate Jim's photos: the title and road sign photos were both taken Fall 1991, from Jim's personal collection as the other, from The New Britain Herald is from the late 1970's, roughly a few years after the store opened. And my, look how the facade is already showing weathering damage, even worse by the 90's! Also notice how they changed the building-side lettering -- but not much else over the years.

Enjoy the photos, we hope to share more in the near future. In the meantime, go check out our premium Connecticut store locator.

Bradlees Store Locator PLUS

Back in February 2007, we launched our Bradlees Store Locator, which attempted to detail every Bradlees store in Connecticut from the first one in New London in 1958 up until the final 17 locations upon the December 26, 2000 announcement whereby the chain ceased operations.

Back in early 2007, our resources were limited to an ad unearthed by a board member of the Ames Fan Club. Since, we've expanded our research and have tracked down every store that ever existed in Connecticut and even cleared up some unconfirmed and/or short-lived locations. Now, one year later, we have fixed the errors, added opening dates to most stores, included some photographs, and added a host of information on each site.

The Caldor Rainbow presents the Bradlees Store Locator PLUS. And now, a brief history of Bradlees *cue the lights*.

Bradlees Department Stores began in New London, Connecticut in 1958 as a "suburban self-service department store" as cited in their earliest advertisements. The once coastal tourist attraction quickly rose to fame in 1961 when they became recognized by Stop & Shop as "One of The Stop & Shop Companies" and began to expand. The Companies now consisted of Stop & Shop supermarket, Bradlees department store and later Medi-Mart pharmacy/drug store, and Perkins Tobacco.

In its earliest years bond with Stop & Shop, Bradlees shared a food/grocery brand as "Stop & Shop-Bradlees Foods" with some locations becoming an extension of Stop & Shop before some locations were morphed or relocated into becoming full-fledged department stores that later became known as.

Along with the brand, many of the earliest "food" brand Bradlees stores were located in Bristol, East Haven, Milford, Norwalk (two locations; Connecticut Ave and West Avenue), New Britain, Torrington, Stamford, West Haven and Westport existed as food retailers beyond the ceasing of the foods brand while others did not or relocated. The "food" brand was later discontinued, by the late 1960's, whereby stores would simply become Bradlees stores, most of which already contained neighboring Stop & Shop markets.

As part of a short-lived series, some Bradlees stores were surnamed "Family Centers" in the later 1960's, later dropping the name upon later built stores.

Their earliest Connecticut stores apart the original established New London location was Derby, Bristol, Milford, Hamden and soon after a short-lived West Hartford-Bishop's Corner store. At closing in 2000, Bradlees only retained two of these early, original locations: Bristol and Hamden.

The store itself was a typical department discount-themed store trafficking in essentials, clothing (softlines), hardware, home furnishings and decor, electronics, toys, grocery and more. Like other retailers in its time, stores also featured snack bars or eateries at the front of most stores trends of including in-house eateries and restaurants within stores like Grant's Bradford House Today trends call for franchise operations, unlike the once exclusive bonds retailers once had like K-Mart and its bankrupt bond with Little Caesar's, Wal-Mart; with Subway and Target; with wide offerings such as Taco Bell-Pizza Hut Express and/or Starbucks today.

In their prime, the store within the family of Stop & Shop shared great success during the 1970's throughout the late 1980's having the ability to expand beyond Connecticut and into neighboring states and soon a bulk of the Northeast retail market including a heavy presence in New Jersey and Massachusetts. Stores would also later trickle into Pennsylvania, Maine, Rhode Island with a handful in New York and New Hampshire as well.

Bradlees, coupled with Stop & Shop, quickly emerged as a store with one-stop-shop mini-mall enterprises. Thriving with competitive edge across the consumer spectrum, having many of their locations built aside Stop & Shop locations; conveniently aiding from the proximity of frequent supermarket traffic influx. Many locations even featured hybrid meshed concepts were shoppers could cross over via interior and intermingle into neighboring stores territories a la Wal-Mart Supercenter of today with as many as three of its store brands; Bradlees, Stop & Shop and Medi-Mart across one strip.

These expansion and opportunist years of the peaking early 1980s enabled the chain to occupy a few fallen rival discounters including Two Guys; a famed New Jersey super discounter of the 1970's, King's, which had collapsed during the early 80s, Jefferson Ward; a like discounter based in New Jersey and Woolco; a discount, youth-oriented arm of the Woolworth chain who also had many locations in places where Bradlees would soon compete.

Bradlees ended up taking over two of the three fallen Two Guys locations in Connecticut in New London (at New London Mall) and Newington in early 1982. Both locations would soon see the ends of the expansion, both closing after the mid-1990's shift.

A NOW DEMOLISHED BRADLEES AT "THE DOCK" IN STRATFORD WAS THE LAST REMAINING VACANCY OUTSIDE THE HARTFORD AREA, NOW HOME TO BJs WHOLESALE CLUB

But for many New Englanders and outer regions, the direct contender for Bradlees rule was none other than fellow rising discounter, Caldor, who are very comparable in looks, offerings, and location sprawl. Caldor also rose quickly and demanded the retail market throughout the 1970's, expanding rapidly in a fierce duel with the rival discounter.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, critics noted that Bradlees struggled financially and declined in image in opposition to rival discounter chains which were rising quickly. One such was Ames, who had swallowed up the Framingham, Mass.-based Zayre in 1988, inheriting a bevy of prime landscape but also a detriment of debt it had soon endured in 1990. Most empirically, was Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart, who began entering the Northeast market, having its first Connecticut store to break ground in Manchester in 1993, turf were Bradlees had been since 1982.

Like even their most brazen rivals, Bradlees' struggle increased by the early 1990s and shortly after when Stop & Shop dealt the blow to the once cradled company by initiating the first divorce of the companies brand. The company's departure began with the phaze out of Medi-Mart, when in May 1986, Stop & Shop sold it off to the rapidly expanding Walgreens.

Medi-Mart, the pharmacy-based subsidiary of Stop & Shop more or less has since become apart of Walgreens but not without keeping the heritage within today's Stop & Shop with an integrated portion of their supermarkets today dedicated to pharmaceutical and drug store conveniences, sans the name. In May 1992, Stop & Shop announced the selling of Bradlees, thereby becoming detached from its almost 30-year bond with Stop & Shop to focus on its own operation.

Following the divorce, Bradlees, now as a publicly-traded company, changed their outlook for survival. By 1992, Bradlees had 29 locations to deal with, a number throughout the 1990's would see steady decline shuttering starting old, New Britain on Slater Road and new stores, Simsbury, at The late Farmington Valley Mall.

A ROAD SIGN STILL UP GREETS FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE IN MANCHESTER

Despite their continual reports of success, Bradlees, was falling behind in trend and vanity of their stores displayed that with outdated decor and crumbling exterior models -- most of which predated decades old, without significant remodeling efforts. Attempting to repel, keeping prices competitive also meant improving the cosmetics of their store and layouts. Bradlees already had the benefit of owning much prime real estate, like Caldor, with over 30 locations in Connecticut which reduced cancerously over the course of the 1990's.

Like many rivaling chains, Bradlees undoubtedly borrowed much from the playbook of its up-and-coming rivals to be at the top of the edge again. Mirroring the obvious Caldor, who entered the 1990s with a revitalized image and store model to suit it, Bradlees also, in the later 90s, contended by looking towards Wal-Mart and Ames, who recently and overzealously conducted themselves following the acquisition of an indebted Zayre and further sprawling beyond the Northeast and into outer territory, all of which who were fierce competition. This sought to leave many aging stores behind, which of course hurt the company's image.

As a result, they began to brighten up the darker, outdated colors of their store's interiors, adopt catchy slogans this side of Ames but solely ran things as tight as their finances deemed. Unfortunately, many of these long-needed cosmetic enhancements, including an unwillingness to update their 70's-centric logo, ended up coming too late or never for older stores, some of which were, like aching rival Caldor, severly outdated until the last months known well today for neglecting exterior renovations of some decades old existing locations. The company also misstepped in that; like Caldor, attempted to build newer stores throughout the 1990s, using marketing techniques to mask their appearent woes (much like Kmart is exercising today).

A LONG ABANDONED BRADLEES IN MANCHESTER AT THE COMPLETELY VACATED BROAD STREET-SIDE, MANCHESTER PARKADE

On June 24, 1995, Bradlees entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Only months later would rival Caldor enter the same challenge. As a result, the chain strategically shuttered a series of underperforming in 1996, with some trickling years forthcoming.

After a pressure-filled decade, were stores slowly darkened, something went right for Bradlees who miraculously emerged from Chapter 11 in 1999, becoming free of burden which usually sees no recovery to its past retail victims, one such lifelong competitor Caldor falling within the same year. Sadly, the celebratory fanfare or prospect to start anew ended only one year later when the staggering retailer methodically, after the millennial holiday season of 2000; announced they were closing up for good.

Within months, Bradlees shuttered all remaining 105 locations across six states.

On December 26, 2006, Bradlees, as it's been known for half of the 20th century, was soon no more -- swallowed into a black hole of retail history.

But always remembered. We at the Caldor Rainbow recognize the significance and appeal Bradlees had on its customers which is why we are proud to preserve Bradlees memory in our premium store locator.

A LONG VACANT BRADLEES IN THE PARKVILLE SECTION OF HARTFORD STILL STANDS

Bradlees left an impression on us Northeasterners. Many people miss the store's charm compared to today's empirical Wal-Mart. So much that it ranks up there with beloved departed department stores of past like rival, Caldor, who's charm died around the swing of the millennium. Arguably, Bradlees wasn't quite as pinnacle as Caldor, not as gaudy as Ames, but had a likability that today's discounter seem to be devoid of (excluding the slick Target, who's hung in there for decades and going stronger than ever). Maybe it was their iconic, forever groovy logo or their non-uniform building styles, or maybe the smell of salty popcorn upon walking into a store.

The Caldor Rainbow holds no malice towards today's discounters: may the fittest survive.

WHAT BECAME OF FORMER STORES?

Wondering what became of your local and elsewhere Bradlees?

A RECYCLED, FORMER BRADLEES IN EAST HARTFORD NOW HOME TO BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY

The change in the market has taken care and recycled many former locations, but that doesn't mean they're completely gone. Some, in fact, still exist as ghosts in their newer tenants -- if you can find them.

Because of Bradlees earliest bond with Stop & Shop, it's not unusual to find former Bradlees sites evolved into full-fledged, expanded Super Stop & Shop stores. Some former stores have also been subdivided or partitioned -- when the original building is split to accommodate lower volume retailers thus more occupants per square foot. Specialty retailers who deal in smaller volume have done this like TJ Maxx, Staples and even furniture stores, have done this in accordance to fit inside or make the once big box scale more versatile and suitable for more retailers.

Many other entire sites have either been partially or completely demolished and overhauled -- mainly those rebuilt for Wal-Mart, Kohl's, and even those to the scale of Home Depot and Lowe's. There's also still a handful of vacant sites with uncertain futures.

Here's a list we've compiled of all known former Bradlees locations across the state of Connecticut. We've decided to focus solely on Connecticut although there could be locations remaining in surrounding states where stores were once positioned around the Northeast. To keep the list accurate, regular updates and submitted or suggested corrections are welcomed.

COMPLETE QUICK LIST of FORMER CONNECTICUT LOCATIONS (INCLUDES FOOD STORES)

AVON-SIMSBURY (M) became Bob's Stores/redeveloped Simsbury Commons
BRIDGEPORT became subdivided into AJ Wright, Modell's and Sleepy's
BRISTOL (F) became expanded Super Stop & Shop
CROMWELL became expanded Super Stop & Shop
DANBURY became Wal-Mart
DERBY became Shop-Rite
EAST HARTFORD (M) became subdivided into Burlington Coat Factory and Aaron's Rental
EAST HAVEN (F) became Carmax
ENFIELD/THOMPSONVILLE became Lia Hyundai of Enfield
ENFIELD (King St.) became Bernie's Corporate Offices
ENFIELD (Hazard Ave.) became subdivided into Linen's & Things, Michaels, and Office Depot
FAIRFIELD (F) became expanded Super Stop & Shop
GROTON (Long Hill Rd.) became subdivided into TJ Maxx, Goodwill Super Store
GROTON (Route 12) became Kohl's
GUILFORD became Wal-Mart
HAMDEN (940 Dixwell Ave.) (F) became Dollar Deals, Jane Beauty Supply
HAMDEN (2300 Dixwell Ave.) became Wal-Mart
HARTFORD currently VACANT
MANCHESTER currently VACANT
MERIDEN became Burlington Coat Factory
MIDDLETOWN (E. Main St.) became Marshalls
MIDDLETOWN (S. Main St.) became Biosystems Inc.
MILFORD (F) became Stop & Shop, then redeveloped mall; Sears
NEWINGTON became Wal-Mart
NEW BRITAIN (Stanley St. & E. Main) (F) became ?
NEW BRITAIN (Slater Rd.) currently Webster Bank Corporate Training Center
NEW LONDON (South Frontage Rd.) (T) became Burlington Coat Factory

NEW LONDON (New London Mall) (M) became reconstructed New London Mall

NEW MILFORD became Wal-Mart
NORWALK (Connecticut Avenue) (F) became Wal-Mart
NORWALK (West Avenue) (F) became ?
ORANGE became Kohl's
SHELTON subdivided into Bed, Bath & Beyond and Hawley Lane Shoes
STAMFORD (F) became Shop-Rite Super Grade A
STRATFORD became BJ's Wholesale Club
TORRINGTON (F) (T) became TJ Maxx
WEST HARTFORD (T) currently Whole Foods Market
WEST HAVEN (F) became Walgreens
WESTPORT (F) became ?
WETHERSFIELD became subdivided into AJ Wright and EbLens
WATERBURY (Chase Ave.) became Target
WATERBURY (Reidville Dr.) became subdivided into Sealy Sleep Center and Raymour & Flanigan Furniture

VACANT STORES AS OF FEBRUARY 2007: 2

(F) ORIGINALLY FEATURED/WAS "BRADLEES FOODS"
(M) LOCATED INSIDE MALL
(T) TWO-LEVEL LOCATION


DETAIL LIST of FORMER CONNECTICUT LOCATIONS

Remaining 17 Connecticut locations as of Fall 1998 which remained until 2000, courtesy of the late Bradlees.com website.

All 17 final stores listed as "CLOSED" on December 26, 2000 actually closed months later, per liquidation.

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AVON-SIMSBURY
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Farmington Valley Mall
850 Bushy Hill Road

OPENED : September 23, 1982
CLOSED : April 1992

CURRENTLY : Bob's Stores

HISTORY : W.T. Grant / Grants (1972-1976), King's (1976-1982), Bradlees (1982-1992), vacant (1992-1994), Bob's Stores (1994-present)

NOTES : Closed April 1992, citing sluggish sales (and likely a cut due to Stop & Shop Companies divorce). Stop & Shop was later rebuilt and the Bradlees portion was partially demolished for Bob's Stores.

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BRIDGEPORT
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156 Boston Avenue
Route US-1

OPENED : 1975
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : subdivided into AJ Wright, Modell's and Sleepy's

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BRISTOL
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Bristol Plaza
603 Farmington Avenue
Route US-6

OPENED : November 2, 1960
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : relocated, expanded Super Stop & Shop

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CROMWELL
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197 West Street

OPENED : November 3, 1983
CLOSED : ?

CURRENTLY : newly-rebuilt Super Stop & Shop

NOTES : Originally neighbored Stop & Shop, eventually became Super Stop & Shop.

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DANBURY
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Berkshire Shopping Center
69 Newtown Road

OPENED : 1962

CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : Wal-Mart

NOTES : Featured nearby Super Stop & Shop location, now occupied by Marshalls. Was only partially demolished for Wal-Mart. Former Stop & Shop contains original Bradlees logo label scar.

VIEW : SiteRide Property Snapshots

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DERBY
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Valley Shopping Center
49 Pershing Drive
Route CT-334

OPENED : (In or before) 1961
CLOSED : February 1996

CURRENTLY : Shop-Rite

NOTES : Store targeted for closure in February 1996 as part of bankruptcy reorganization.

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EAST HARTFORD
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Charter Oak Mall (became Super Stop & Shop/Burlington Coat Factory/Plaza)
640 Silver Lane

OPENED : March 21, 1976
CLOSED : February 1996

CURRENTLY : subdivided into Burlington Coat Factory and Aaron's Rental

NOTES : Was once apart of the now demalled Charter Oak Mall. Was reportedly a very troubled store built on "sinking land" throughout it's life, later years.

Contained exterior and interior/mall entrances.

Store was remodeled and completed by August 1979 adding energy conservative lighting, widened aisles, luggage and optical departments.

Store targeted for closure in February 1996 as part of bankruptcy reorganization.

VIEW : our profile on The Charter Oak Mall.

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EAST HAVEN
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121 Frontage Road / Connecticut Turnpike
I-95 South; Exit 51

OPENED : 1960s
CLOSED : February 1996

CURRENTLY : Carmax

Notes: Originally contained neighboring Stop & Shop, later occupied by Toys 'R' Us in former Stop & Shop location. Bradlees closed in 1996 wave of store closures. A notorious location; many reports of vandalism and even built on "sinking" land. Entire site demolished and bolstered for Carmax in 2005.

Store targeted for closure in February 1996 as part of bankruptcy reorganization. Was vacant from 1996-2005.

VIEW : Unknown authored photo of vacant East Haven location

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ENFIELD / THOMPSONVILLE
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483 Enfield Street
Route US-5

OPENED : 1960s?
CLOSED : January 1970

CURRENTLY : Lia Hyundai of Enfield

NOTES : Store closed in January 1970, reopened at Enfield (King Street) in March 1970. Medi-Mart took over former Bradlees, located next to Stop & Shop. Was eventually redeveloped for Lia Hyundai, a car dealership lot. This was the first location of Bradlees in Enfield.

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ENFIELD
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274 King Street
Route US-5 & Interstate 91

OPENED : March 1970
CLOSED : Unknown

CURRENTLY : Bernie's Corporate Headquarters (?)

NOTES : Relocated from Thompsonville location at 483 Enfield Street. Year closed unknown. Was originally listed as 274 King Street. Did it become farmland? Was listed as Route 5 & I-91 in advertisement store locator but address does not match with Bernie's listed at 1559 King St.

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ENFIELD
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Enfield Suburban Mall (now Enfield Commons)
25 Hazard Avenue
Route CT-190

OPENED : ?
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : subdivided into Linen's & Things, Michaels, and Office Depot

NOTES : Was the third and final location for Bradlees in Enfield.

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FAIRFIELD
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Tunxis Hill Shopping Center (became Super Stop & Shop-Bradlees-Walgreens/Plaza)
776 Villa Avenue & US-1 split

OPENED : 1960s?
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : expanded Super Stop & Shop

NOTES : Originally featured Bradlees Foods location.

VIEW : SiteRide Property Snapshots

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GROTON
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810 Long Hill Road

OPENED : 1960s
CLOSED : 1986

CURRENTLY : subdivided into TJ Maxx and Goodwill Super Store

NOTES : Was also listed at "670 Long Hill Road." Later relocated to Route 12.

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GROTON
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Groton Square
Route 12

OPENED : 1987
CLOSED : February 1998

CURRENTLY : Kohl's

NOTES : Was relocated from original Long Hill Road location. 20-Year Lease Signed by Kohl's; Opened on April 6, 2001.

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GUILFORD
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Shoreline Plaza
900 Boston Post Road

OPENED : 1983
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : Wal-Mart

NOTES : Was possibly a former King's

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HAMDEN
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940 Dixwell Avenue

OPENED : 1960s
CLOSED : ?

CURRENTLY : Dollar Deals, Jane Beauty Supply

NOTES : Was Bradlees Foods

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HAMDEN
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Hamden Mart
2300 Dixwell Avenue

OPENED : (In or before) 1961
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

BECAME : Wal-Mart

NOTES: Plaza facade theme of former store in later years still exists.

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HARTFORD
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1250 Park Street & Laurel Street

OPENED : November 5, 1968
CLOSED : December 26, 2007

CURRENTLY : VACANT, possible plans for future site “Pope Commons”

NOTES : Location was used for Mega Liquidation Sale; a closeout-style bazaar featured for a limited time only in late 2006. Building is still vacant, up for lease. Large banner on far-left end claims future redevelopment "Pope Commons" in works.

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MANCHESTER
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Manchester Parkade
West Middle Turnpike & Broad Street

OPENED : April 22, 1982
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : VACANT

NOTES : Was originally King's from 1966-1982, became Bradlees, opened on April 22, 1982.

VIEW : Flickr Set: "Manchester Parkade (June 6, 2007)," Update photo taken on December 20, 2007 by The Caldor Rainbow.

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MERIDEN
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Townline Square
410 South Broad Street
Route US-5

OPENED : June 1988
CLOSED : August 1996

CURRENTLY : subdivided into Burlington Coat Factory and Michael's Arts & Crafts

NOTES : Was located on the Meriden-Wallingford line. Store targeted for closure in August 1996.

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MIDDLETOWN
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South Main Street

OPENED : September 1965
CLOSED : 1992

CURRENTLY : Biosystems Inc.

NOTES : This was the original Bradlees store which was relocated to a nearby plaza on East Main Street in 1993. Currently Biosystems Inc. headquarters.

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MIDDLETOWN
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East Main Street

OPENED : 1993
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : subdivided into Marshalls, Bob’s Stores and Dollar Tree

NOTES : Relocated from original South Main Street location. Was vacant from 2001-2004.

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MILFORD
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Connecticut Post Shopping Center (became Connecticut Post Mall, renamed/currently Westfield Connecticut Post)

OPENED : (In or before) 1961
CLOSED : ?
CURRENTLY : redeveloped Mall, Sears

NOTES : Was originally a Bradlees Foods. Became Stop & Shop, then/currently Sears. Was apart of Milford Mall, closed before mall enclosure in 1977.

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NEWINGTON
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Berlin Turnpike & Deming Road

OPENED : August 1982
CLOSED : August 1996

CURRENTLY : Wal-Mart

NOTES : Store closed in 1997, Wal-Mart opened in 2001. Originally a Two Guys; Bradlees would takeover Two Guys location and open by August 1982.

Vestige of older plaza still exist in the form of Staples and outparcel Webster Bank. Co-existed with original Wethersfield location, also on the Berlin Turnpike.

Store targeted for closure in August 1996.

VIEW : Photo of vacant Newington location, from Newington Assessor Database

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NEW MILFORD
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Dodd Road
Route US-7

OPENED : 1980s
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : Wal-Mart

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NEW BRITAIN
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Stanley Plaza
Slater Road & Hillhurst Avenue

OPENED : August 2, 1966
CLOSED : 1992

CURRENTLY : currently Webster Bank Coporate Training Center

HISTORY : Bradlees (1966-1992), Price Club (1992-1994), Nestle Chocolate Distribution Center, Wal-Mart (1997-2002)

NOTES : Still shadows Wal-Mart in design. Entire plaza is now security gated-off to public access under current ownership. Area is/was reportedly laden with crime.

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NEW BRITAIN
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East Main Street & Stanley Street

OPENED : ?
CLOSED : ?

NOTES : Was Bradlees Foods location.

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NEW LONDON
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New London Shopping Center
268 Bridge Approach / South Frontage Road
Interstate 95, Exit 86

OPENED : 1958
CLOSED : 1982

CURRENTLY : Burlington Coat Factory

NOTES : The first Bradlees store, built in 1958.

Later relocated to New London Mall in 1982, occupied fallen Two Guys formerly at New London Mall. Was a known two-level location, still contains multiple levels of store space.

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NEW LONDON
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New London Mall
North Frontage Road

OPENED : April 1982
CLOSED : February 1998

CURRENTLY : redeveloped New London Mall

NOTES : Relocated to New London Mall from original North Frontage Road location directly across I-95. Was formerly/originally Two Guys.

Declaration of closure cited in December 1997 whereby the chain closed four other "underperforming" stores. Mall was partially demolished in 1998 for New London Mall reconstruction. Former Bradlees was converted into mall space.

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NORWALK
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West Street

OPENED : ?
CLOSED : ?

CURRENTLY : ?

NOTES : Was a Bradlees Foods location.

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NORWALK
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680 Connecticut Avenue
Rotue US-1

OPENED : ?
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : Wal-Mart

NOTES : Originally a Stop & Shop Companies plaza. A dated Stop & Shop pulled out towards the end of this store's life.

VIEW : SiteRide Property Snapshots

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ORANGE
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250 Bull Hill Lane
Route US-1

OPENED : 1960s
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : Kohl's

NOTES : Was vacant from 2001-2005. 20-year lease signed by Kohl's in 2005.

VIEW : SiteRide Property Snapshots

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SHELTON
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862 Bridgeport Avenue

OPENED : 1982
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : subdivided into Bed, Bath & Beyond and Hawley Lane Shoes

NOTES : Hawley Lane Shoes moved into subdivided space in 2004. Formerly at Hawley Lane Mall (Trumbull).

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STAMFORD
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Elm Street

OPENED : ?
CLOSED : ?

CURRENTLY : Shop-Rite Super Grade A

NOTES : Shop-Rite listed at "200 Shippan Avenue."

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STRATFORD
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The Dock
955 Ferry Boulevard

OPENED : 1971
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : BJ's Wholesale Club

NOTES : Was vacant from 2001-2007. Store had two separate entrances; one frontal and one far-left/side entrance.

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TORRINGTON
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Torrington Plaza
77 South Main Street

OPENED : August 11, 1963, reopened on April 2, 1967
CLOSED : 1993?

CURRENTLY : TJ Maxx

NOTES : Store burned down in 1966, but reopened in 1967. Was a two-level store.

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WATERBURY
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Waterbury Plaza (also known as Super Stop & Shop-Bradlees/Plaza, currently Super Stop & Shop-Target/Plaza)
300 Chase Avenue

OPENED : November 1962
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : Target

NOTES : Was the 8th Connecticut store. Was vacant from 2001-2005; Super Stop & Shop-Bradlees road sign at the corner of Chase Ave. & Wigwam St. remained until mid-2006, through construction site for Target. Super Stop & Shop was located in a gap over in the nearby plaza (possibly moved in 1980s or 1990s).

Target opened on October 8, 2006.

VIEW : Stop & Shop-Bradlees road sign, since removed Summer 2006.

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WATERBURY
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410 Reidville Drive & Scott Road

OPENED : 1960s
CLOSED : December 26, 2000

CURRENTLY : subdivided into Sealy Sleep Center and Raymour & Flanigan Furniture

NOTES : Like other Waterbury location, featured neighboring Super Stop & Shop location. Was the only city in Connecticut to feature 2 simultaneous locations.

VIEW : Photo, year unknown from Waterbury Assessor Database.

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WEST HARTFORD
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Crossroads Plaza
Bishop's Corner
340 North Main Street

OPENED : August 8, 1967
CLOSED : January 6, 1973

CURRENTLY : Whole Foods Market

HISTORY : Value House (1973-?), Service Merchandise (?-1998), Wild Oats Market, currently/rebranded as Whole Foods Market

NOTES : Bradlees store closing was cited by company’s need for each store to pull own weight (underperformed?). Was a two-level location. Location behind/around back was a basement and former "showroom" for Bradlees later used as storage by future parcels, The Value House and Service Merchandise.

VIEW : Photo from The Hartford Courant, article dated August 6, 1967.

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WEST HAVEN
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394 Campbell Avenue

OPENED : 1960s
CLOSED : ?

CURRENTLY : Walgreens

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WESTPORT
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Boston Post Road

OPENED : 1960s
CLOSED : ?

CURRENTLY : ?

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WETHERSFIELD
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Mini-City (currently Jordan Lane Shopping Center)
Berlin Turnpike & Jordan Lane

OPENED : May 14, 1968
CLOSED : Unknown

CURRENTLY : subdivided into AJ Wright and EbLens

NOTES : Opened along with Stop & Shop. Rockface walls from original architecture still evident within plaza. Location remained open simultaneously with Newington location, also on the Berlin Turnpike.

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We will also be working on completing quick lists of former stores and their status today in all other states Bradlees was a participant. Currently, we are aware of numerous vacancies in neighboring states and hope to bring you quality image galleries of those, mostly in New Jersey, in the near future. Below is a quick list of stores we know about, still vacant. Please alert us if you think we've missed any.

NEW JERSEY (6) : STRATFORD (former Jefferson Ward), HAMILTON (former Caldor), , HAZLET, WOODBURY (former Jefferson Ward), TOMS RIVER, BORDENTOWN (former Jefferson Ward)
MASSACHUSETTS (1) : FOXBOROUGH

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Ames Fan Club / Message Board "Bradlees" Topic

Premium Galleries on Flickr
Bradlees (vacant) at The Manchester Parkade
Bradlees (now demolished) at The Dock; Stratford, Conn.
Bradlees (vacant) at Foxborough Plaza; Foxboro, Mass.
Bradlees (vacant, since demolished) at Mini City; New City, NY
Bradlees (vacant) in Hazlet, NJ

Please report errors, issue corrections, clarifications or expansions to help us secure the most accurate database available. Leave a comment or send an email to XISMZERO@yahoo.com.

All text entry has been written by Nicholas M. DiMaio and is therefore rightful property of The Caldor Rainbow.