tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337099212024-03-27T14:28:34.254-04:00The Caldor RainbowTracking The Retail Rainbows of Everyday Discount StoresNicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-78834023214595962842012-04-29T19:57:00.001-04:002012-04-29T23:28:47.144-04:00Take Me Back To Holyoke Mall '82<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Wood you like to take a ride on the Ingleside? Turn the time circuits on, we're going back to 1982!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>L</b></span>ast month, The Caldor Rainbow has been out-of-the-blue obsessive about the Holyoke Mall's history in pictures, attempting to find whatever we could from the mall's roots to share with you. We searched the archives, sent inquiries to Pyramid's marketing division only to come against a concrete wall. Then we came across a fascinating postcard that came up on Card Cow, a vintage postcard thrift site that sells existing printed cards from days past or from when shopping mall postcards (and the like) were not quirky things to send your grandmoms. Sadly, the aforementioned $15 card was sold with only the stock scan available to view. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcpKvvbodf72XPkr-lJ_UuAuFtqImDYp_oehb5S_dBhrCO_Y05LTXato6kmB1iPVJH9rrk3BuOyPeb8pTZRjGb2LLa7hsh-8wsCxMp9M0DRslLtFWFP-kcmsQO1mQL5AE-QYg/s1600/cardcow_wallpaper.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcpKvvbodf72XPkr-lJ_UuAuFtqImDYp_oehb5S_dBhrCO_Y05LTXato6kmB1iPVJH9rrk3BuOyPeb8pTZRjGb2LLa7hsh-8wsCxMp9M0DRslLtFWFP-kcmsQO1mQL5AE-QYg/s400/cardcow_wallpaper.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The postcard, shot by Holyoke local Dan Overton, peaked our interest enough to contact the source for the original image. He was unavailable to respond to our request.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Recently, Flickr user
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33445721@N04/">KaizenVerdant</a> directed us to an article on <a href="http://www.masslive.com/">MassLive</a>, the online side of
The Springfield Republican, which caught our attention. The <a href="http://www.facebook.com/HolyokeMall">Holyoke Mall Facebook page</a> at the behest of the marketing director Lisa L. Wray randomly posted a couple of buried treasures; a 1982 mall directory with accompanied concourse shot. Much like the postcard, the shot displays the garish basement-like "Cafe Square" complete with earthtoned fountain, brown slate flooring, multi-platform seating (and what looks to be a stage) complete with wood mania; planters, tables and benches everywhere! What an exciting place to be!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In case you despise Facebook, we posted both shots here for your enjoyment.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Cafe Square was remodeled in the late 80's, only ten years after the opening the mall, the developers must've responded to sour reception or just the changing retail times. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Guess the developers recognized it wasn't such a great idea after all though it takes a chunk of character out of the original mall.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The $1 million remodel replaced the cramped cavern setting, pool-like fountain with "canals" and eight-screen movie plex and blew the entire thing open for more seating and a brighter, whiter Italian marble-floored openness and more retailers to fit into most of the old theater space like Macy's Close-Out, Filene's Basement and a indoor mini-golf course at one point. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You can see the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/608033408/in/set-72157600459109371/">"current day" 2007 Cafe Square</a> (though, not from the same angle) food chasm here because, really, on a Saturday night the place is dreadfully crowded.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Some years into the millennium, they just stopped referring to the food 'chasm' as the Cafe Square, a moniker given to Pyramid mall food courts, which really didn't show up on malls until the later 80s, Holyoke Mall's food and entertainment concept was among the early ones.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My history with Holyoke Mall only dates back to the early 90's and for the most part, the mall's 1979 wood craze hasn't changed so I never got to see this amazing iteration of the Cafe Square in its heyday. I know I'd totally hang out here on a weekday with a cup of coffee and a flared collar shirt. OK, maybe no flares of any kind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEg4U-slIHaFLIq5Vk09ALnleyLMGpFayL7DNRigxBdi5DluRMZ94PoGqIIyd6nE-7J0UV-rQaeXO6pj5DJduHRw5fbAjm-pXZ53QmcI2IeLpUyEz2KNc7Fr_CT6zYZRES0Tc/s1600/306689_10150757929039518_134831364517_9337066_1266751803_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEg4U-slIHaFLIq5Vk09ALnleyLMGpFayL7DNRigxBdi5DluRMZ94PoGqIIyd6nE-7J0UV-rQaeXO6pj5DJduHRw5fbAjm-pXZ53QmcI2IeLpUyEz2KNc7Fr_CT6zYZRES0Tc/s400/306689_10150757929039518_134831364517_9337066_1266751803_n.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97wNeGN8oqRfAvGjWybvzkR_rrEKYty7BT9UXY9ExTkLzG6QjbrWLZ2SXxpD4BrKOm51ObdXMFQAwhOjZDtiNslUDcjJ0VS-HF9fR9KgfQDKQFfeAlwNlteM-cT6rBJAOK8G1/s1600/581085_10150757749544518_134831364517_9336801_25746357_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97wNeGN8oqRfAvGjWybvzkR_rrEKYty7BT9UXY9ExTkLzG6QjbrWLZ2SXxpD4BrKOm51ObdXMFQAwhOjZDtiNslUDcjJ0VS-HF9fR9KgfQDKQFfeAlwNlteM-cT6rBJAOK8G1/s400/581085_10150757749544518_134831364517_9336801_25746357_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's all here; the enormous geodesic dome, wood-decor from top-to-bottom, gardens, a fountain and a busy, dark original Cafe Square food court! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One thing that plagues our curiosity in this three-fold directory is the absence of G. FOX in the full-color shot. Perhaps it was taken during construction of the store and was still hidden from the mall. If you just look horizon-level and up, you'd be hard-pressed to believe this shot was taken 30 years ago seeing as the mall hasn't changed too much from its original design.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let's take a closer look, we find a lot of familiar shops of the time and even some of my favorites like <b>York Steak House</b>, a sauteed onions 'n steak chain found at most premiere malls in the 70's featuring medieval decor, cafeteria-style dining, and your option of JELLO cubes or pudding dessert choices. <b>Service Merchandise </b>(a two-level one!) which I never knew was an early anchor lasting all the way up until the chain's final days, <b>American Eagle </b>and <b>The Gap </b>in their earliest years, <b>Holyoke Dental </b>which is in the same place and in its own timewarp today, <b>Friendly's </b>who just closed their over 30-year restaurant location in the Cafe Square, <b>The Ti Shop</b>, who had a tiny store in Westfarms, <b>Original Cookie </b>(remember the BIG cookie?!) and so many more. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you're interested, check out the Pyramid Group's nearby, immaculately preserved albeit sister 1978 <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/04/hampshire-mall-hadley-massachusetts.html">Hampshire Mall</a> has a brown-draped Cafe Square over in Hadley still kind of resembles the bygone browns of Holyoke's. Sadly, it too, has had its fountain dismantled but not entirely removed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mall geeks will be joyed to see Holyoke Mall's wood-paneled mania still sporting the three-level mall some 33 years later though the mall got an exterior earth-toned repaint a few years back and even ditched the 1995-added neons for hanging fixtures even more recently.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We have <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157600459109371/">a bevy of photos of the Holyoke Mall</a>, mostly from 2007 (before the exterior repaint and neon removal) on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/">our Flickr page</a>, most of which have been revamped or replaced with better quality edits from years past. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Share your memories! And see more historic stuff from our archives <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/10/holyoke-mall-history.html">here</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>The first photo was provided by <a href="http://www.cardcow.com/139940/holyoke-mall-at-ingleside-massachusetts/">CardCow.com</a><span id="goog_617101879"></span><span id="goog_617101880"></span>, the directory and photo provided by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/HolyokeMall">Holyoke Mall Facebook Page</a> on behalf of the Pyramid Group.</i></span></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-19215364874250103132012-04-04T11:17:00.002-04:002012-04-11T00:37:04.956-04:00What Was Riverview Plaza?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihio7yeM8WjY6Iw9YAtbhNeLeuKaVT8IvrzSjzZ9LnWJ7niXes_07GR4L-uVlf7GBeXCQVSWmk4-rfh0nPEKhnzZRhtAITG9todVysbcLC7B1mg-3mz0DDoxQrwWn1hvCdXd4f/s1600/DSC09864.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihio7yeM8WjY6Iw9YAtbhNeLeuKaVT8IvrzSjzZ9LnWJ7niXes_07GR4L-uVlf7GBeXCQVSWmk4-rfh0nPEKhnzZRhtAITG9todVysbcLC7B1mg-3mz0DDoxQrwWn1hvCdXd4f/s400/DSC09864.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
A friend of mine recently stumbled on an oddball site known as The Manchester Mall on Main St. in Manchester, CT. It's not a <i>mall</i>, really. Instead, it was a limited indoor retail space that may have been more in the 60's. Still, the hand-painted sign around the back signifies a mall, though only a whisper of one and in the oppressive shadows of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157601585367754/">a nearby blight</a> and <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theshoppesatbucklandhills.com%2F&ei=G1Z8T5LeCqrn0QGCyMHtCw&usg=AFQjCNHSsPJ2_tLbW9rLsaUVoyqNHZExWQ&sig2=nRzS98PrGo4TEBXJqn2rMg">overwhelming site</a>. When anyone says "mall" they think of <a href="http://www.mallofamerica.com/home">this</a>. <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2006/12/sun-vet-mall-holbrook-long-island-new.html">Not this</a>. The word association with the word mall classically refers to a gaggle of retailers within a cluster of space whereas today's people associate it with megatons of indoor, climate-controlled retail space which has consumed generations' since the indoorization craze beginning in the 1970s.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<b>Riverview Plaza</b> in Norwalk doesn't even call itself a mall but it sure as green grass on a Spring day look(ed) like one. A road sign doning seagulls could only forecast its fate that one day of the official mascot of the dead mall will paint it white.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4LDkD2Z3NFVFDL2QFaxvAJKZX4rmxQGR1nM62O1aShxXY49hFeKOEiwmxiptq3DN4eFEKEVaMse1yGUkeq69m6qji5-AHj7iFczZxUt0kovxFZ4WDDK2fK8OaT6bP5s_gM91/s1600/DSC09875.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4LDkD2Z3NFVFDL2QFaxvAJKZX4rmxQGR1nM62O1aShxXY49hFeKOEiwmxiptq3DN4eFEKEVaMse1yGUkeq69m6qji5-AHj7iFczZxUt0kovxFZ4WDDK2fK8OaT6bP5s_gM91/s400/DSC09875.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
I've been sitting on these photos since 2007, around the time I wanted to do some investigating about this forgotten site, seemingly awaiting demolition. When I first stumbled on Riverview Plaza, I took a walk inside only to be greeted by three darkly-lit corridors of the T-shaped center where daylight once gleamed through now only to peak into void space, shadows within storefronts, grimy pits where plants once set and an occasional vagrant or legit clearanced patronage in the few lights it up here. Uninviting and creepy, no one wants to be here anymore aside the perception of unsavory activity and reports of "low lives" and as clear as the stank air, the days for this decrepit dump are (or were) numbered.<br />
<br />
Most of the chain retailers <b>Radio Shack </b>and <b>AutoZone </b>were either basking in cheap leases or finishing them up and stayed outside the mall in the frontage strip part -- which had no part of the indoor portion. </div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmE2m6JVfmzqwGLp6u9SW_XhpYA6vSYQ8kS_OmcGE23choGhVemLSac7qlkjXIAsR1_F2Bn19Q2vTcLNkSeWK1smb7ZvSJYPTP4pYkr0kgeglNBBx1PRA-cCyvfc4UPl1CG7s/s1600/DSC09870-001.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmE2m6JVfmzqwGLp6u9SW_XhpYA6vSYQ8kS_OmcGE23choGhVemLSac7qlkjXIAsR1_F2Bn19Q2vTcLNkSeWK1smb7ZvSJYPTP4pYkr0kgeglNBBx1PRA-cCyvfc4UPl1CG7s/s400/DSC09870-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
All that really kept this place alive was, among a few fronts living out the rests of their leases was a 90's-throwback <b>McDonald's Express</b>, complete with the scriptish logo I associate with short-lived personal pizzas 90's children discuss in circles when reflecting upon youth.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRFgpIi_tF9tSA7G0O4jkm-9JJFq2lGDSzB5CFVFQrGiOuenxFWw7bDDXSutrY64jIHEqKlCFxrBF7nGbailZWybtUK7PnaA277Y2IaPrxO3JYyLTG7kGY3FEA3yK2btywEkQ/s1600/DSC09863.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRFgpIi_tF9tSA7G0O4jkm-9JJFq2lGDSzB5CFVFQrGiOuenxFWw7bDDXSutrY64jIHEqKlCFxrBF7nGbailZWybtUK7PnaA277Y2IaPrxO3JYyLTG7kGY3FEA3yK2btywEkQ/s320/DSC09863.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz13adBB2TIv3ueZ1Ykzrxy4uQZoQSmQooOCkSQiM3AZ3ibNGdHFkUSQbq__sRyT5YEmeJbyUGRAEsMWH9F1LYLvWq6PwOqnv-9V1bb8kLJV_P-lQKCVX7yyz9RoTeIchB_na/s1600/DSC09869.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz13adBB2TIv3ueZ1Ykzrxy4uQZoQSmQooOCkSQiM3AZ3ibNGdHFkUSQbq__sRyT5YEmeJbyUGRAEsMWH9F1LYLvWq6PwOqnv-9V1bb8kLJV_P-lQKCVX7yyz9RoTeIchB_na/s320/DSC09869.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9OIq6OxtDRrG2_8jLcVjxAptafKEbatvoOQl2o_yuLinorUi2RXM4OLMIRm7IjWr3txmT2GGlZrdLKcW2vI19HoPQ7_-UNYc8wb859sKfxbNGNuCmXMw3pw7i-i25IlUUXCj/s1600/DSC09865.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9OIq6OxtDRrG2_8jLcVjxAptafKEbatvoOQl2o_yuLinorUi2RXM4OLMIRm7IjWr3txmT2GGlZrdLKcW2vI19HoPQ7_-UNYc8wb859sKfxbNGNuCmXMw3pw7i-i25IlUUXCj/s320/DSC09865.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqOQg8-zLwLM2E-dZfi9CRi9KvqBB1On6wO3u2BSeHQdCOfVeFsH38AiXqAAjgqVDcOF4lAcHTsVYlFToytJZg9MFnl-UaPndbvEwAqB9oCYZdahJubFyX4KIe7WmTT7Ao__d/s1600/DSC09866.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqOQg8-zLwLM2E-dZfi9CRi9KvqBB1On6wO3u2BSeHQdCOfVeFsH38AiXqAAjgqVDcOF4lAcHTsVYlFToytJZg9MFnl-UaPndbvEwAqB9oCYZdahJubFyX4KIe7WmTT7Ao__d/s320/DSC09866.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUpV3_YVVat7KtaG6J0wVeXWmyGUZeNGwwUHCWazniIcfO8KFuutkCCh-6fEi3cNx58fFKlkqWUlnx1Trl1nHmAH6x4Wooh_xDwsGw4wYad1b9q2povB8NBlTmuFFK_f6SHZ8/s1600/DSC09867.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUpV3_YVVat7KtaG6J0wVeXWmyGUZeNGwwUHCWazniIcfO8KFuutkCCh-6fEi3cNx58fFKlkqWUlnx1Trl1nHmAH6x4Wooh_xDwsGw4wYad1b9q2povB8NBlTmuFFK_f6SHZ8/s320/DSC09867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Though I can't seem to gather anything on this place, it was likely a smaller community mall so very common in many towns lo<span id="goog_102067991"></span><span id="goog_102067992"></span>ng departed, likely built in the late 60's or early 70's and actually served a great deal of business in a high-traffic area up until the swing of the century when the traditional indoor mall was in trouble. Plenty of design elements recall earlier times white-washed over, you have to appreciate this place was much more fanciful of a classic smaller indoor mall of that time. </div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8dvMBX9vkx1QLnB5DOfjj6p-N_2cR-WBT7S2cHdmrA8bZP5ECLMUKAYzZNL7nVsKz0z9zG-9QjWpk72VP8A9QMrv4FFG75Zx5K4KvVSR7GjmX4jeXYwA8zVSBjIHayjkgclE/s1600/DSC09872.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8dvMBX9vkx1QLnB5DOfjj6p-N_2cR-WBT7S2cHdmrA8bZP5ECLMUKAYzZNL7nVsKz0z9zG-9QjWpk72VP8A9QMrv4FFG75Zx5K4KvVSR7GjmX4jeXYwA8zVSBjIHayjkgclE/s400/DSC09872.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
Today, Riverview Plaza is <a href="http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/16537984/24-Belden-Avenue-Norwalk-CT/">(mostly) gone</a>. The renewal attempts to keep <a href="http://www.thedailynorwalk.com/news/man-shot-death-near-norwalk-river">the riffraff</a> away but not enough thanks to the nearby swells and smells of the damned and defeat at the nearby <strike>OTB</strike> -- I mean <b>Winners </b>off-track betting around the side. That office building behind it continues to hearken (in) back to its office/retail days with Riverview signage removed. Its developers have made an attempt turn this handsome space into <a href="http://www.avaloncommunities.com/connecticut/norwalk-apartments/avalon-norwalk/">a 'lifestyle' mixed use site</a> with integrated living and retail space which actually completely block and occupy a greater part of the former parking lot.<br />
<br />
Like putting a towel on a rotten milk spill, the plan to revitalize this area by <a href="http://www.avaloncommunities.com/connecticut/norwalk-apartments/avalon-norwalk/launch-guest-card/1/">developer Avalon</a> may still be far off. Can't blame them really, the once blighted property passed many eyes on the US-1/7 area and that attempt to block it was errr -- <i>successful</i>. Seriously, <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&sugexp=eqn&tok=K1vyfh_6oPuq8_x34EdmwA&pq=riverview+apartments&cp=9&gs_id=14r&xhr=t&client=firefox-a&hs=0iS&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=861&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=avalon+norwalk&fb=1&gl=us&hq=avalon+norwalk&cid=14423619635895827440&ei=Y2B8T4qtBMni0QHnu_mBDA&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=placepage-link&resnum=4&sqi=2&ved=0CGsQ4gkwAw">go read the Google reviews</a> on this place. <br />
<br />
The McDonald's is seemingly still on the lease and on the signboard but we just couldn't find it. Recently, we went back to investigate to see if the indoor portion was still there only to find it had been mysteriously vanished.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oZVA5bS_BmsXPjkZSV9qTp1liP9GwndxwN3DTcmgkMsa8F1l4kRjR5q4xK3sp99plr6rGcm5aYRW-x1V-cgUvtQzRgzko7uqiGsp0QlVXHNy7O02ip7EYJk4qkZF2SAVf6Lp/s1600/DSC09873.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oZVA5bS_BmsXPjkZSV9qTp1liP9GwndxwN3DTcmgkMsa8F1l4kRjR5q4xK3sp99plr6rGcm5aYRW-x1V-cgUvtQzRgzko7uqiGsp0QlVXHNy7O02ip7EYJk4qkZF2SAVf6Lp/s400/DSC09873.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
The wonderful, <a href="http://amesfanclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=3177.0">now dead Siteride</a> once had an impressive collection of photos from the living years of this mall during the mid-90s (including a sweet shot of the cramped Dunkin' Donuts interior) that have since purged along with that site and until someone unearths those, these are all we have. You can actually still see a lot of what's now gone <a href="http://www.google.com/maps?q=&layer=c&z=17&iwloc=A&sll=41.117957,-73.416244&cid=5298536570450750265&cbp=13,29.9,-0.7,0,0&panoid=Q_7kzwa4JxYQxUgKBdurOw&q=Riverview+Plaza+Norwalk+CT&ei=rWV8T776D-bb0QGQxO2WDA&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=streetview-image-link&cd=1&resnum=4&ved=0CBsQnwIoADAD">on Google Streetview</a>.<br />
<br />
Here's to the new Riverview, where I might just see a body floating down it.</div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-90050479758735148182012-03-18T22:10:00.000-04:002012-04-10T16:31:12.427-04:0040-Year KFCs Closed In Old Saybrook and New London<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekvkXz4wNbKI8TMLbOm7IC05Op064yQdNYduKrY-TqrpVm7XCvHVx4nvO0LzD5DXoVrQB-TTY8Dvi27I3RwchgbMWWdBE1YYxnX5E-UxEL17SVuui3emPyOJPL09_n3WMv3N9/s1600/DSC00788.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekvkXz4wNbKI8TMLbOm7IC05Op064yQdNYduKrY-TqrpVm7XCvHVx4nvO0LzD5DXoVrQB-TTY8Dvi27I3RwchgbMWWdBE1YYxnX5E-UxEL17SVuui3emPyOJPL09_n3WMv3N9/s400/DSC00788.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The corner street fried-chicken fixture for almost 40 years sits vacantly, just down the road from the busy business epicenter of US-1 in Old Saybrook. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Longtime owner Douglas J. Beach sold his withering but well-kept 'vintage' properties formerly housing nearly 40-year old <b>Kentucky Fried Chicken</b> restaurants in <b>Old Saybrook</b> just last December as well as his other one in <b>New London</b> on Bank Street. Both cozier locations marked an impressive, 40-plus year stint on 735 Boston Post Rd. in Old Saybrook and 922 Bank St. in New London. These modestly small ones like Old Saybrook at 2,160 sq. ft. sits like a chicken on the corner of Lynde St., hoping for a new life or a revitalized lease in the fried chicken franchiser. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzld60rbgWWH7vzo0ls0vKmJv8vJjpn2ItTnNtwGWwXk2U6RFyExq84sqGiN3X9jnCQ2V8qImw-t4Y0ItqySkFJH8zSQBAuaiGpLNKvFOsC3TwwuxH5vAnFmOCE8jQLZAXV2J/s1600/DSC00785.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzld60rbgWWH7vzo0ls0vKmJv8vJjpn2ItTnNtwGWwXk2U6RFyExq84sqGiN3X9jnCQ2V8qImw-t4Y0ItqySkFJH8zSQBAuaiGpLNKvFOsC3TwwuxH5vAnFmOCE8jQLZAXV2J/s400/DSC00785.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">KFC ON BOSTON POST RD. (US-1) IN OLD SAYBROOK</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, I've always thought these 70's looking stores looked like perched chickens. Probably <i>just</i> me...</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Purchaser Village Plaza has claimed the Old Saybrook property, who bought the site in December 2010 has yet to make something of it.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTy08oO8QGCFU0rvrz9Dp8u8TZjsHpFYpZE1_hgJ2L6fKTn1Wp-vobg3EMdlpApMdPA_RFdVl0ljhUGVR-Y90WwuNiXeLO0X3EvZHDPHOSyDFsK9_eWiSTT7I235eqMTppJHr/s1600/DSC00786.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTy08oO8QGCFU0rvrz9Dp8u8TZjsHpFYpZE1_hgJ2L6fKTn1Wp-vobg3EMdlpApMdPA_RFdVl0ljhUGVR-Y90WwuNiXeLO0X3EvZHDPHOSyDFsK9_eWiSTT7I235eqMTppJHr/s400/DSC00786.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">KFC ON BOSTON POST RD. (US-1) IN OLD SAYBROOK</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">New London opened in 1970 and Old Saybrook one year later, both locations remained time capsules to its respective era with a compact dining room (likely later expanded) and never having been fitted for drive-thrus, practically standard on fast food joints by the late 70's and 80's. No corporate polish or spacious parking, the sunburnt road sign mirrored the hip 'KFC' acronyming fad of 1990's against a wave of fresh white and red paint jobs over the years keeping the store looking ripe in the 2000's. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/3988668734/in/photostream/"></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Back in 2008, The Caldor Rainbow made pilgrimage to gather images of all the lingering KFCs in the CT/Mass./NY regions <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=10073060@N00&q=KFC">still hanging onto vestiges of 70s and 80s tones</a>. We found a pretty impressive array including the age-old Old Saybrook, CT location upon which we were stricken with finger-lickin' grief to find it had been closed since late 2010 and later with New London having closed in June 2011. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2006-2008 was a period many of these locations were finally getting their remodels after decades of neglect.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHau4rX_mJAtzsTMUKNihk3FG0Tk7y2d-tLZk3q2oWZRpi486JB4oL17cok_jYx2M81ZlvKO59MAZ_bjis0YOSlqI4k7VF_IbJYwXf7zKlZRAY3f7NReY3VhXL5pUBgXs-iryF/s1600/DSC00939.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHau4rX_mJAtzsTMUKNihk3FG0Tk7y2d-tLZk3q2oWZRpi486JB4oL17cok_jYx2M81ZlvKO59MAZ_bjis0YOSlqI4k7VF_IbJYwXf7zKlZRAY3f7NReY3VhXL5pUBgXs-iryF/s400/DSC00939.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">KFC ON BANK STREET IN NEW LONDON</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWbzC2S3a4OLco_ADyliiNPJQ02Q-jMO0m_aOyXhxtAeblPKVLsNo-lCEd_sGqk5sMUF6lJK56Q0UiRF768B-wj26XhdBKZ7fW55wZYNjimedjGZml-uhMxjkvC2614b2TzdX/s1600/DSC00931.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWbzC2S3a4OLco_ADyliiNPJQ02Q-jMO0m_aOyXhxtAeblPKVLsNo-lCEd_sGqk5sMUF6lJK56Q0UiRF768B-wj26XhdBKZ7fW55wZYNjimedjGZml-uhMxjkvC2614b2TzdX/s400/DSC00931.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">KFC ON BANK STREET IN NEW LONDON, WITH LIKE POOR PAINT JOB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPgtLxCTrZ0veMviXoep029kL-M3ImPvCF5_SBvfJYEDYJUcJhOf-0ATZk8ZKZKKMwJTvgckyOwa1JOnTVrzw-kqTwWD1bF9m6f_ImeM5CHHhB2Zj4LQQ5cVR9eSdNylkZkQ_/s1600/DSC00795.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Louisville, KY based Americana restaurant Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC (or KGC -- Colonel certainly would not approve of) went franchise in 1952 and started a wave across America with his signature blend of 11 herbs and spices and has become a cultural icon since. In recent years, KFC is a chain that has seen many <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/671768757/in/photostream/">store demolitions for newer shops</a>, vacations ('vacate'tions as in moved to other sites), especially close to our region with franchise owner Jessie Lanier and the closing of all eight of his Springfield, MA area and two Connecticut stores. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We
were saddened to find no local reports or even some history. Sure, it's 'just a chain' among a
sea of them but behind everyone are stories, memories and a dedication
to service. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We especially liked seeing these stores modest in size hanging in there in an age of polyurethane seats and plastic facades without unique identities like they used to be.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There are now five(ish) known vacant KFCs in Connecticut; <b>Old Saybrook</b>, <b>New London</b>, <b>Enfield</b> <b>(Hazard Ave.)</b>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/6849154730/">a long-old timer on Enfield St.</a> and <b>Windsor Locks</b>. The chain retains (a whopping) 41 locations in Connecticut, oddball fact, only three (Southington, Torrington and Bristol) still have buffets. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPgtLxCTrZ0veMviXoep029kL-M3ImPvCF5_SBvfJYEDYJUcJhOf-0ATZk8ZKZKKMwJTvgckyOwa1JOnTVrzw-kqTwWD1bF9m6f_ImeM5CHHhB2Zj4LQQ5cVR9eSdNylkZkQ_/s1600/DSC00795.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPgtLxCTrZ0veMviXoep029kL-M3ImPvCF5_SBvfJYEDYJUcJhOf-0ATZk8ZKZKKMwJTvgckyOwa1JOnTVrzw-kqTwWD1bF9m6f_ImeM5CHHhB2Zj4LQQ5cVR9eSdNylkZkQ_/s400/DSC00795.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">See more pictures of both locations and the rest of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=10073060@N00&q=KFC">our Kentucky Fried Chicken stores on Flickr</a>. Actually, most of those shown are now closed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>EDIT (April 10, 2012):</b> <i>Story has been amended thanks to reader Greg, who informed us the New London location, also owned by Mr. Beach, is closed.</i></span></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com4735 Boston Post Rd, Old Saybrook, CT 06475, USA41.2937783 -72.381215341.2922868 -72.383682799999988 41.2952698 -72.3787478tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-24144282769286890212012-03-15T11:11:00.000-04:002012-03-15T11:11:49.365-04:00Around Plainedge; circa 1976<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Who doesn't love historic photos? Furthermore, who doesn't love historic photos of shopping centers? From the mid-70s? Jackpot! Luckilly, the <a href="http://www.plainedgeinfo.org/live/zenphoto/historical-photos/">Plainedge Public Library</a> of working class town Plainedge, New York (Long Island) caters to the needs of those looking for popular restaurant and supermarket chains peppered in its "circa 1976" historic scanned photo album. Many of the submitted photos here are from Plainedge area towns Bethpage, Seaford, Massapequa and the like. If you live around there, maybe you can identify the landscape 36 years later. Here's some of the highlights...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyvW_884wc1R_a8bhY_YrpFxH4RZAPk6T4jd2e7bu18o1HGaL5zIr48xfoSQXNCl1LlViVNHLh1mviNkdhjzxX7JVO-d5T7Oc_Qo4Vcx6Kd8DnL3AOmAXq94YaC6GB0tltULW/s1600/pict0211_700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyvW_884wc1R_a8bhY_YrpFxH4RZAPk6T4jd2e7bu18o1HGaL5zIr48xfoSQXNCl1LlViVNHLh1mviNkdhjzxX7JVO-d5T7Oc_Qo4Vcx6Kd8DnL3AOmAXq94YaC6GB0tltULW/s320/pict0211_700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span>Burger King / <span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">4201 Hempstead Turnpike / Bethpage</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51etyOsCcghtvFhieT0i9iXgDfKuLtI3g0PkmXxEuAq3YGy6MJlyANHq1cowvr5sU18aBH3Q8ayxV8-cH3lS-MF1WlcSdDun_hPfe6nxluU82xDOd_NUCNAA5ctmx29vo-Wr6/s1600/pict0209_700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZL2UuMx3gSRg8jxmtPwW5GQSIla4BShkDVtTB1-AigODq17oX6Uinj_N8AcvufzLB5msiEea5DAeXUhQHF1EJ20-HGty9cUmO19w5KGUZUTrfAFcV61yeVVhyphenhyphenzvr29hjdNXO/s1600/pict0123_700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZL2UuMx3gSRg8jxmtPwW5GQSIla4BShkDVtTB1-AigODq17oX6Uinj_N8AcvufzLB5msiEea5DAeXUhQHF1EJ20-HGty9cUmO19w5KGUZUTrfAFcV61yeVVhyphenhyphenzvr29hjdNXO/s320/pict0123_700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">Foodtown / 4035 Hempstead Turnpike / Bethpage</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRtkLQ58G-XeCkugdj4wJ1S0xeu2y3T7OLIDGHFGI4hg9FjVzkoDnqXLch8ygUfHGq5XSe3ZAMnbihM5dZGRb1LbNIFn-dacRJTIc-ceGh4tlvt0HkNw7q5nag924N3rnKFj_/s1600/pict0194_700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRtkLQ58G-XeCkugdj4wJ1S0xeu2y3T7OLIDGHFGI4hg9FjVzkoDnqXLch8ygUfHGq5XSe3ZAMnbihM5dZGRb1LbNIFn-dacRJTIc-ceGh4tlvt0HkNw7q5nag924N3rnKFj_/s320/pict0194_700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">Dunkin' Donuts, A&P (Plaza) /16 Hicksville Rd. / Seaford</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBLhvOoW07V7LilyotLA4cv-0GQs3WSYdPudtLzsawDFVjgNbYd2CwvWwT-6Zj3nMAlXudAIFKSxnIPSemi74LI2L5yGpp7MNEVL5Bh_itsdfdwjo19G7zvbgDgDy8F5uohNS/s1600/pict0191_700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBLhvOoW07V7LilyotLA4cv-0GQs3WSYdPudtLzsawDFVjgNbYd2CwvWwT-6Zj3nMAlXudAIFKSxnIPSemi74LI2L5yGpp7MNEVL5Bh_itsdfdwjo19G7zvbgDgDy8F5uohNS/s320/pict0191_700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">Waldbaum's Shopping Center / Hicksville Rd. & Jerusalem Ave. / Massapequa</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwdAzJU07ENGahOWMPjbkCFLbZL5NDK5APfMcF6RrreBmhLyXOHAyPzOWp3P2D0acV0O2XtYC0-dGD1XJSUHNAXoGPP1MhI5Bzc_pRx7fRC7DULz-t3yh6Xn8yvbMFyoYHLKy/s1600/pict0096_700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwdAzJU07ENGahOWMPjbkCFLbZL5NDK5APfMcF6RrreBmhLyXOHAyPzOWp3P2D0acV0O2XtYC0-dGD1XJSUHNAXoGPP1MhI5Bzc_pRx7fRC7DULz-t3yh6Xn8yvbMFyoYHLKy/s320/pict0096_700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">Hardee's / 4115 Hempstead Turnpike / Bethpage</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAB-tA_laHt4OtAF99MB9LcrSpMv3K-qYJHdDZ7pWCWndhDp_S1NXKb_fhGVVNE6XnH5GgTiMorx_LFk1h1KuwjOVPHC3NOB-1eWoT4MQW8nP2agtntu5GduxcWARCXl4fAi7/s1600/pict0195_700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAB-tA_laHt4OtAF99MB9LcrSpMv3K-qYJHdDZ7pWCWndhDp_S1NXKb_fhGVVNE6XnH5GgTiMorx_LFk1h1KuwjOVPHC3NOB-1eWoT4MQW8nP2agtntu5GduxcWARCXl4fAi7/s320/pict0195_700.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">Hills Shopping Center / 1276 Hicksville Rd. / Seaford</span><span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51etyOsCcghtvFhieT0i9iXgDfKuLtI3g0PkmXxEuAq3YGy6MJlyANHq1cowvr5sU18aBH3Q8ayxV8-cH3lS-MF1WlcSdDun_hPfe6nxluU82xDOd_NUCNAA5ctmx29vo-Wr6/s1600/pict0209_700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51etyOsCcghtvFhieT0i9iXgDfKuLtI3g0PkmXxEuAq3YGy6MJlyANHq1cowvr5sU18aBH3Q8ayxV8-cH3lS-MF1WlcSdDun_hPfe6nxluU82xDOd_NUCNAA5ctmx29vo-Wr6/s320/pict0209_700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips / 4273 Hempstead Turnpike / Bethpage</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">Most of these sites, like their chains, are gone today. I know Arthur Treacher's husk is on Washington St. here in Middletown, CT as a Subway while the Kawasaki dealership on Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield was likely a Hardee's. An unmistakable 70's Burger King with original lettering from the 60s-era of the chain before playscapes or drive-thrus eye-sored the frontage of the many tacky-blue roofed BK's of today. And oh, that classic shingled Dunkin' Donuts with that circular donut logo that only came to the attention of the chain upon its 60th anniversary is here before many of them decayed by the 90's.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">There's about 7 pages worth of great sepia-tinged views into the past. If you like banks, gas stations, diners and popular establishments, take a look. We hope to unearth more of these gems and encourage more libraries to make their digital collections available to everyone.We simply ask you do not reproduce these photos on any sites a la Flickr.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="zp_uneditable zp_uneditable_image_title">We've got some more news from The Island coming.</span></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-5040416538811482012012-03-15T00:22:00.000-04:002012-03-15T00:22:22.036-04:00Caldor Rainbow Returns<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Steely Dan took almost 20 years to come back with Two Against Nature. Supertramp lost the high-pitched guy and still came back. Sure, they haven't put out an album in almost ten years but I digress. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After two years of hiatus, The Caldor Rainbow will return. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In our absence, the world has continued to spin. Thus, many of our reports that made up our foundation have been left to hang in the balance to lack of updates and on those reports and, of course, spam. But before we delve into new reports, we must assure you that we are remodeling our focus. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Not too much, though or else we'd lose sight of The Caldor Rainbow. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For a few months now, I've been debating what to do with The Caldor Rainbow with regard to not only my readers but presence we have across the internet. I've even accepted the site as a past time pleasure, a bygone project since neglected, indefinitely abandoned leaving it to have its stamp on the internet for those looking for tidbits of info on defunct retailers no other friend sites offer. But after years of shuffling, it's been decided The Caldor Rainbow will live on officially now to exist as a dual entity; here on Blogspot and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/">on Flickr</a>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On our Flickr page, we have over 5,000 exclusive pictures, many of which not shared on the website or in our reports. Since June 2007, following the demise of Yahoo! Photos, we've chosen Flickr (and not just because they gave us 4 months free) as a host to reach as many people as possible that share a passion of retail and photography. We've made plenty of friends and allies along the way. Flickr allows our reach to millions and expedites our update process without the package of a researched update thus enabling more expedited updates for our readers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As for the Blogspot side, updates will continue within the mold of our traditional focus but ultimately our most valued updates are our readers' input and submissions. Without you, we would have never seen the New Britain Caldor that inspired this blog to be where it is today. Our vastly researched Connecticut Store Locators on the big three keeps the former presence of these fallen retailers as a testament to their legacy. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tracking The Retail Rainbows has been our goal since September 2006, as one would imagine a lot has changed almost 6 years later. Our beloved dead retail triad Caldor, Bradlees and Ames former locations are all but dried up, reported on or have been forgotten in the black hole of time. Actually, there are some still around, even if one of Connecticut's last reminders of Bradlees will be gone by Summer (or so the city of Manchester hopes). That story and more in the next few months...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So let's get some things out of the way first with a few lightning updates!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That rare Super Stop & Shop <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2010/03/timewarped-stop-shop-remains-in-west.html">we reported on two Marches ago</a> has been, like almost all existing Super Stop & Shops, has been remodeled and is no longer "Super". We were very lucky to capture what we did in the last months as a richly-preserved late 80's store. That <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/534989002/">dinosaur Kmart in Watertown, CT</a> is still timewarped, a now <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/05/rainbow-striped-milestone.html">24-year old Toys 'R' Us in upstate New York</a> is still preserved, the <a href="http://www.theday.com/article/20110318/BIZ02/110319652">Crystal Mall has been renovated after 16 years</a>, and the (Westfield) Trumbull mall now has carpets. We lost many more retailers we didn't think like Borders and Bernie's but Walmart and TARGET still comprise our current discount retail rivalry. Triple trump retailers Kmart, Sears and JCPenney (recently rebranding, again) is still around so, really, all's right with the world.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before you declare us <a href="http://mallsofamerica.blogspot.com/">Milforded</a>, we encourage email submissions and questions to XISMZERO@yahoo.com</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Above all, thank you to all my readers for putting up with the silence. We hope you still stick with us even through the blackout. The rainbow is here to shine its earthtones once again.</span></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-83760459439776796072010-03-23T23:10:00.000-04:002010-03-23T23:12:54.485-04:00Timewarped Stop & Shop Remains In West Springfield<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRub2ixqnztQsi_QH70bvc8d84IG0wT6I7oaf__K07vq-PbaW1bafgDA23CDRLwXi-LFFBgZr1asPCUqDQ34kqU0VQNsPLyykhlYGXBmQU4FLLKcrpQhCoCiSGKhpZU_BzjRI4/s1600-h/IMG_0114.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRub2ixqnztQsi_QH70bvc8d84IG0wT6I7oaf__K07vq-PbaW1bafgDA23CDRLwXi-LFFBgZr1asPCUqDQ34kqU0VQNsPLyykhlYGXBmQU4FLLKcrpQhCoCiSGKhpZU_BzjRI4/s400/IMG_0114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025904564763154" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Check those expiration dates! Roll that cart back down that aisle! Way back...<br /><br />The Caldor Rainbow has uncovered a true gem of chain supermarket-dom somewhat rare, even around these parts, an old-school Stop & Shop. Along the stretching retail hub in West Springfield, Mass., a timewarped interior Stop & Shop with plenty of long-bygone signage you might not have seen in decades still exists.<br /><br />But for how much longer?<br /><br />W. SPRINGFIELD, MA -- Stop & Shop, just one of 11 in a 10-mile blast radius, at Riverdale Shops plaza along Riverdale Street is an endangered species among the entirety of stores in the leading Northeast supermarket chain, Stop & Shop. In just the last year or so, the vital and somewhat aggressive remodeling campaign sought to transform many of the falling behind 25+ year "Super Stop & Shop"-era stores into newly-faced, in-and-out and color-schemed with "fruit basket" logo stores, we caught our first glimpse of in mid-2008.<br /><br />Like mega-retailer Walmart, the chain followed a similar campaign, rapidly overhauling many of its stores that flood the Northeast market as the dominant, prominent supermarketeer. In 2010, finding a "Super Stop & Shop" is endangered. Finding one with signage from the mid-80's is, well, near impossible.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-YqdzalWaOe2Xa7lvEfNFYWD5knOBo78ljYt16AqX8RR0_zlm_F5BZ-u5e2tNb0dXPpF5vDEnrI6cPPIMJGf6WY8NFK80sxzUXYTjyhwG_2-ZIOL5QqpHVZhHDISCLrNypiN/s1600-h/IMG_0115.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-YqdzalWaOe2Xa7lvEfNFYWD5knOBo78ljYt16AqX8RR0_zlm_F5BZ-u5e2tNb0dXPpF5vDEnrI6cPPIMJGf6WY8NFK80sxzUXYTjyhwG_2-ZIOL5QqpHVZhHDISCLrNypiN/s400/IMG_0115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025908865413922" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Twas an ordinary lunch run on a gray afternoon. Approaching the entrance, immediately visible from the parking lot was a maroon awning with a retro "Pharmacy" sign, sending a flash back to the 80's and early 90's-era of the chain's funkier signage. Upon entering the store, furthering into time's abyss, we witnessed architectural marvel all around us; spots of wood paneling, brown-tinted and paneled shelving and endcaps but shockers abound: the retro signage -- almost all of it. I further looked for a video rental store...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRNK8T3Nn2Ak2u5JJ5c95kLfPAvfwuJ-UWB9PlMX-xGT0OmpVmrHIXHgcrNTwo5OB45Mm0N5NwDg7Fl3qesaxOb9mDfRP1nfGKuOx6X3Y2U8nYZBX2jfUF0eqkDhBXdwBsjAZ/s1600-h/IMG_0111.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRNK8T3Nn2Ak2u5JJ5c95kLfPAvfwuJ-UWB9PlMX-xGT0OmpVmrHIXHgcrNTwo5OB45Mm0N5NwDg7Fl3qesaxOb9mDfRP1nfGKuOx6X3Y2U8nYZBX2jfUF0eqkDhBXdwBsjAZ/s400/IMG_0111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025881246870338" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPirEJzrdQc9r16-X-M9bHWprM_hKsBPins90FekNYCXsVCtsVbzU21FY9hzWqBBKsZl2rEKfU8oRHIfI0XMtY-olnRW17wLV8s1o5L8IHxEW_RUg31dtfau-GOIItLA_leW_B/s1600-h/IMG_0112.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPirEJzrdQc9r16-X-M9bHWprM_hKsBPins90FekNYCXsVCtsVbzU21FY9hzWqBBKsZl2rEKfU8oRHIfI0XMtY-olnRW17wLV8s1o5L8IHxEW_RUg31dtfau-GOIItLA_leW_B/s400/IMG_0112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025887953468050" border="0" /></a><br /></div>"The Bake Shop", complete with exuberantly grinning bakery man all still in-tact, complete with a putrid, yet lovely outdated, earthtoned Caldor Rainbow-style motif all over the rims of the walls. Zigzag "Creamery" signs, "Butcher Shop" and "Frozen Foods" all sent me back just a little.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi086DW8EsbzF_rqRxtTQl9NrScHg2l00MEX57B_w1vI04Z-H7pDoXvWq8v8UxK-ejdZQJIFYQeqUa7DNlM1s_VKnVxomnsjPByCXUaVtz-hKqQ2CD2fJpGmElXB_3tmWFJFXeT/s1600-h/IMG_0110-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi086DW8EsbzF_rqRxtTQl9NrScHg2l00MEX57B_w1vI04Z-H7pDoXvWq8v8UxK-ejdZQJIFYQeqUa7DNlM1s_VKnVxomnsjPByCXUaVtz-hKqQ2CD2fJpGmElXB_3tmWFJFXeT/s400/IMG_0110-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025874134359586" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Looking around for a nearby USA Today, I had to rest assure I didn't just step into a wormhole, sending me back to 1986. "Great Scott!"<br /><br />Know of any Stop & Shop's that have missed a few eras of remodel? Please let us know as we find more and fight atrocious spammers attempting to hijack the often vacant Caldor Rainbow.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Here's to my readers, reporting safely in the present: March 23, 2010.</span><br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-73481436624569863222010-02-05T18:20:00.000-05:002010-02-05T18:24:43.023-05:00Krispy Kreme Klosed<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyXJ0LFlCb66LjVZZkmGCspvPBIzMv55iQK0vrE0AgJG5LOaBJB1IqDVkM24oEJhAWZLTBuS2SyX3YzHQZM-53fMm8-ajXpKBGYWPbHlvUI0l31noO-1Td9SKn2I8jPFS-QpJ/s1600-h/DSC01174.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyXJ0LFlCb66LjVZZkmGCspvPBIzMv55iQK0vrE0AgJG5LOaBJB1IqDVkM24oEJhAWZLTBuS2SyX3YzHQZM-53fMm8-ajXpKBGYWPbHlvUI0l31noO-1Td9SKn2I8jPFS-QpJ/s400/DSC01174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434895603178556162" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At 1440 Boston Post Road in Milford, the red-glazed neon once signaling freshly-made glazed donuts right off the conveyor belt lights no more.<br /><br />Driving up and down the ever-bustling US-1, Boston Post Road in Milford, many will now have to chose Starbucks or perhaps for their donut fix, the newly-built <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dunkin</span>' Donuts across from the juggernaut Connecticut Post Mall. Once a beacon to one's afternoon sugar attack, the state's final free-standing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Krispy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kreme</span> Doughnuts (<span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>"Donuts!") has finally closed.<br /><br />Yes, <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span>. And quite frankly, I'm surprised its taken this long.<br /><br />If the 1-800-Junk truck didn't scare customers away for the past year and a half, the wild sugary values and aggressive critics found in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Krispy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kreme's</span> delicious glazed doughnuts might have. Or perhaps it was the grizzly murder locals remember taking place here when it was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">KFC</span> back in 1999...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2zXcjtaj5GNCGW1GF2DXTcY9BQfPsSZupXKZSAikaZEgL2G78SslCRLOnnXn6XlcAIODbFY7bhzX5u1uUWN0WQask2TjN00c4dlhVqid165TTKVYWP5jDdJ9QQxDHQoTagfG/s1600-h/DSC01169.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2zXcjtaj5GNCGW1GF2DXTcY9BQfPsSZupXKZSAikaZEgL2G78SslCRLOnnXn6XlcAIODbFY7bhzX5u1uUWN0WQask2TjN00c4dlhVqid165TTKVYWP5jDdJ9QQxDHQoTagfG/s400/DSC01169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434895597298586658" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Slowly dwindling from the Milford store included merchandise, a play area for kids, specialty drinks and other menu items to even plastic cups for iced beverages, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Krispy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kreme</span> tightened its belt with a firm squeeze over the last couple years of its life enough to splatter the jelly all over the walls. On a typical afternoon, one would be eerily greeted by a hollow presence in the store's lobby. Yeah, don't scare the staffers...<br /><br />The location which opened to much, <span style="font-style: italic;">much</span> fanfare in 2002 along with sister shop in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Newington</span> closed quietly in late 2009 though the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Caldor</span> Rainbow has discovered this upon passing in late January (yes, where have <span style="font-style: italic;">we </span>been...). Forthcoming "drive-in" service restaurant (that's correct, no dining room!), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sonic</span> is been among the rumored to open in its place -- as well as make for the first site in Connecticut. We'll surely expect blistery Winters and limited warmth in the fertile months are among the culprits for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sonic's</span> future troubles in the Northeast and <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>high-caloric and sugar scares which were those largely (pardon the pun) responsible for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Krispy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Kreme's</span> league of disappearing acts.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Krispy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Kreme</span>, who has closed up many stores over the last few years has no more than a handful of remaining locations along the eastern seaboard including a lone surviving Connecticut location inside Mohegan Sun Casino.<br /><br />Another shop on The Berlin Turnpike closed in early 2006, caused once, albeit short-lived crippling traffic concerns along the mighty 5/15 stretch in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Newington</span>. Today, the troubled blue-accented site sits vacant after being used briefly by a since-vacated, widely-shuttered Citibank branch.<br /><br />Once a treat for being on this end of the state is no more. My last trip here was in early October and even though I regularly patronized the typically ghost-town Milford <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Krispy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Kreme</span> for many years now, the closure is deeply saddening.<br /><br />Here's some of our archival photos to remember the tale of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Krispy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Kreme</span> in Milford and its brief stint in the Northeast.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhg75iYmDPOwMUANvbRkYk_lLWyks11lfOonxDXXDxLmEw_jkt99IMd-9RVFy4ahrOhHPRSVGuBdQdAUt6H6UT9puNErJDR9wuYFBX0hmLPEcqlH6h418Vgf3Vj3Dglzr4Slk/s1600-h/DSC06394.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhg75iYmDPOwMUANvbRkYk_lLWyks11lfOonxDXXDxLmEw_jkt99IMd-9RVFy4ahrOhHPRSVGuBdQdAUt6H6UT9puNErJDR9wuYFBX0hmLPEcqlH6h418Vgf3Vj3Dglzr4Slk/s400/DSC06394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434894272165643890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86hH_2h04nsdCt_p6xUGljbHi2FmIzhTbXIu0D3NsfmX46tgZQRLcOukacIIDgeqpwP05qkhKev7xpLxKuYHN8rPZbEI0zhnd1Jqx4k-8leRfiEup2dF851QZE665jck44V8a/s1600-h/DSC05159.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86hH_2h04nsdCt_p6xUGljbHi2FmIzhTbXIu0D3NsfmX46tgZQRLcOukacIIDgeqpwP05qkhKev7xpLxKuYHN8rPZbEI0zhnd1Jqx4k-8leRfiEup2dF851QZE665jck44V8a/s400/DSC05159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434894282008502802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM8LsMFQKUS-QYp_TovOtj_psvC876gz77SoiWKSMiclM3BhNKAePe7f-xC1nFdqgIAdfIHl0KHY6i8THqQSd_IoReoEbsmX7EZRIlTUbtmppZoxWOVbXSt7z3VM4qmN2Yz1e/s1600-h/DSC06392.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM8LsMFQKUS-QYp_TovOtj_psvC876gz77SoiWKSMiclM3BhNKAePe7f-xC1nFdqgIAdfIHl0KHY6i8THqQSd_IoReoEbsmX7EZRIlTUbtmppZoxWOVbXSt7z3VM4qmN2Yz1e/s400/DSC06392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434894275044751026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">View more of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=10073060%40N00&q=Krispy+Kreme&m=text">our photos of Krispy Kreme</a> and more on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/">Flickr</a>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />O</span></span>n an editorial note, I deeply <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">apologize</span> for the lack of maintenance and atrocious levels of spam that have collected on pages at The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Caldor</span> Rainbow over many months of our inactivity. I'm working to delete what I can since Blogger hasn't any simple, bulk deletion or effective captcha against such terrorists. Some pages' comments sections have been overrun and, in some instances, <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2009/08/ames-updates-vacancy-in-lowell.html">hijacked by surmountable levels of Japanese <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">spammers</span></a>.<br /></div></div></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-13094137390361270292009-09-07T00:00:00.000-04:002009-09-07T00:00:02.852-04:00New Britain Walmart Closure And Aftermath<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccS-5Ogv5Zha99BtiXS17pu1KXVJdfUZPa0DvADqNnAcnmhqEnyKccPaeNL6HBiIn18retewoBi0MHsSUQ1cOcOzEiyPxVt_m0kjvE0J-pKWNihX0-Mn3KHnhn3OPSqX2pmsl/s1600-h/DSC00608.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccS-5Ogv5Zha99BtiXS17pu1KXVJdfUZPa0DvADqNnAcnmhqEnyKccPaeNL6HBiIn18retewoBi0MHsSUQ1cOcOzEiyPxVt_m0kjvE0J-pKWNihX0-Mn3KHnhn3OPSqX2pmsl/s400/DSC00608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378523086577280754" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Well, that's all folks!</span><br /><br />That's pretty much what the Bentonville, AK-based juggernaut big box retailer Walmart said to its entire staff and patrons of the nearly ten-year Farmington Ave., New Britain location on August 31st, 2009. Citing many reasons other than the company line of "economic reasons," <a href="http://www.courant.com/business/hc-wal-mart0901.artsep01,0,6628421.story">others are speculative, some phoned-in from local residents</a> and even a turned-down request for store expansion, the New Britain location which opened in 2001, shortly after a 27-year, dilapidated swept-rockface 70's 'rainbow' Caldor had gone belly up with the entire chain, had shut it doors for good.<br /><br />Two days after the closure...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuaMB25szoR_qPM2-a9N0yZblVYDkbFMA_QsY3Lur_KA0xPz8EGBWS__qnhLr35n6ycv1gKVAt9jZyqC-NfUvCHOchsAx20HPrWnv45IAsMxQBDJwcPGW9vArBD3LReq7wd7E/s1600-h/DSC00595.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuaMB25szoR_qPM2-a9N0yZblVYDkbFMA_QsY3Lur_KA0xPz8EGBWS__qnhLr35n6ycv1gKVAt9jZyqC-NfUvCHOchsAx20HPrWnv45IAsMxQBDJwcPGW9vArBD3LReq7wd7E/s400/DSC00595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378523075128042178" border="0" /></a></div>The parking lot now largely bar<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>ren, a rich dark green scar where the white-clad sign once displayed in front of a scene with the least amount of cars ever seen for 3PM on a Tuesday. Two New Britain Police cruisers in the fire lane, presumably surveying the area. Kids released from nearby school walk past the now vacated Walmart along Farmington Avenue. One asks me 'is it closed?', another 'is it going to be Kmart?' -- only one of those I was sure of.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaYedsZL7MJ9QhlAyiMYe0HeFbcFSQd2ttbEd8KT6HZ9HVzgjx5J9fnFXLVw4OSPr70B-w_TJlldavkZrOqAfkqGEXEp0nX17ieZeGKoqULPTMu7Coj95gM0tRDT34O0jQCDm/s1600-h/DSC00610.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaYedsZL7MJ9QhlAyiMYe0HeFbcFSQd2ttbEd8KT6HZ9HVzgjx5J9fnFXLVw4OSPr70B-w_TJlldavkZrOqAfkqGEXEp0nX17ieZeGKoqULPTMu7Coj95gM0tRDT34O0jQCDm/s400/DSC00610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378523092241893858" border="0" /></a></div>Uncertain of the fate of 655 Farmington Ave., the store posters awareness on the cart-only entrance of six other locations within the 15 mile radius of the newly dark storefront.<br /><br />This makes only two closed Walmart stores in Connecticut -- both in New Britain.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1LhsKtAIFlwiL2JvvkiI55w7Qs7rr01O4ZmqbRZnmU9w9JMp-x4dOFnwMmkOH418aYBSwcq5resaR9iYtLmFNzCcHhcqTuOaRYl7zYw6DivR-DEVtQMPZQOOGzGMJWgS2ckG/s1600-h/DSC00603.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1LhsKtAIFlwiL2JvvkiI55w7Qs7rr01O4ZmqbRZnmU9w9JMp-x4dOFnwMmkOH418aYBSwcq5resaR9iYtLmFNzCcHhcqTuOaRYl7zYw6DivR-DEVtQMPZQOOGzGMJWgS2ckG/s400/DSC00603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378523080368980274" border="0" /></a></div>There's something about the city of New Britain and its unlucky history with Walmart. The first Walmart opened on the corner of Slater and Hillhurst Roads in 1997 on the site of a recently departed Price Club (and before that, a long-time Stop & Shop-Bradlees plaza). Shortly after the closure of Caldor, Walmart shuttered the Slater Road location, moving to the Farmington Ave. location shortly after the demolition of Caldor in 2001.<br /><br />With the late, beloved Northeast discounter Caldor spent, it always seem to come back to that earthtoned rainbow we can't get enough of. Back in November 1972, Caldor had celebrated its 21st Anniversary by opening a rather unique concept store with a enormous earthtoned rainbow company emblem apart a memorable angular facade that haunted its own architectural flaws all the way up until its 1999 closure. Here's a bit we wrote back <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/01/west-hartford-elmwood-swept-wing-caldor.html">on January 6, 2008</a>...<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">On November 2, 1972, the Caldor Corporation crafted what's referred to as the "swept wing" facade look on its proud 21st Anniversary, 21st chainwide store on Farmington Avenue in New Britain. The company then unveiled the ever-reminiscent rainbow-motif to go along with the angled facade look spawning an experimental and certainly distinct look for the ever-popular department retail chain.</blockquote>One of our readers shared a slew of <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/03/vintage-caldor-new-britain-connecticut.html">old pictures from his personal collection</a> from <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/03/caldor-new-britain-summer-1990.html">655 Farmington Avenue's Caldor</a> days just as I remember them (rainbow and all). In case you missed it, he still has some prime memorabilia from the building -- namely <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/07/c-and-o.html">the "C" and "O" </a>plexiglas letters.<br /><br />Walmart has been on a remodeling frenzy lately.<br /><br />A sprawl if you will, all throughout the country with many stores in our fair Connecticut <a href="http://www.courant.com/business/hc-walmart-remodels0731.artjul31,0,2750539.story">getting 11 out of the 34</a> with the new look. Reflective of their massive ad campaign that began last year, the company sought to combat negative media reflections of the chain corporate <a href="http://peopleofwalmart.com/">and otherwise</a> -- the <span style="font-style: italic;">otherwise</span> otherwise being that their stores were always so darned messy, the root of all of America's evil. We don't share this view, knowing my own bias for rival discounter, Target.<br /><br />The Caldor Rainbow does not know what will happen to this site. Once a prime piece of real estate, we believe that this will likely not stay vacant for long.<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-30260909919397606582009-08-29T00:00:00.000-04:002012-03-15T00:26:43.407-04:00Shirley Not Mistaken: A Free-Standing Roy Rogers<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHH_86SPaflEqd4wRn4Z8Hg05II-l-76h6hxReHSqJB972pA0jaOxoBjz6__jHPkV825iCWz3E2WwTpyliUFX1w8N9m8bZK7g_NnQydoAuCXhBfMpmCnwqHJznffQM9mjTgY8/s1600-h/DSC08366.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375097742597884082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHH_86SPaflEqd4wRn4Z8Hg05II-l-76h6hxReHSqJB972pA0jaOxoBjz6__jHPkV825iCWz3E2WwTpyliUFX1w8N9m8bZK7g_NnQydoAuCXhBfMpmCnwqHJznffQM9mjTgY8/s400/DSC08366.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 259px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
Roy Rogers himself may be dead and I think his burgers, chicken and roast beef chain seems to be following down that road. In fact, <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/02/sundown-for-roy-rogers.html">I was ready to accept Roy Rogers restaurant as an endangered specie</a>, in critical condition of extinction.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbmDPrWcF6hmp17Ntl7SZLtIBZrp-JKUXwGZfHceVSsRU-aKNvNlj1Hk0SySF3YUIjMUkzeZIE9jxgkWwLgHIoEBp-OH1Lef7_FJqIUPZRnV1dbGUD3YKj_lxtIjKlxi766iL/s1600-h/DSC08371.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375097758807999906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbmDPrWcF6hmp17Ntl7SZLtIBZrp-JKUXwGZfHceVSsRU-aKNvNlj1Hk0SySF3YUIjMUkzeZIE9jxgkWwLgHIoEBp-OH1Lef7_FJqIUPZRnV1dbGUD3YKj_lxtIjKlxi766iL/s400/DSC08371.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 256px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
Just recently upon my travels off Long Island, I stumbled across a free-standing 80's draped Roy Rogers in the town of Shirley, near the Route 27 stretch. Thinking it was vacant upon first glance, it didn't appear to me that an empty parking lot at 9:30 AM would suggest Roy's still doesn't have a breakfast menu.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaexAgZxhG3muuXcNerriQc7JyRkS6DMUDoiuislt0AnPUIxeKM2cDedJ0gkIYg10owT5DOT4vkxVWbiyuGxkcYFXGHI0Sa8eZG13WQBbSYAZP6Q-b09c8FIDADX9efUOjObHg/s1600-h/DSC08368.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375097749711456930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaexAgZxhG3muuXcNerriQc7JyRkS6DMUDoiuislt0AnPUIxeKM2cDedJ0gkIYg10owT5DOT4vkxVWbiyuGxkcYFXGHI0Sa8eZG13WQBbSYAZP6Q-b09c8FIDADX9efUOjObHg/s400/DSC08368.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a></div>
This particular location is such off-the-radar find, it even has a weirdly-placed, double-sided, now mangled road sign that's just hangin' in there -- sporting the retro sunset-over-the-canyon logo I would love to have on t-shirt.<br />
<br />
When I was a kid, we used to go to the formerly Marriott-owned Roy Rogers restaurant chain at the Meriden Square, near (then) upper-level G. Fox (now "Westfield Meriden", ugh). Sure, it was one of the only fast food eateries at the mall at the time, but they had some distinction over the meganauts McDonald's (never really liked McD's) and Burger King (whose fallen from grace). OK, the large portrait of Roy with a wheat stem in his mouth on the wall kind of scared a tender, younger me but I always dug the unlimited, free fixin's bar no matter how smelly handed/sneezed in sanitary disaster it might've been.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGg6AW36dOSS3KnRk0WlXH-itC1KqojUgsrZc06M8QC0u8YKF6L24UiWvh0yZ83VGZA2jsRW3Zh6wO5t60EQbbnNiSq5GbkFfYiymjC5gG8TmHtm7uQ-cXSMBcRw-RRj4R10kU/s1600-h/Fullscreen+capture+8282009+25929+PM.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375091654428144610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGg6AW36dOSS3KnRk0WlXH-itC1KqojUgsrZc06M8QC0u8YKF6L24UiWvh0yZ83VGZA2jsRW3Zh6wO5t60EQbbnNiSq5GbkFfYiymjC5gG8TmHtm7uQ-cXSMBcRw-RRj4R10kU/s400/Fullscreen+capture+8282009+25929+PM.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 216px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">ROY ROGERS LOCATIONS BY NOVEMBER 1980 (courtesy The Hartford Courant). ROCKY HILL LOCATION (NOT LISTED THERE), OPENED LATE DECEMBER 1980.</span></div>
<br />
Ever since the later 1990s, the franchise-run Roy Rogers has been slowly dwindling out of many markets, leaving one oddly-newly built one in (nose-bleed) North Stonington (I know, where?) including the once well-off Connecticut market. Since 2007, free-standing locations have pulled out of <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/02/sundown-for-roy-rogers.html">Newington (US-5 & CT-15)</a>, North Haven (US-5) and Manchester (I-84, Exit 63) to name a few. A good number of former Roy's became home to up-and-coming rival roast beef chain Arby's, whose seen sizable expansion in recent years.<br />
<br />
Now, someone <a href="http://yfrog.com/b6fullscreencapture828200j">go wake up the webmaster</a> at the "hip" newly painted Roy Rogers website, tell them <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2009/01/roy-rogers-rides-no-more-in-manchester.html">Manchester has been closed for over a year</a>.<br />
<br />
Go see more pictures on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/3855275733/">our magnificent Flickr</a>!</div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-71177428675451742392009-08-26T00:15:00.000-04:002009-08-26T00:15:26.647-04:00Toys "R" Us (Finally) Opens In North Haven, Closes Hamden<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihopi_a1CyRWncDs8GYvCraxmpFbpqD93h_6wqoOHZe3Ih8qTrl4eS7MHg20ikciKCcFyt0kif5U_zOSbrwZlNWc_NvCA8NMMSz_3VT6oztmRmOiX_7Wi2of9kqa9AIj9qPnsl/s1600-h/DSC08325-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihopi_a1CyRWncDs8GYvCraxmpFbpqD93h_6wqoOHZe3Ih8qTrl4eS7MHg20ikciKCcFyt0kif5U_zOSbrwZlNWc_NvCA8NMMSz_3VT6oztmRmOiX_7Wi2of9kqa9AIj9qPnsl/s400/DSC08325-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371737926302497682" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/06/toys-r-us-comes-to-north-haven-leaves.html">that story</a> we did over a year ago about Toys "R" Us putting a store in North Haven? Remember when we breached the story early? So early, in fact, we had doubts it would ever come to fruition, which is why we almost retracted the story.<br /><br />Behold!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD205oEvM8WbqH2lwrmgxsRaZO81pZt7pr-bjVfOt0zqv6S5a2-4RMRg0wVyBjUXnXVBP0yqUghNmRq8JWuBpx32JQ6WZ-wORDlh8elL8WmSxj9litFiRWplghmY_XqEUDspUQ/s1600-h/3762351942_0d606ba1f2_b.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD205oEvM8WbqH2lwrmgxsRaZO81pZt7pr-bjVfOt0zqv6S5a2-4RMRg0wVyBjUXnXVBP0yqUghNmRq8JWuBpx32JQ6WZ-wORDlh8elL8WmSxj9litFiRWplghmY_XqEUDspUQ/s400/3762351942_0d606ba1f2_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371716530823105762" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Toys "R" Us of North Haven opened as the thirteenth store in Connecticut, but only the ninth succeeding store (see the list below, folks) to date.<br /><br />The bright, vivacious location along Universal Drive opened with somewhat dim fanfare on July 3, 2009 and is the newest Toys "R" Us in the state since 1997. Not since 1997 has the company opened a store from the ground up; the relocated Waterbury store which was, at that time, a "Concept 2000" store.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexlOdbfk8UKIm5Hc6NShwlbvwNh9_iAVbZ1RWZ7ZmGw0J8YWOBq_8NkjBGZisUd1xuTPCcSBjphajf0yNXTFTox-APkeq6S5EI-tbnbZ54uEmt6uXog4Ywck1kX-TATARE6Bu/s1600-h/DSC00489.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexlOdbfk8UKIm5Hc6NShwlbvwNh9_iAVbZ1RWZ7ZmGw0J8YWOBq_8NkjBGZisUd1xuTPCcSBjphajf0yNXTFTox-APkeq6S5EI-tbnbZ54uEmt6uXog4Ywck1kX-TATARE6Bu/s400/DSC00489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374120353372229026" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unlike other states, North Haven is the only store in Connecticut sporting the new 2008 logo (as seen above, taken from the Bay Shore, NY store).<br /><br />Ever since that disastrous CEO dropped out for the new guy, he decided to take the company's greatest (highly profitable) asset, Babies "R" Us, and mesh the stores together into one superstore -- and its taken place in many markets though not entirely in our little, albeit fertile Toys "R" Us market of Connecticut.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4RTfd_9WWgkBUEXUEP3G7h67KD1TK8zIQRyDKwGYKgplVHlbXVerynjSRkhxicPxZF6gG78WG4H_mTDpd9u4_KoWUvWKHyf948Uy5kbIeM2IDQ2o2WMdqRz0SYZfAmsCIrZo/s1600-h/Fullscreen+capture+8172009+13051+PM.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4RTfd_9WWgkBUEXUEP3G7h67KD1TK8zIQRyDKwGYKgplVHlbXVerynjSRkhxicPxZF6gG78WG4H_mTDpd9u4_KoWUvWKHyf948Uy5kbIeM2IDQ2o2WMdqRz0SYZfAmsCIrZo/s400/Fullscreen+capture+8172009+13051+PM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371737599816875266" border="0" /></a></div>Seeing the greater of opportunities, the company simultaneously shuttered its 13-year Dixwell Ave. Hamden location in place of the North Haven store, which is planted in the posh, new North Haven Commons, right off I-91, which also opened ripe in Spring 2009. The now dark Hamden location, apart of the well-established and "historic" Hamden Mart recently underwent its own umpteenth remodel to escape the once ghastly balloony red-tarp motif they had going on there for decades, succeeding a long-standing Stop & Shop which once flanked the center's far right end many moons ago.<br /><br />Here's a bevy of shots from the now closed Hamden store, taken recently in August 2009.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp5pFcp_chndCwL2bfKoROkFLN4Lf4GswE0Yt8iGde0hnNDu0Crf4DOojq1n4IOP5QXWdmikVdeCqBiwH5u0kcBToRyymZGHlLdcEEva_H174rbKxrPYli0brAbMDZF9KloQw/s1600-h/DSC08330.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp5pFcp_chndCwL2bfKoROkFLN4Lf4GswE0Yt8iGde0hnNDu0Crf4DOojq1n4IOP5QXWdmikVdeCqBiwH5u0kcBToRyymZGHlLdcEEva_H174rbKxrPYli0brAbMDZF9KloQw/s400/DSC08330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371737929841658418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClkIcyrJ6xdQE7NN9JuWL8q8NESG4pM9oWDzsm8CQeMBvsIwAOsTkbMBawcmWRMz_04jUVAVbyiQnwzQRyUjmNqIRSF1WkaEyea-LytKQ3puSRSEedluVwgL4ejalg5-y0eB5/s1600-h/DSC08319.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClkIcyrJ6xdQE7NN9JuWL8q8NESG4pM9oWDzsm8CQeMBvsIwAOsTkbMBawcmWRMz_04jUVAVbyiQnwzQRyUjmNqIRSF1WkaEyea-LytKQ3puSRSEedluVwgL4ejalg5-y0eB5/s400/DSC08319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371716549368606754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MwUZP3CxEtpyDWIvpsdBiu1itzbOYCGdXOKKITk0kAabYreMS1dmTLS-iUPGql5XSUthC0l4me8CQ8GF5BkfdGYxN1LUZvCY_QTAyBX1djWICr4dEmTHjkjuluFL1Yn_R7Lx/s1600-h/DSC08320.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MwUZP3CxEtpyDWIvpsdBiu1itzbOYCGdXOKKITk0kAabYreMS1dmTLS-iUPGql5XSUthC0l4me8CQ8GF5BkfdGYxN1LUZvCY_QTAyBX1djWICr4dEmTHjkjuluFL1Yn_R7Lx/s400/DSC08320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371716550963319698" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Just <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007_12_29_archive.html">last Summer, the company closed up</a> another well-established, yet oddly placed Westport location, once along Boston Post Road (US-1) which has since become a Homegoods. While some have closed, many more across the country have remodeled into the ambitious new age of Toys "R" Us/Babies "R" Us combo stores.<br /><br />And now, our known list of stores in Connecticut, now with more pictures!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">History of Toys "R" Us in Connecticut</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WATERBURY</span> | OPENED : 1979(?), CLOSED : 1998<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/523465548/in/set-72157603809162317/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WEST HARTFORD</span></a> | OPENED : 1981<br /><a href="http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9000/easthavenct.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;">EAST HAVEN</span></a> | OPENED : EARLY 1980s, CLOSED : 2003<br /><a href="http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/8254/milfordct.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;">MILFORD</span></a> | OPENED : 1983<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/518170909/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WATERFORD</span></a> | OPENED : 1985<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/520222541/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">DANBURY</span></a> | OPENED : 1988<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/769538403/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NORWALK</span></a> | OPENED : 1992<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/2367014558/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WESTPORT</span></a> | OPENED : 1992<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/607965012/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">MANCHESTER</span></a> | OPENED : 1993<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/2227165771/in/set-72157603809162317/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEWINGTON</span></a> | OPENED : 1996<br /><a href="http://img35.imageshack.us/i/dsc01164mom.jpg/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HAMDEN</span></a> | OPENED : 1996<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/2232282278/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WATERBURY</span> / Brass Mill Commons</a> | OPENED : 1997<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/3762351942/in/set-72157600480088743/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NORTH HAVEN</span></a> | OPENED : 2009<br /><br />*All stores before DANBURY (1988) contained the brown roof, rainbow-striped palette, and have all been remodeled since.<br /></blockquote>A nice looking store, no doubt, but I can't shake my obsession for the past -- especially when it comes to what used to be the greatest toy store.<br /><br />Oh, if anyone has any fond memories of their Toys "R" Us experience(s), leave a comment. Leave as many as you want if you have information (especially opening year) on the troubled, "sinking" former East Haven location and of course any photographs of the original Waterbury store.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">PHOTO CREDIT: East Haven, CT (Unknown), Milford, CT (Milford Town Assessor Database)</span><br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-8839579081723198322009-08-19T12:39:00.001-04:002009-08-19T12:39:56.481-04:00Silver Lane 'Pizza Hut' Back From 7-Year Silence, Flaming Doom<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGprKqV9PXbUSYXhQy9nELB-i4v3IAcTrVHYU3CKywMvl59iZcMC2_FCnf2QKuPEGJ7ZkJaeqIMVtXe2rQ4VSu1MI9DG7gtGSvUsCA8Ffs1S7epq-6Rnu7QwCKfHREbm4cLIn-/s1600-h/DSC00472.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGprKqV9PXbUSYXhQy9nELB-i4v3IAcTrVHYU3CKywMvl59iZcMC2_FCnf2QKuPEGJ7ZkJaeqIMVtXe2rQ4VSu1MI9DG7gtGSvUsCA8Ffs1S7epq-6Rnu7QwCKfHREbm4cLIn-/s400/DSC00472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371705867108067218" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the past many years, plenty have seen that vacant Pizza Hut on Silver Lane. Or perhaps you've taken the diamond lane before Exit 58 on I-84 Eastbound, glanced over and witnessed that familiar red-topped restaurant and its vacant lot held by self-proclaimed "America's Favorite Pizza" chain, Pizza Hut.<br /><br />Upon today's shocking discovery driving along Silver Lane, it would appear Pizza Hut lives again -- as "The Hut".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyXPc1kfBx504wZfS1UnUQByhyphenhyphengFJYddZoLBpOAlyEzGpSHOgJi_nni9Sswe8U8h1Osma0liLW8M0bLlHN8ZdcQAFUI8rCq7xKsR9DDlOPyuq5hn_aHvEpq2rJ1C5lSmzTKpu/s1600-h/DSC05505.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyXPc1kfBx504wZfS1UnUQByhyphenhyphengFJYddZoLBpOAlyEzGpSHOgJi_nni9Sswe8U8h1Osma0liLW8M0bLlHN8ZdcQAFUI8rCq7xKsR9DDlOPyuq5hn_aHvEpq2rJ1C5lSmzTKpu/s400/DSC05505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371707195385390082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THEN (2002-2009) AND NOW (AUGUST 2009) COMPARISONS</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRZmkBC5eSyWj7m9NAOBLvJSAIugHy7ZbzdsHwca3xdMF6A94ADWJkuzYU70Fl3pepe8wvz6UbChO1DYJrvas_9oh9ECUxpHrOu_T4fLS2OpUeMg_nqfJb1cI5T4d53VEiiq5/s1600-h/DSC00471.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRZmkBC5eSyWj7m9NAOBLvJSAIugHy7ZbzdsHwca3xdMF6A94ADWJkuzYU70Fl3pepe8wvz6UbChO1DYJrvas_9oh9ECUxpHrOu_T4fLS2OpUeMg_nqfJb1cI5T4d53VEiiq5/s400/DSC00471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371705859978826434" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Pizza Hut along Silver Lane closed after a two-alarm fire sought to seal its fate one (hot) February evening back in 2002. The red roof became an actual, animated <span style="font-style: italic;">red roof </span><span>that night, eventually seeing the restaurant to remain closed up for a very long time</span><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span>Ever since, the location had been sitting there on the stretch nearby Taco Bell and the revitalized <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rensselaer</span> Field (thanks <a href="http://www.cabelas.com/home.jsp;jsessionid=IGOLGIP4ESZP1LAQBBKCCN3MCAEFKIWE?_requestid=35727"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cabelas</span></a>), boarded up, without any public plans to re-open or sell off the deadbeat property.<br /></div></div><br />For roughly 7 years, the silent property has astonishingly opened its doors for patronage once again -- and with a new look: "The Hut" (though as you can see, only on the road sign because they know this marketing scheme won't last).<br /><br />"The Hut" is the chain's (silly) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ginchy</span> new attempt at market <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">rebranding</span>, especially to those who've not seen an "Italian Bistro" Pizza Hut (a "classier" looking mask for the chain with like menu offerings , as seen in states like New Hampshire) or are ingrained with somewhat <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">grungy</span>, aging look and appeal of their red-roofed restaurants. They all do it, though not as pitifully as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">KFC</span> trying to hawk grilled chicken or even hide the focus of their restaurant's, well, <span style="font-style: italic;">fried</span> claim-to-fame. This, of course, makes the Colonel roll like a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">rotisserie</span> chicken in his grave-y doom!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwO50VmcWK1BWIqt3WM4j9YRriydFAOxkO9XdzRIxVqevHmhEmDFEwYH-sEfZY7ziIv2Y1pjFW_gBHJ3VqtUhpfmadgWYHfmf6MfE171X48UHe3R2Uw0455r817tMwF30KeV6/s1600-h/DSC00473.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwO50VmcWK1BWIqt3WM4j9YRriydFAOxkO9XdzRIxVqevHmhEmDFEwYH-sEfZY7ziIv2Y1pjFW_gBHJ3VqtUhpfmadgWYHfmf6MfE171X48UHe3R2Uw0455r817tMwF30KeV6/s400/DSC00473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371705877379066258" border="0" /></a></div>I don't know, I guess it sounds <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">edgey</span>, more <span style="font-style: italic;">urban.</span> Nonetheless, "The Hut" attempted its latest concept having no other like it in Connecticut.<br /><br />This comes as a great surprise seeing as Pizza Hut has always been a shaky, difficult market seemingly unable to stand on its own two feet come later 90's for Connecticut with many past locations having coupled with other chains (like Taco Bell or packed into stores like Target), gone "delivery" only vacating many of its stand-alone sites. Just in the Hartford area: Queen St., <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Southington</span> (now Outback Steakhouse), US-6 & N. Main St., Bristol (now Sovereign Bank), Elm St., <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Enfield</span> (now T.G.I. Friday's) and East Main St., New Britain (now Taco Bell) have disappeared.<br /><br />I abhor Pizza Hut and find their stock largely inedible (well, except for those <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">breadsticks</span>) and when it comes to chain pizza, it's beyond me why Papa Gino's has such a hard time in Connecticut -- their pies are simply <span style="font-style: italic;">excellent.</span> Nonetheless, we're glad to see surprising success in such times -- especially one on a once hopeless eight-year site seeing life again.<br /><br />Here are some photos of the formerly shuttered restaurant. These were taken in March 2008, but the building resembled this frozen look for many years (and surprisingly little to no graffiti).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvngJR3Q86GxJkFxBoq9zyfwBIC4GBXfYRsjy2L-yxoStkfwZRHFA87jhq3nFW6PKorcFFP0zndzmQ2VCfEZ_abEPAmBqltRDEjgFqkFh_5zu3UuFspy8AL6ARMmAfsV5SbCCl/s1600-h/DSC05493.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvngJR3Q86GxJkFxBoq9zyfwBIC4GBXfYRsjy2L-yxoStkfwZRHFA87jhq3nFW6PKorcFFP0zndzmQ2VCfEZ_abEPAmBqltRDEjgFqkFh_5zu3UuFspy8AL6ARMmAfsV5SbCCl/s400/DSC05493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371705879889012162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PIZZA HUT ON SILVER LANE.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGvqqI4rXS420OUgw7dyNAWcwywvrK8-3IV6XeRdPhiKg4u8X6u6vu1Ey6YRrc9y7u0guyYcM-g-4lQ-m5bs7KBIBg8OCrgODWnuQPYUN2K6WvbJIwVilntPzyd113evl7-CZ/s1600-h/DSC05495.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGvqqI4rXS420OUgw7dyNAWcwywvrK8-3IV6XeRdPhiKg4u8X6u6vu1Ey6YRrc9y7u0guyYcM-g-4lQ-m5bs7KBIBg8OCrgODWnuQPYUN2K6WvbJIwVilntPzyd113evl7-CZ/s400/DSC05495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371705887641525314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PIZZA HUT LABEL SCAR ON SILVER LANE.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There are currently 8 stand-alone, dine-in restaurants in Connecticut: <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Brookfield</span> </span>(Federal Rd.), <span style="font-weight: bold;">East Hartford</span> (Silver Lane), <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Groton</span></span> (Long Hill Rd.) <span style="font-weight: bold;">New London</span> (I-95/Frontage Rd.), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Saybrook</span></span> (US-1/Boston Post Rd.), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vernon-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Rockville</span></span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Talcottville</span> Rd.), <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Watertown</span></span> (Main St.), <span style="font-weight: bold;">West Haven</span> (I-95/Saw Mill Rd.).<br /></div></div></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-21486472047549676772009-08-16T00:00:00.001-04:002009-08-16T00:00:04.858-04:00Bradlees Still Lingers In The Garden State<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2OuOSMJQn_6aoglLxWRKxxIYozYWJt1gUu9lYL4boNXUVSsV6jnzvNzQCHUDyafXILoBua600Hyij0SliaDgWUzLQvmggyzcXAhFb4GfOtekxqar7bVSq-8TsPGZ-yEUreYG/s1600-h/DSC08288.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2OuOSMJQn_6aoglLxWRKxxIYozYWJt1gUu9lYL4boNXUVSsV6jnzvNzQCHUDyafXILoBua600Hyij0SliaDgWUzLQvmggyzcXAhFb4GfOtekxqar7bVSq-8TsPGZ-yEUreYG/s400/DSC08288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369519818332904034" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I'm not too familiar with the state of New Jersey.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />As a lifelong Connecticut native, I've been here the amount of times I can count on one hand (that didn't include Six Flags, at least), mainly because travelling here is just one of many hassles not found in the many other states in the Northeast. Upon my<span style="font-style: italic;"> foreign</span> observations, I still find it odd how citizens still can't pump their own gas (actually questioned an attendant about this once) and that it'll cost the price of today's cheapest fast food meal to travel from one end of the state to another in highway tolls. In fact, I'm probably an outlaw in that state for reasons involving the myriad toll collection stations, seemingly on every highway in the state.<br /><br />What can I say? I shoot pictures at malls, so I like to live... err... <span style="font-style: italic;">dangerously</span>.<br /><br />Aside that, The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Caldor</span> Rainbow has visited the state a few times in the last year for all reasons involving one of my beloved, childhood department stores: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bradlees</span>. If not for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bradlees</span>, I'd rip my hair out travelling down the always unpredictable I-95/dreaded toll-frenzied, congested Garden State Parkway and that godawful, dreaded George Washington Bridge (took me an hour and some change to board it, both ways, some kind of record?). All the while me thinking, we the people have to pay <span style="font-style: italic;">these guys</span> eight bucks for having two cash lanes, hours lines worth of other motorists cutting off other motorists<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> and</span> E-Z Pass drivers' and their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">competiting</span> 8 lanes.<br /><br />Despite the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">migrane</span>, we've found there's still a good handful of empty locations left by the late New London, Conn.-based discounter, who expanded vastly into the retail flushed state of New Jersey. We visited a couple just recently in <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bordentown</span> </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Toms River</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnT3qEM6ODq3b_GWhwtVTlA6QxeVTRmLMUq-U6pfHFIm8wNJ6Fc-DGtORG_O13dXl2ZgLqyJLsqOLpzdbWnhIfriCuJSUO8MpM7Xjb2hYD4a06Ytw235HxhG8d34edkUuMJwTI/s1600-h/DSC08182.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnT3qEM6ODq3b_GWhwtVTlA6QxeVTRmLMUq-U6pfHFIm8wNJ6Fc-DGtORG_O13dXl2ZgLqyJLsqOLpzdbWnhIfriCuJSUO8MpM7Xjb2hYD4a06Ytw235HxhG8d34edkUuMJwTI/s400/DSC08182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518540665032098" border="0" /></a></div>We hit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bordentown</span> first, along SR-206 and a good length off I-195. This store was in a bit of a dried up, mostly residential area. We found this store almost immaculately frozen in time; all signage up on the building and nearby road. A former Jefferson Ward, this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bradlees</span> likely swooped up that fallen Montgomery Ward <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">offspin</span> in the early 1980's and had a fairly good run for almost two decades. This one made it all the way up until the 2001 liquidation, typically like the chain, no exterior remodels since opening. The skylight-cased, red-stripped building haunts the otherwise active <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ShopRite</span> neighboring to the left. Sadly, the vacation of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Bradlees</span> incurred a plague of trickling closures to the building's subdivisions; an empty Fashion Bug and Blockbuster Video sit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">labelscarred</span> beside the surprisingly clean vacant husk.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5eX3YFrNEfl1ugaWEpNayyVyFokJXiZX26Iz7ffGbN_yK5xTSrqFgCpl2m2uLGHb21OM0R9Tk42eGur3hl6WWjYZ_hBKYsE5GPXu6edPyTwwmxnocwlfPb77n8qLMJ1ddxbz/s1600-h/DSC08196.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5eX3YFrNEfl1ugaWEpNayyVyFokJXiZX26Iz7ffGbN_yK5xTSrqFgCpl2m2uLGHb21OM0R9Tk42eGur3hl6WWjYZ_hBKYsE5GPXu6edPyTwwmxnocwlfPb77n8qLMJ1ddxbz/s400/DSC08196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518564990027730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">VACANCIES FASHION BUG AND BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHYh41qZreCU713H3rBV3S1HsZwQqyAOD0UOhKywppfmyR6anSEH8T-9edM9zBWYFGM0BlnzSCI_h5J4_xYBud4d3e8qd28E0tiiyKZ42YSKIndRwJdHT2uJgPtjuvLJ_RCnt/s1600-h/DSC08162.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHYh41qZreCU713H3rBV3S1HsZwQqyAOD0UOhKywppfmyR6anSEH8T-9edM9zBWYFGM0BlnzSCI_h5J4_xYBud4d3e8qd28E0tiiyKZ42YSKIndRwJdHT2uJgPtjuvLJ_RCnt/s400/DSC08162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518542471924386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ENTRANCES TO BRADLEES</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUleFl3nr73Rb3e9-OkPHR-TEyM0EHygDMLZi495hey5NrR63oZ1avxYOLBd8n4nI6ZybZsH8lRqkrKX0-rPNjRUOI8RwlNoGrWHbk9DpXlp_iqAZM2yptzBavNWWOieK_2fRA/s1600-h/DSC08161.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUleFl3nr73Rb3e9-OkPHR-TEyM0EHygDMLZi495hey5NrR63oZ1avxYOLBd8n4nI6ZybZsH8lRqkrKX0-rPNjRUOI8RwlNoGrWHbk9DpXlp_iqAZM2yptzBavNWWOieK_2fRA/s400/DSC08161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518555499261874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbk0W4w8JRRHpUnAPLMuiof4GnYcqV2GxgqSFhccoHJFpiZN8aGOwtYZ-976qZgYtEltNp87Jy75W4imSANzx_xoG2Km9sELSyZ40Sp6hcYeBCF2bDNn7kBkwHIZu2ICiNcsWs/s1600-h/DSC08225.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbk0W4w8JRRHpUnAPLMuiof4GnYcqV2GxgqSFhccoHJFpiZN8aGOwtYZ-976qZgYtEltNp87Jy75W4imSANzx_xoG2Km9sELSyZ40Sp6hcYeBCF2bDNn7kBkwHIZu2ICiNcsWs/s400/DSC08225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518572003107010" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmnqp7UtwqSJr9RKkXBkQIPNEgbvzuihTU_QNTa-1Cuq9LEAoiYJN01VxUFyZymRbJAam8GeAs5oFqMGfC02hfAliDiSSzOXeLtGYhNEg-v-CoQAMC6xoQU82hqBfaEYGdvDC/s1600-h/DSC08259.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmnqp7UtwqSJr9RKkXBkQIPNEgbvzuihTU_QNTa-1Cuq9LEAoiYJN01VxUFyZymRbJAam8GeAs5oFqMGfC02hfAliDiSSzOXeLtGYhNEg-v-CoQAMC6xoQU82hqBfaEYGdvDC/s400/DSC08259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518943896248882" border="0" /></a></div>Next on the rundown was Toms River, a mere half-hour east, right off the Garden State Parkway and the ever traffic riddled US-9 artery. There's little to wonder why this rotting property can't be sold off: a great number of the plaza tenants are mired in vacancy and dilapidated storefronts. Aside the vacant <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Bradlees</span>, which once prominently anchored the center, there's a checkered vacancy rate fended off by Staples and a discount furniture depot. Because the otherwise accessible location, the number of otherwise potential tenants are already situated nearby, including <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Walmart</span>. The mere condition of this ancient shopping center will halt certain fertility in redevelopment, at least for now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXVAOpB_IG0B3msTkKlvGfdImaJvjFM1NdqSodte9wD4X-0cJ0h6-T2KUKTsBU97U0qwq_JfRy2934wN-hpK1oWGe7cFQmAxWtcBlSbDUUbQsmXh4zHbTkpHketuYcEipk4h0/s1600-h/DSC08246.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXVAOpB_IG0B3msTkKlvGfdImaJvjFM1NdqSodte9wD4X-0cJ0h6-T2KUKTsBU97U0qwq_JfRy2934wN-hpK1oWGe7cFQmAxWtcBlSbDUUbQsmXh4zHbTkpHketuYcEipk4h0/s400/DSC08246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369520957840301650" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ENTRANCES TO BRADLEES</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSq8Ign1Vs7jjRuoivCSL9cRxLJ1ucB8PUQry6Bv7CkX8djbQxHf-70eKBR9gEUNa35IA5E5s__YCzLkhnZaR_t_tw4Ik6YVf1EcGMK-NCQCB43NwVdW3cA7SLkcW0Qx2PDJc/s1600-h/DSC08249.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSq8Ign1Vs7jjRuoivCSL9cRxLJ1ucB8PUQry6Bv7CkX8djbQxHf-70eKBR9gEUNa35IA5E5s__YCzLkhnZaR_t_tw4Ik6YVf1EcGMK-NCQCB43NwVdW3cA7SLkcW0Qx2PDJc/s400/DSC08249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369520966561374210" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Having seen a good number of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Bradlees</span> in my own line of sight and in pictures, this one is by far one of the oddest looking stores I've ever witnessed. For one, there's no vibrant entrance at street level like most of their locations. Instead, you'll have had to walk down a small path, which seems like a side entrance. It also didn't help the building looked more like a distribution plant than a retail store, which had me baffled when I saw this one from the sky before getting here. Other odd traits with this one were the trio of windows out front, the abundant landscape area underneath and perhaps the coolest part: the "billboard"-like <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">advertisements</span> for a charge card and the later 90's "Savings on The Good Stuff" slogan adjacent the entrances. Probably not always a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Bradlees</span>, this Toms River location was likely one of many stores the chain snatched up in the early 80's boom the company experienced.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-GWbWTOl_D5tH8UDLl5jR7nxxMu6sXvgmoVsWOui-tVpiD_Onux0YKka5ReL-j3-5ftb5S06Zv79uXuGGr41iyMWrgT3pRvMRSnJJOnNT4H27CS4KlqA346moFMma3mpPJMA/s1600-h/DSC08240.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-GWbWTOl_D5tH8UDLl5jR7nxxMu6sXvgmoVsWOui-tVpiD_Onux0YKka5ReL-j3-5ftb5S06Zv79uXuGGr41iyMWrgT3pRvMRSnJJOnNT4H27CS4KlqA346moFMma3mpPJMA/s400/DSC08240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518951841420498" border="0" /></a></div>That's not all. Behind the plaza lies an entire strip of vacancies and a rather ugly rear portion of the "mall," filled with busted pavement and landscaping.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUmrZ0YIUudz0deutOoVp2umtibuYmUhNRtZL4XdJIEaYdsfCclZ-iDdZl4aYYZ9NMWKuM1RyGrP0Fgy1oo-PpPHOAU7yBQAGlZ3P1OBE7ivnhjJdBDBpXTGm3A40U5FpXkfr/s1600-h/DSC08267.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUmrZ0YIUudz0deutOoVp2umtibuYmUhNRtZL4XdJIEaYdsfCclZ-iDdZl4aYYZ9NMWKuM1RyGrP0Fgy1oo-PpPHOAU7yBQAGlZ3P1OBE7ivnhjJdBDBpXTGm3A40U5FpXkfr/s400/DSC08267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518939057816914" border="0" /></a></div>Who forgot The Dover Mall? A certainly aged outdoor mall, once could tell by the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">archaic</span> sign on US-9, back unto the turn of the 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">th</span> Century, clearly will seek demolition one day soon -- or so the town hopes. The Dover Mall remains a prime example of how retail trends can turnaround a once bustling center into a dark, distressed abandon, with success and flourish surrounding all around it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOMgSS2eKaObvspkANwj6AAYtAj9yb5x4GyguYvvlJIG7HFUnstzpJ6pmlvoCf-bLinQBoEwokH51ObhNN43plWta27calFK6v97rIVsIHrt3pzCH-zaRB-GhAYcNSxoQRSXH/s1600-h/DSC08297.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOMgSS2eKaObvspkANwj6AAYtAj9yb5x4GyguYvvlJIG7HFUnstzpJ6pmlvoCf-bLinQBoEwokH51ObhNN43plWta27calFK6v97rIVsIHrt3pzCH-zaRB-GhAYcNSxoQRSXH/s400/DSC08297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518961675605106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />FORGOTTEN BEHIND THE DOVER MALL</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZdfhoTgKaoFB7oCL01_M583U9Tox-ZnCl1XQEe7v88QfuYZvsyN-4j407O6-WYTN94gfJOdW4NJ6QTtDr2psgZmI4YNeDS6yuObtfZi-bu9quIDLeNfDNLt_Ehu2rrewTXlT/s1600-h/DSC08299.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZdfhoTgKaoFB7oCL01_M583U9Tox-ZnCl1XQEe7v88QfuYZvsyN-4j407O6-WYTN94gfJOdW4NJ6QTtDr2psgZmI4YNeDS6yuObtfZi-bu9quIDLeNfDNLt_Ehu2rrewTXlT/s400/DSC08299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369521435673658210" border="0" /></a><br /></div>There are currently other buildings formerly held by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Bradlees</span> (and Jefferson Ward for that matter) in <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Stratford</span></span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Woodbury</span> Heights</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hamilton</span>, the latter a former later-era <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Caldor</span>. We would've gone for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Woodbury</span>, but that one is more a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">bizarro</span> cousin of both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Bordentown</span> and Toms River.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78PhpeDNLlw1ThhUh_nMY198_ZtGmX5Q2mIbf7teZdgO4BGKu9DOWnR-BgN3V2IvK1RZZfi8LlpJXJuWzZkjoRn-5kGW28f0q7MUnkP41oCPKoh_MXP-vQ6MscvIHGqRu9mBF/s1600-h/DSC06865.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78PhpeDNLlw1ThhUh_nMY198_ZtGmX5Q2mIbf7teZdgO4BGKu9DOWnR-BgN3V2IvK1RZZfi8LlpJXJuWzZkjoRn-5kGW28f0q7MUnkP41oCPKoh_MXP-vQ6MscvIHGqRu9mBF/s400/DSC06865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369518927712938178" border="0" /></a></div>So what can I say about New Jersey? The same for both Vince Lombardi and Grover Cleveland, whose legacies are parallel in fueling the needs of many a Popeye's and Roy Rogers consumer with their own toll-free rest stops.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">VIEW: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157621994452348/">BORDENTOWN</a> </span>AND<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157621999511694/">TOMS RIVER</a> </span>ON FLICKR<span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-81560087564774627172009-08-12T12:12:00.000-04:002009-08-12T12:12:59.112-04:00Ames Updates, Vacancy In Lowell<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_L16Bfo_xfXR8WCmcXy8IIFq2vvvVKpwN5812ZqSquF2iZaswqD6uCjENFZDef7AMqlhMBV75tIg2sLluynMEAinI2Q1Rdks6haCRFXbEIZ_hUVJjlXjZtQjv1V6CddgTzi-/s1600-h/IMG_0686.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_L16Bfo_xfXR8WCmcXy8IIFq2vvvVKpwN5812ZqSquF2iZaswqD6uCjENFZDef7AMqlhMBV75tIg2sLluynMEAinI2Q1Rdks6haCRFXbEIZ_hUVJjlXjZtQjv1V6CddgTzi-/s400/IMG_0686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369100891567370930" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ames may have closed back in 2003, but that doesn't mean the chain has been completely forgotten. How could it when there are still a handful of empty buildings leftover all across the Northeast and beyond?<br /><br />It appears Connecticut has quietly <span style="font-style: italic;">lost </span>another long-standing, vacated Ames in East Hartford. Well, sort of. Though it happened earlier this year, the building owners have dissolved the identity of the formerly green-clad discounter by removing all of it; the signage out front as well as a paint job thereby eradicating that iconic green facade -- thereby any history of Ames existence at Putnam Bridge Plaza on the Glastonbury line. Well, there's still the store hours and other decals left on the door. According to the retailer's website, the 40,000 sq. ft. location wedged between PetsMart and TJ Maxx <span style="font-style: italic;">is </span>still available...<br /><br />Connecticut currently has two vacant Ames locations, fully intact in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Seymour</span> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157613818648314/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dayville</span></a>, to which <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2009/02/dayville-ames-remains-after-six-years.html">we did a stories on earlier this year</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrArj2ZFRNz2Sa9xV_xjBdEHECkF96DmISbljbUWL2uttdtOGafIe5lymOGt4cNBQ0W21_9g_bMC2ObdOq2pxSFsm0PjUwPs-jEcK1tONBm3IVe93LZtTsSm_rYW19Miq9sdjF/s1600-h/DSC00400.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrArj2ZFRNz2Sa9xV_xjBdEHECkF96DmISbljbUWL2uttdtOGafIe5lymOGt4cNBQ0W21_9g_bMC2ObdOq2pxSFsm0PjUwPs-jEcK1tONBm3IVe93LZtTsSm_rYW19Miq9sdjF/s400/DSC00400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369100694236203362" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >M</span>eanwhile, in the City of Lowell, Massachusetts stands a vacant location on the City's far end, <a href="http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9eXAuMTIzNStCcmlkZ2UrU3QlNDAyJTJjK0xvd2VsbCUyYytNQSU3ZXNzdC4wJTdlcGcuMSZiYj01OS43MTIwOTcxNzMzMjI5JTdlLTM1LjY4MzU5Mzc1JTdlMTYuMTMwMjYyMDEyMDM0NyU3ZS0xMDkuODYzMjgxMjU=">on Bridge Street in the Market Basket Plaza</a>, near the Dracut town line. This silently vacant Ames retains its building signage not without having a taste of troubled vandals over the years with boarded-up windows. An otherwise active plaza, the Ames remains undesirable. A reader who commented on our Flickr suggests Kmart might've graced this plaza at one point with its courtesy signage scattered on the outskirts of the plaza. View the entire gallery <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157621813412851/">here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyajoXkxufeMT1-pM_tmscNXr0zjKIa-ypwgE4Y7YksXoFS8LCHCaRp0Zs3MazINDIpxgz00o6C19VPdUUvR8RNn_nDQrOR7BA7Mey9pT5AugZjh36tbvg4Qenah43LoUXu8t9/s1600-h/DSC00414.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyajoXkxufeMT1-pM_tmscNXr0zjKIa-ypwgE4Y7YksXoFS8LCHCaRp0Zs3MazINDIpxgz00o6C19VPdUUvR8RNn_nDQrOR7BA7Mey9pT5AugZjh36tbvg4Qenah43LoUXu8t9/s400/DSC00414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369100900366050018" border="0" /></a></div>Another perk about this plaza is this vintage Market Basket clock tower sign on the otherside of the plaza.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowNSzbchnfW__FHLNTVXbiq4M3IhhV5KlqY1KOevQGl8kSeChvovM5RjwJCHrvwAO6oUl_9TALIIoSa7gzbKGdxdtbrcndZe_tZJBpNR1srqEcSbxnB4_eePVUBQMHRIOKhNl/s1600-h/DSC00376.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowNSzbchnfW__FHLNTVXbiq4M3IhhV5KlqY1KOevQGl8kSeChvovM5RjwJCHrvwAO6oUl_9TALIIoSa7gzbKGdxdtbrcndZe_tZJBpNR1srqEcSbxnB4_eePVUBQMHRIOKhNl/s400/DSC00376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369100666141112706" border="0" /></a></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>The <span style="font-style: italic;">other</span> one on Church Street was in fact one of the earliest Zayre locations (later to become Ames) <a href="http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com/search/label/Lowell">as you can see here</a>, with Stop & Shop formerly flanking the far end. The off-kilter, shapely, multi-peaking architecture here has surprisingly been leftover from the 1960's, having changed very little since other than some cosmetic maintenance. Actually, the entire plaza on Church Street mine as well been frozen in time if not for the tenant set currently in place today as the plaza is immaculately kept and preserved all the way back to 1961. If only more plazas could retain their funky roots instead of succumbing to blocky, uninspired, cookie-cutter plazas of today.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgu5sHNM2Yu8189spus6-lv5mUqqz9KrbwDMNBfK6Nq_cScc5ZDZSbIu6X3ME3BeCHYv0Qqr95lXOugnDpcgQ9gCuRMNggfhLZwBXJDUF1Yfjvtf7ygJKw_Ub1bAF8chvpfGw/s1600-h/DSC00374.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgu5sHNM2Yu8189spus6-lv5mUqqz9KrbwDMNBfK6Nq_cScc5ZDZSbIu6X3ME3BeCHYv0Qqr95lXOugnDpcgQ9gCuRMNggfhLZwBXJDUF1Yfjvtf7ygJKw_Ub1bAF8chvpfGw/s400/DSC00374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369100651204622306" border="0" /></a><br /></div>For the State of Massachusetts, Ames leaves vacancies today in <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/getstore.php?ID=90">Great Barrington</a>, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/getstore.php?ID=94">Lowell</a>, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/getstore.php?ID=192">Stoneham</a> </span>and <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/getstore.php?ID=193"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sturbridge</span></a> of the once <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/locations/getstores.php?state=MA">abundant market</a> for the fallen retailer.<br /><br />For the authority on all things Ames, <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com">The Ames Fan Club</a> is where it's at.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">More to come!</span><br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-68617136609705543362009-08-09T00:01:00.000-04:002009-08-09T00:01:14.645-04:00Roslindale Bradlees To Become New Stop & Shop<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Z4_7tG2JOCKcH_Se-W575AqjYt7nprORPrsdDdDhrS0yjNm8Nn33LrBesYpPKMc8wF6jR1K6slIuu6RIENtZAOeAjTzHHW2ux9VwnOMouW2U3fxaH9XqQ5PiKNyx_3ZYKdI_/s1600-h/DSC00353.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Z4_7tG2JOCKcH_Se-W575AqjYt7nprORPrsdDdDhrS0yjNm8Nn33LrBesYpPKMc8wF6jR1K6slIuu6RIENtZAOeAjTzHHW2ux9VwnOMouW2U3fxaH9XqQ5PiKNyx_3ZYKdI_/s400/DSC00353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367804600280550242" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're in the throws of losing yet another vacancy left by the late New London-based discounter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bradlees</span> -- in the state of Massachusetts.<br /><br />As previously reported, there was only two vacant <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bradlees</span> sites left in Massachusetts; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Roslindale</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Foxboro</span> -- <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/02/last-remaining-vacant-bradlees-found-in.html">to which we reported</a> early last year. Many of the state's 33 former locations have swept up as it is now the case for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Roslindale</span> location.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor9lF1Y67zGCAHKMJt3UDqcO6dQaBaSDzMW07LNKBNX0qCuQBX_JjGSzvVmtt3b4YopzCJ3Ho2D4Vfs3W7sBpVslCb4296eeyaUn30l9MLT4fPv3HNPJ_ebLzCYWSCZjmKXQC/s1600-h/DSC00362.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor9lF1Y67zGCAHKMJt3UDqcO6dQaBaSDzMW07LNKBNX0qCuQBX_JjGSzvVmtt3b4YopzCJ3Ho2D4Vfs3W7sBpVslCb4296eeyaUn30l9MLT4fPv3HNPJ_ebLzCYWSCZjmKXQC/s400/DSC00362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367804610327539090" border="0" /></a></div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ROSLINDALE</span>, MA -- Located at American Legion Highway, at the dilapidated, former "Mini City" long anchored by once parent company Stop & Shop, the chain who once adopted <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bradlees</span> will be doing so yet again -- by demolishing the former building and its own for an entirely new location to be build on the original site.<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">In the early 1960s, when the Stop & Shop Companies adopted <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bradlees</span> into its own brand, the uniform built <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">modelesque</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">homogenies</span> called "Mini City" plazas which consisted of the three major brands; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stop & Shop</span> supermarket, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Bradlees</span></span> discount department store and <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Medi</span>-Mart</span> drug/pharmacies. Design traits were fairly typical across the board: a strip-lined variant of the brown-shades of brick stores, a simple awning covering the sidewalks and typically conveniently connected through each store's interior.<br /><br />When the companies began to break up by the discontinuation of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Medi</span>-Mart in 1986, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Walgreens</span> had purchased many of the leases and converted all stores. When <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Bradlees</span> finally went out of business in 2001, Stop & Shop commonly purchased those leases and built larger stores upon its ambitious expansion midway through the post-millennial years.</blockquote><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Roslindale</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Bradlees</span> folded in early 2001 with the rest of the chain, but even in its final years was one of the many stores which reflected an aging, crippled chain losing market share to rising competition like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Walmart</span>, mirroring our own <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/2630622475">(still vacant, graffiti-laden) Hartford, CT location</a>. Like many <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Bradlees</span> originally joined with Stop & Shop through the interior, this store sat beside an equally distressed, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">asthetically</span> neglected Stop & Shop to the right of the shuttered, signature rock-walled <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Bradlees</span>, whose legacy is scarred on the building.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl9Q9d2aJ8a1_-R08_YPDdN0PmcZu9uTNk7xxaO3YiNnBJ4G51LMSKvaT47Ztw1PKxPSbPbx4nR1_DygvmGA2eLVkKw-lJowvF4XcTXWMQ-wAlKeK5kp9zNz3j9U49p9kLm3W/s1600-h/DSC00355.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl9Q9d2aJ8a1_-R08_YPDdN0PmcZu9uTNk7xxaO3YiNnBJ4G51LMSKvaT47Ztw1PKxPSbPbx4nR1_DygvmGA2eLVkKw-lJowvF4XcTXWMQ-wAlKeK5kp9zNz3j9U49p9kLm3W/s400/DSC00355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367804607346446562" border="0" /></a></div>Despite the steel-shuttered <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Bradlees</span>, time has clocked the the plaza itself, anchored by an old Stop & Shop and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Walgreens</span> with a slew of smaller retails lined-up in the middle. A plaza like this has seen little remodeling (if any) or maintenance with massive deterioration all over the pothole-filled, uneven and crackled plaza which has long been a staple of the area, dating back to the early 60's. The area, neighboring a graveyard and a South Boston (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Mattapan</span>) reputation leaves an impression of an unsafe and desirable area for all but locals, despite the somewhat posh surroundings to the other side of town.<br /><br />As you can see <a href="http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9eXAuOTUwK2FtZXJpY2FuK2xlZ2lvbitoaWdod2F5K3Jvc2xpbmRhbGUlMmMrbWElN2Vzc3QuMCU3ZXBnLjEmYmI9NTkuNzEyMDk3MTczMzIyOSU3ZS0zNS42ODM1OTM3NSU3ZTE2LjEzMDI2MjAxMjAzNDclN2UtMTA5Ljg2MzI4MTI1">from far above</a>, this plaza's certainly seen better days long past.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWgkO3tOJuwQmC9CpisGHbHtYDozhA3-pjmja67Nj66twfqm6k7UgKlB_hR29RTPC_L9kyu-9vJ_9bCbzzq3Pp8Gip1pVAem56pnnZ3oi-pj8WxW3xso_X896jJ32jFTVGC0p/s1600-h/DSC00357.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWgkO3tOJuwQmC9CpisGHbHtYDozhA3-pjmja67Nj66twfqm6k7UgKlB_hR29RTPC_L9kyu-9vJ_9bCbzzq3Pp8Gip1pVAem56pnnZ3oi-pj8WxW3xso_X896jJ32jFTVGC0p/s400/DSC00357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367804607728003426" border="0" /></a></div>Sadly, The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Caldor</span> Rainbow arrived a bit too late for the <a href="http://www.universalhub.com/images/bradlees2006-02-05.jpg">long-standing hand-painted sign</a> around the side of the store, which was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">tarped</span> over with a 'coming soon' banner. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Luckilly</span>, we caught the building, well half of it at least, and its elderly brother Stop & Shop on their death beds even with half the outer regions of plaza fenced off.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPQQCC54UFZA9PnYciC1OupDfAir560t31N-J5I1wjOYPVI_8udR5lIP9AuwaxUUgQxTZpLWVtWAgrt0fbvs-odr8Q5wfdIr1Nj4rClsr-WQbf4cdH32nN1O-iRj_TPwouInF/s1600-h/DSC00352.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPQQCC54UFZA9PnYciC1OupDfAir560t31N-J5I1wjOYPVI_8udR5lIP9AuwaxUUgQxTZpLWVtWAgrt0fbvs-odr8Q5wfdIr1Nj4rClsr-WQbf4cdH32nN1O-iRj_TPwouInF/s400/DSC00352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367804598008731378" border="0" /></a></div>Even living in Connecticut, where the supermarket chain has reigned supreme now for decades, and keeping their status above the rest, I haven't seen such a nasty, old Stop & Shop quite like this one.<br /><br />In case you missed it, we've been reporting much on other vacant <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Bradlees</span> stores left in the Northeast region including ones in <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/08/vacant-bradlees-in-hazlet-remains.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Hazlet</span>, NJ</a> and a recently demolished one we caught last Summer in <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/05/new-city-bradlees-last-remaining.html">New City, NY</a>.<br /><br />As far as Connecticut goes, we've still got <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157601585367754/">Manchester</a> and (the aforementioned) <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/2630621537/">Hartford</a> stores <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">hangin</span>' in there, and a good handful in The Garden State.<br /><br />Stay tuned for our exclusive reports on a few more vacant locations we recently visited in New Jersey.<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-48121244123537712132009-08-06T12:46:00.000-04:002009-08-06T12:46:44.621-04:00Keep Ahead!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzqJpvGjzjZ32tXUJ2VTO2JhLOfUJLPNbM-IQu8W6qVeuwuHnfr7MXktRbHrP2-byDpjtA6tPs9OiVOK-pYc3gGlp5OXoVIxnky5AanqcPyixmaiFjIfy80wWcZlGwcMCltMZ/s1600-h/DSC00236-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzqJpvGjzjZ32tXUJ2VTO2JhLOfUJLPNbM-IQu8W6qVeuwuHnfr7MXktRbHrP2-byDpjtA6tPs9OiVOK-pYc3gGlp5OXoVIxnky5AanqcPyixmaiFjIfy80wWcZlGwcMCltMZ/s400/DSC00236-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366891894136072722" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hello all.<br /><br />I want to assure you I'm still here though much of my activity has diverted away from doing stories on The Caldor Rainbow as of late. Fear not. I'm not going anywhere. Lately, I've been performing a colossal disservice to you all by not keeping you informed about the site's activities by, well, <span style="font-style: italic;">not updating it since April</span>.<br /><br />The heydays of the site may be far away from what's been generated lately but I can assure you we're still out there, keeping tabs on our favorite departed discounters and alive ones changing with the times. I urge you all to slowly move on to <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/">our Flickr</a> when the updates are scant around here. Yes, Flickr, where we have <span style="font-style: italic;">thousands of photos </span>for you all to gander, ones added often (though like the site's vacant syndrome, it struck Flickr as well as of late).<br /><br />I've got a few stories in the pipeline involving our usual topical updates. Keep visiting, there's someone still here!<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-33472339075002537792009-04-08T12:40:00.000-04:002009-04-08T12:41:46.071-04:0022-Year "Danbury Fair" Mall Neon Sign Replaced<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWINdr65XYcr7lVXYxmEo5br4SCxxgo_91IdmEuMooE1JXI4PLEKzKcme47SS7qqD52XRtFwD8zPDtPkTcvIcfS5EzIC8i0P_AOgatZOKbr0C2VGnKM86nhdeRGYe1S03kbRR/s1600-h/DSC07954.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWINdr65XYcr7lVXYxmEo5br4SCxxgo_91IdmEuMooE1JXI4PLEKzKcme47SS7qqD52XRtFwD8zPDtPkTcvIcfS5EzIC8i0P_AOgatZOKbr0C2VGnKM86nhdeRGYe1S03kbRR/s400/DSC07954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320140768372809458" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Welcome to the new Danbury Fair Mall.<br /><br />As we've mused before, the emblematic vintage neon "Danbury Fair" sign is now gone.<br /><br />The funky sign, which was erected (shortly after <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9654080@N06/2457307623/">this preview sign</a>) at the opening of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Danbury</span> Fair Mall in late 1986 once stood at the outskirts of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Danbury</span> Fair Mall and once conceptual three-level Macy*s area has been removed after twenty plus years of the mall's lifespan. The staple of the two-level regional shopping mall acquired by the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Macerich</span> property group in 2001 from its originator, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wilmorite</span> Properties, slated a long overdue remodel on the interior of the aging mall as planned with many of its existing and acquired properties back in mid-2007 which sought to do away with the mall's aged tones of browns and tans.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_9Xrx9QRa0YOwvT_rGO9A_MhYzNZSznx4VGtSzmovZbq4SjLUp7MEIGpqxGr1k7R3_33RPJozOLJd90B_n_W8cyH8mAMfgqI9j0jVTsQFcRJcJlYxj0273e-J9pp5O9ZSCHP/s1600-h/DSC01213.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_9Xrx9QRa0YOwvT_rGO9A_MhYzNZSznx4VGtSzmovZbq4SjLUp7MEIGpqxGr1k7R3_33RPJozOLJd90B_n_W8cyH8mAMfgqI9j0jVTsQFcRJcJlYxj0273e-J9pp5O9ZSCHP/s400/DSC01213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320140773478868946" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Danbury Fair Mall, built upon the fairgrounds of the once Danbury Fair was modeled after the Danbury Fair with like colors, tent-like architectural mirror inside and other "fairly" reminscent design elements including bulb-lighting stroon about the mall's stretching double corridor's length of shopping terrain. The nexus of the mall's homage, located within the food court, is the carousel, formerly used at the Fair.<br /><br />In late 2007, developer Macerich announced a major year-plus interior remodel, which sought to do away with much of the mall's aging 80's decor including the mall's olympic-sized (as Labelscar might refer to it as) concourse fountain and stage area. The move, which sought to add an earthtoned vibe to the center also attracted a bevy of new upscale tenants, rumors of a decaying vacant Filene's to <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/10/nordstrom-to-become-succeeding-anchor.html">find life as Nordstrom's</a> (still unconfirmed) driving some veteran ones out, in order to raise the cliente a la what Taubman has done with Westfarms recently.<br /><br />Here are some visuals into the new era of Danbury Fair Mall, taken (almost exactly one year ago!) April 2008. For a detailed photographic transition of the Danbury Fair Mall's original look, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157616419343541/">head over to our Flickr for many photos from 2007</a>, right before the remodel.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvh9vmUARBbheS35qPqwBneMf-ZprNKFl6U-eLmMdtUMOfc9xbrygMRzatqH7E-GFGBTBPYOceGRjncEa1pX4PMzIohiNVna-KKnMXLAwo-2rSnKj1nD8lsRAK2MrOaYbbg5B/s1600-h/DSC06121.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvh9vmUARBbheS35qPqwBneMf-ZprNKFl6U-eLmMdtUMOfc9xbrygMRzatqH7E-GFGBTBPYOceGRjncEa1pX4PMzIohiNVna-KKnMXLAwo-2rSnKj1nD8lsRAK2MrOaYbbg5B/s400/DSC06121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320141800509136818" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8ldVtBOl8xGi8dSWNzrZu31EoZ0tFctNOP4Pwqyd6tYh23vJOXI-ya1uvxiQtHFHHG1LXX2f1We72XcKRtbXVura-GRVBtN7DJmyvrWqp6UtVTpXXaf5ZfyNgHFAxUApomQG/s1600-h/DSC06131.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8ldVtBOl8xGi8dSWNzrZu31EoZ0tFctNOP4Pwqyd6tYh23vJOXI-ya1uvxiQtHFHHG1LXX2f1We72XcKRtbXVura-GRVBtN7DJmyvrWqp6UtVTpXXaf5ZfyNgHFAxUApomQG/s400/DSC06131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320141810817919282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVHb32A_k8NBBImrQNaX8B8mXcRwNfz2UC7yExaOgjbp5-8DfktLnUCAL2c8N8FLi3cvoHtdfQgX2GJIqppwWsFOQ6iviwYnpileXT9iqI8RkY4FzUxwDPSoDuZTQe4Zp4JdQ/s1600-h/DSC06124.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVHb32A_k8NBBImrQNaX8B8mXcRwNfz2UC7yExaOgjbp5-8DfktLnUCAL2c8N8FLi3cvoHtdfQgX2GJIqppwWsFOQ6iviwYnpileXT9iqI8RkY4FzUxwDPSoDuZTQe4Zp4JdQ/s400/DSC06124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320141812432952050" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Caldor</span> Rainbow caught a night glimpse upon a passing on I-84 by in mid-January 2009. Last year, we raised awareness for the mall's management to at least considering saving the historic sign, which by today's standards might not be much but we'd just hate to see any identity with neon flare go away.<br /><br />We made attempts to contact <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Macerich</span> <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/12/save-danbury-fair-neon-sign.html">for a story we prepared back in December 2007,</a> but never received a response (bureaucracies).<br /><br />We instead got a cold response upon our arrival to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Danbury</span> Fair Mall on March 27, 2009 for our pictures of the new sign.<br /><br />Shortly after we took our shots, we were greeted by a security SUV who immediately inquired about our camera-toting activities. After a brief, routine exchange of being <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">reprimanded</span>, we complied with the [unwritten] no photography rule and went on our marry way.<br /><br />But he wasn't done.<br /><br />The guard, who incited further argumentative fracas didn't care for our failure to explain our motives or the contents of our digital media suddenly ordered an increasingly annoyed yours truly to leave -- no "get out" of the mall's property (followed by him following my car off the property). The guard (who will remain unnamed) tried to explain his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">reprimand</span> by claiming "private property" universally bans any kind of photography, even if it's open to public invitation. Respectfully, we left but not without a fight.<br /><br />Next time, if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Macerich</span> (or any other private outlet who allows the public for any reason onto its property) has a problem with people snapping leisurely photos on its property, you might want to put up signs or some kind of notice on your website or something before calling your clip-on tie wearing bullies. As a long-time guest of this mall, and one whose taken a bevy of photos here in the past is ashamed of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Macerich</span> and it's unprofessional, thuggish staff.<br /><br />If any of you know when the original sign was taken down, had a similar run-in with security, throw down a comment or two.<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-81733771418113824942009-02-17T12:15:00.000-05:002009-02-17T12:18:25.152-05:00Dayville Ames Remains After Six Years of Vacancy<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3waf6Es2yHXTH_vCcieBh4KUdVgV0VGq9xffiibvBGDAAcAtd8w4iTDQh81L4VVlwA9d1Fz4q0WfEwBNPu-IVl-zVbXb6rnOjQz0H8MdCMA9FJFQiX_fptwtEmXyoK9C45Z_h/s1600-h/DSC07857-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3waf6Es2yHXTH_vCcieBh4KUdVgV0VGq9xffiibvBGDAAcAtd8w4iTDQh81L4VVlwA9d1Fz4q0WfEwBNPu-IVl-zVbXb6rnOjQz0H8MdCMA9FJFQiX_fptwtEmXyoK9C45Z_h/s400/DSC07857-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303456873113102946" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Residents of the Killingly area might know it well as a common dilapidated site on the Hartford Turnpike, shortly off Exit 93 along I-395 of one post-mortem Ames. </span></span><br /><br />The Dayville location, a small town beside Killingly, opened its doors in July 1983 as one of the first Ames stores in the state along with one in Naugatuck. Unlike Naugatuck, whose lived on as a relocated site for well-known New Englander closeout Ocean State Job Lot (like many former Ames sites), the long-vacant Dayville location is still rotting away while the otherside of I-395 flourishes with the new Killingly Commons shopping center which include such major tenants as Stop & Shop, Target and Lowe's.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7rYnaZvMkp3I3F-mclrknLz4nJ0FZBIjmRRKhQu6-jEerntb0ghyrkwQrg_OJyAt51BtOYhT-GVzHbAjyZghdxAf6xFzsHNhdhrzX6MS9SlufG-lDKuXcqe2_gP2vzRT98Xt/s1600-h/DSC07882.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7rYnaZvMkp3I3F-mclrknLz4nJ0FZBIjmRRKhQu6-jEerntb0ghyrkwQrg_OJyAt51BtOYhT-GVzHbAjyZghdxAf6xFzsHNhdhrzX6MS9SlufG-lDKuXcqe2_gP2vzRT98Xt/s400/DSC07882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303459072110699810" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpPsB62b6RQpei9iOux2sKpzgpsQ87reUhH7_Oz6icY1Svou1zpSxk392Izt3ZlMD30tEHQQFLenamEn4HnSysGjaN-ZYf2m6TLcUU2dF4AcFzYNIuau8PLhzaaT8m8_fNkCd/s1600-h/DSC07873-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpPsB62b6RQpei9iOux2sKpzgpsQ87reUhH7_Oz6icY1Svou1zpSxk392Izt3ZlMD30tEHQQFLenamEn4HnSysGjaN-ZYf2m6TLcUU2dF4AcFzYNIuau8PLhzaaT8m8_fNkCd/s400/DSC07873-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303456876384654242" border="0" /></a></div>Upon the site, in a real dead zone, we sighted an independent fish market (who was looking on as we shot our pictures) selling out the back of a truck, a truck stop and a breeding ground for bird life. A lone, rare, rusted red Ames shopping cart filed with trash was stranded on the outskirts of the store's lot among a field of potholes and melting ice. Nearby , towards the road is a small vacant strip plaza with a Carvel, across the road an old but repainted "shingled" Dunkin' Donuts, and further across the way a vacated, boarded-up McDonald's, a vintage diner and a closed up supermarket beside the Ames.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpCbUtsIvB03BM6cDap8mBjb-5jliP8vqRT6kwgB7_h-W_-mhbCGfappqhto30FNUiaqm8nTjA85AH5gMy6t9PfRk-njEvPb_AIG2OToWoi_UjSucfSfze3WKb2UmkjdPZLsl/s1600-h/DSC07889.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpCbUtsIvB03BM6cDap8mBjb-5jliP8vqRT6kwgB7_h-W_-mhbCGfappqhto30FNUiaqm8nTjA85AH5gMy6t9PfRk-njEvPb_AIG2OToWoi_UjSucfSfze3WKb2UmkjdPZLsl/s400/DSC07889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303459073678515042" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIJ2ZhBuV3cnEVamH7TtSnwbDa2KizVubGlIpI6Iz7TSdgPl6jOX-FR_2eSfttmNH0BF6LojyI-eUqF1s-FFqTmY7ekzeBrysTzOubwJOA_2SQ_CD7fXiYx9qVyyECttJAgvR/s1600-h/DSC07877-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIJ2ZhBuV3cnEVamH7TtSnwbDa2KizVubGlIpI6Iz7TSdgPl6jOX-FR_2eSfttmNH0BF6LojyI-eUqF1s-FFqTmY7ekzeBrysTzOubwJOA_2SQ_CD7fXiYx9qVyyECttJAgvR/s400/DSC07877-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303456878265576098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOLQ8oAfewmQaszvpZCQi1jP-VqMin-VpZSYAKrJX7kr5xCMtFx5cSHaKQ6_2zvtrdEdm06e36OQXzWn2hlhiS5D25NE-pQYgBGYyTjz3BWZ3dbwwQg7h9bV6lEqdgqdfbpWd/s1600-h/DSC07890.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOLQ8oAfewmQaszvpZCQi1jP-VqMin-VpZSYAKrJX7kr5xCMtFx5cSHaKQ6_2zvtrdEdm06e36OQXzWn2hlhiS5D25NE-pQYgBGYyTjz3BWZ3dbwwQg7h9bV6lEqdgqdfbpWd/s400/DSC07890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303459078978703714" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The Caldor Rainbow took a ride over to the "country" or northeast Connecticut in the town of Dayville, Connecticut this weekend, arriving near sundown for somewhat cold, windy session. Our first trip to Dayville might be our last but was one of the more intruging shoots we've done in our Ames chapter.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnVLRh0m5J4Ra7z-MV250LXHfIofN5-P21AlZ_LJfhNlVe31HmNxl19e6txwaHGG4pm5F_NwjOMJCN_XRNgbb6kdu-dKbE-nKWq6SWUPzV4Z5qsOFUn8emLBWtgJgGoYis_w9/s1600-h/IMG_0692.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnVLRh0m5J4Ra7z-MV250LXHfIofN5-P21AlZ_LJfhNlVe31HmNxl19e6txwaHGG4pm5F_NwjOMJCN_XRNgbb6kdu-dKbE-nKWq6SWUPzV4Z5qsOFUn8emLBWtgJgGoYis_w9/s400/IMG_0692.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303459364070363842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE SEYMOUR STORE, STILL VACANT IN FEBRUARY 2009.</span></span><br /><br /></div>As of February 2009, Ames still has two fully intact vacant locations left in the state; Dayville and Seymour, with one partially vacant in East Hartford.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157613818648314/">View the full gallery of our Dayville shoot</a> and check out more of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157614015132004/">our Ames pictures on Flickr</a> and <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/">on The Ames Fan Club</a>.<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-31988589340260552062009-02-09T13:45:00.002-05:002009-02-10T21:36:03.910-05:00Agawam Ames Becomes Dave's Pet And Soda City<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOIc5IpDjv5e09D4fzSY5BWHqJIYIrmsg_4YNDIdNjGA2ZWVqSn8YgJi1sNajcFY_vlc7-PpzaVPWGZZ8HQhLX7Of020l3FacbepM7P4w_Wv01lqlBnhgJI_Ahdn0vLltDx1P/s1600-h/DSC07800.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOIc5IpDjv5e09D4fzSY5BWHqJIYIrmsg_4YNDIdNjGA2ZWVqSn8YgJi1sNajcFY_vlc7-PpzaVPWGZZ8HQhLX7Of020l3FacbepM7P4w_Wv01lqlBnhgJI_Ahdn0vLltDx1P/s400/DSC07800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300863938145130610" border="0" /></a><br /></div>It's been a while since we've discussed <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">Ames</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, Ames, the late green (once red)-clad discounter that ended its decades' run succeeding the troubled Framingham, Mass.-based Zayre chain to which it gobbled up in the late 80s met the same cancer as rival northeast discounters Caldor and Bradlees by the millennial swing. After <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/07/ames-vacancies-sweep-up-in-connecticut.html">a story published back in 2007</a> (to which The Courant used as a footnote on a story on the chain) about the remaining locations still vacant in Connecticut, six years after the chain folded, sites are eventually becoming swept up by future tenants here and abroad.<br /><br />Connecticut is currently host to roughly three intact former, vacant Ames locations in <span style="font-weight: bold;">SEYMOUR</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">EAST HARTFORD*</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">DAYVILLE</span>. The chain, formerly headquarted in Rocky Hill, Conn. (still vacant, by the way) entered Connecticut in July 1983 with its first two stores in DAYVILLE and NAUGATUCK. By year's end, the store had accumulated to six total stores all over the state.<br /><br />In March 2006, we took our first voyage to the former Ames in AGAWAM, MASS. along Springfield Street. The small town of Agawam, which is well-known for its adjacency to the West Springfield-hosted The Big E as well as its border to Connecticut, at one time, contained two Ames stores. The original store was located along Suffield Street, now home to a weekend-only independently operated flea market, relocated into a former Zayre up the [Springfield] street by the late 1980's.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMf5rEwCzX6OUN1MqaqJ_JgZO157BiWpASt45FlcDiydL47EFavbPqe3PlTNDNB8Omh7prm52z5EDQoHEtVNRLa6dYv6wjdjkQM9yEG9YdADITbaU2MlCcyj_ku_9U6wUSy_O/s1600-h/DSC00932.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMf5rEwCzX6OUN1MqaqJ_JgZO157BiWpASt45FlcDiydL47EFavbPqe3PlTNDNB8Omh7prm52z5EDQoHEtVNRLa6dYv6wjdjkQM9yEG9YdADITbaU2MlCcyj_ku_9U6wUSy_O/s400/DSC00932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300863939715969314" border="0" /></a></div>Upon that first jaunt, we didn't leave empty handed. A genuine artifact was secured; a "receiving sign" was apprehended after minutes of painstakingly brisk temperatures, prying the sign off the vacant building with a penny and a dime. Our triumphant testimony was reported on <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=1005"></a><a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=1005">The Ames Fan Club forums</a> on March 22, 2006.<br /><span class="mediumtxt"></span><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><span class="mediumtxt">"Went to the Agawam, Massachusetts store this morning and did an updated photo shoot. I found this store to be quite fascinating from your galleries and took quite a bit of the building which still lies vacant. I saw a receiving sign and after a first failed attempt, I went back and got a penny, then a dime to unscrew the rusty screws from off the wall. Five minutes later full of thwanking metal sounds and achy hands and now it's mine."</span></blockquote>The store, which had been vacant for almost a decade outskirts a diseased, ghost-town plaza had finally found a successor. Local entrepreneur <a href="http://www.davessodaandpetcity.com/">Dave's Pet and Soda City</a> (like chicken and waffles) moved into the former husk, which is historically sound as a genuine, largely intact Zayre store model from the 1960's.<br /><br />Following renovations by Dave's, the store no longer retains its exterior roots.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtPiX_ilc1-wxW4t0IFhBwxMX5qbBoHiIjIpSIWl6OshCnO0i20MoME-nv3vNOlm4vCoAtOkvHiFm2XQamTYEflc80JdovzGqIMq4TQCtIertw7pNQxTXvJtzb-gmJOO3pRVM/s1600-h/DSC07814.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtPiX_ilc1-wxW4t0IFhBwxMX5qbBoHiIjIpSIWl6OshCnO0i20MoME-nv3vNOlm4vCoAtOkvHiFm2XQamTYEflc80JdovzGqIMq4TQCtIertw7pNQxTXvJtzb-gmJOO3pRVM/s400/DSC07814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300863936234657986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE FORMER AMES SITE AT SPRINGFIELD STREET, TAKEN JUNE 2007.</span><br /><br /></div>But, thanks to a robust photo set by Chris Fontaine, founder of <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/index.htm">The Ames Fan Club</a>, we can see various unchanged traits evident within the building. Patrons are now welcome to shop at Dave's after many long years of looking through the glass as a vacated Ames.<br /><br /><a href="http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com/search?q=zayre">Zayre stores came in a few main variants during the 60's and 70's</a>; one such was <a href="http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com/2008/09/zayres-fabulous-department-stores.html">a "winged facade" look</a>. When the store became home to Ames, a few adjustments were made including the shrouding of the frontal large glass window panes which showcased the store's glorious innards (and rows upon rows of buzzing fluorescent) from the streets.<br /><br />You can see <a href="http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com/search?q=zayre">a slew of amazing, vintage full-color shots of Zayre</a> over on <a href="http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com/">Pleasant Family Shopping</a> to get an idea of what Zayre was like in its heydays (before the dilapidation ages of its elder life).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3rX8-dU2xTWkDmgJuVM6-na2ua1iKGQ_0-27BmjkjKzMymw-m1Ari5o9OEd1aPGMSDXgWhxRlKS-ct6RzwYnweuhCqnGyvIWPa-qUdRHPs3WOyZ2zGt4XIJbPlrIrHLGIvKg/s1600-h/DSC07769.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3rX8-dU2xTWkDmgJuVM6-na2ua1iKGQ_0-27BmjkjKzMymw-m1Ari5o9OEd1aPGMSDXgWhxRlKS-ct6RzwYnweuhCqnGyvIWPa-qUdRHPs3WOyZ2zGt4XIJbPlrIrHLGIvKg/s400/DSC07769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300863938071126770" border="0" /></a></div>For more photos of the metamorphosis of the Agawam locations, swing by <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/index.htm">The Ames Fan Club</a> were you can see <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/getstore.php?ID=79">my own collection as well as others including Chris's</a>.<br /><br />Dave's Pet and Soda City has three other stores in Hadley, Northampton and Springfield.<br /><br />*<span style="font-weight: bold;">EAST HARTFORD</span> store has vacant entrance, no more signage but evident window decals. Space has been subdivided into Petsmart (left) and TJ Maxx.<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-38334644017407510512009-02-03T12:00:00.000-05:002009-02-03T12:00:02.405-05:00"Friday Knights" Look Back On Toys "R" UsPlug time! Most of you may be unaware of my buddy Nick Fusari and I's talkshow or "podcast" (for neo-media aged folks) <a href="http://17studios.wordpress.com/category/friday-knights/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday Knights of the Round Table</span></a>.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />We began this endeavor a few months ago whereby we discuss various topics pertaining to all thoughts of sorts broken down into segments. Our show, relatively new, is still morphing into everything our hopes and dreams will allow and I have, in a few instances, had worlds collide as I've plugged The Caldor Rainbow in the few of our ten episodes available on <a href="http://17studios.wordpress.com/">17 Studios</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQZrOp7wwqyegD7EwilSbjqdt0gV8P_cM5itbEeDiglZYn3rNmCovCHEg428jHobuV55b2-S1gWEEXHVRuC81PkTiAqoCmpXKc4Y20wiG5jOvwP4rK0BLbZWhXxZkQanKFF88/s1600-h/DSC05255.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQZrOp7wwqyegD7EwilSbjqdt0gV8P_cM5itbEeDiglZYn3rNmCovCHEg428jHobuV55b2-S1gWEEXHVRuC81PkTiAqoCmpXKc4Y20wiG5jOvwP4rK0BLbZWhXxZkQanKFF88/s400/DSC05255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298615333816351122" border="0" /></a></div>Recently, we've introduced a new segment on the show pertaining to nostalgic ventures by which we discuss Toys "R" Us and our memories spent with the chain in its final glory years of the late 1980's and early 90's. Some of those past-present clashes include the beloved rainbow-striped frontage into the boring white looks of today's stores, the video game ticket/slip system and the wall-to-ceiling board game selection: all of which have gone by the wayside in today's Toys "R" Us. While I could've spent a lengthier time on the subject, we stamped it down to just five minutes of time [out of] mind travel. Great Scott!<br /><br /><a href="http://17studios.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/friday-knights-ep10/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our tenth episode</span></a> features this new segment we've generically catagorized as "Nostalgia" for now but the entire episode has a overwhelming retail theme whereby at the top of the hour we shootout thoughts on the Sonic restaurant chain and the now late Circuit City (sorry, the segment was cut from the final version) most of the information I mirror in my recent Caldor Rainbow article.<br /><br />Hope you enjoy it and spread the word and a somewhat rare "live" media appearance by myself (on the left). If you've got suggestions, complaints or ways to bolster our show, throw us an e-mail.<br /><br />We're still growing, morphing, mutating!<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-67877986602349509272009-01-22T13:00:00.001-05:002009-01-22T13:02:30.264-05:00Roy Rogers Rides No More In Manchester<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldqeeVCHsfMMif9AkuoIQImjNHe6gUn9QceKfEGMd6fwwSUoopmlGVyoSG08p0pCnFLa1a5hQtMuHTLyCqXLROJE3hRQQF-lifiBLSuyK9sWMDGjqYZcDMYgy09Lld3TXycmK/s1600-h/DSC01035.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldqeeVCHsfMMif9AkuoIQImjNHe6gUn9QceKfEGMd6fwwSUoopmlGVyoSG08p0pCnFLa1a5hQtMuHTLyCqXLROJE3hRQQF-lifiBLSuyK9sWMDGjqYZcDMYgy09Lld3TXycmK/s400/DSC01035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294176091509926418" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like a sepia sunset, The old-fashioned burger-n-fries chain Roy Rogers is done in Manchester. Over done (bad joke?). The franchise-operated quick-serve restaurant well known for its roast beef, chicken and burgers (or likeness to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Arby's</span> and/or Wendy's) has shuttered another Connecticut location all under the radar.<br /><br />The 394 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tolland</span> Turnpike location, located a few short turns off I-84 (Exit 63) in Manchester has been found closed by The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Caldor</span> Rainbow (and additional thanks to a reader tip off) and at such short notice. One could certainly pin this one on the shuttering economy round-up as it's owner seems to have packed up and run.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxfjNz6vyEUE79TOXee4NoTDL1MvF-I3FGCNq9_lLmphgajZAGLVXppC2QmUQ0fYIONzMhEuZq1xeErGqcSihaPta-JNgFn2CdNz4vf3a0plyGU4lhfVcjkTKxZkjCaJIt_Gc/s1600-h/DSC01034.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxfjNz6vyEUE79TOXee4NoTDL1MvF-I3FGCNq9_lLmphgajZAGLVXppC2QmUQ0fYIONzMhEuZq1xeErGqcSihaPta-JNgFn2CdNz4vf3a0plyGU4lhfVcjkTKxZkjCaJIt_Gc/s400/DSC01034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294176104808300290" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE LATE MANCHESTER, CONN. LOCATION IN JULY 2008</span><br /><br /></div><a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/02/sundown-for-roy-rogers.html">Back in February 2007</a>, Roy Rogers' franchise owners closed up many of its locations in the state including one we covered on the Berlin Turnpike in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Newington</span>, which closed up abruptly has since become new life as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Arby's</span>. One such on Route 5 in North Haven followed the same fate, shuttering silently. Over the past decade, Roy Rogers has trickled down, losing market share to other fast food restaurants who've prospered much in its place; namely Wendy's and recently <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Arby's</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4F1hQy8ZjEGBsD8OsaJadThMRKcrlQTr4I7vkCAR5gWR4p7tjlyM2QriymhUEX4ajz5TiQDUJkE46KzYM3TvZAWVF8DI8pRktrACn_XKJGaxb6_FANzQAZQTAAnLLEFJQNgF/s1600-h/DSC01032.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4F1hQy8ZjEGBsD8OsaJadThMRKcrlQTr4I7vkCAR5gWR4p7tjlyM2QriymhUEX4ajz5TiQDUJkE46KzYM3TvZAWVF8DI8pRktrACn_XKJGaxb6_FANzQAZQTAAnLLEFJQNgF/s400/DSC01032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294176098106806450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE LATE MANCHESTER, CONN. LOCATION SITE IN JULY 2008</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8pTTP-15cQt710qaF_t9A9srh1WYe15Fh-WELsiUlZNb2MQzWn-mY9utY-yY2tR5EBJXz9pT5cZhanJEdFj-816J2W6CJhS9QmcIWUS37BU0nKc6HAF5kmpmLq8NnfUppfq1/s1600-h/storelocator.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8pTTP-15cQt710qaF_t9A9srh1WYe15Fh-WELsiUlZNb2MQzWn-mY9utY-yY2tR5EBJXz9pT5cZhanJEdFj-816J2W6CJhS9QmcIWUS37BU0nKc6HAF5kmpmLq8NnfUppfq1/s400/storelocator.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294176111765209122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ROY ROGERS WOULD BE ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE-Y: SITE MASTERS DISGRACEFULLY CAUGHT SLACKING OFF, KEEPING DEFUNCT LOCATION ON THE STORE <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">LOCATOR</span></span><br /><br /></div>Thought their website has a 2003 stamp on it, there's no reason to perpetuate lies! Somebody tell the sleepy webmaster to remove the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Manchy</span> location off the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">locator</span>.<br /><br />Roy Rogers leaves one lone location in the state: all the way up in North <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Stonington</span> (still under construction?) or one shortly over the Massachusetts border in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sturbridge</span>. It's to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">entrepreneurial</span> spirit to keep Roy's dreams of serving grease-laden burgers and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">fixin</span>' bars to truckers and travelers alive!<br /><br />The former Manchester location will live on: reportedly soon tobecome an independently-owned Indian restaurant.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGd3wpfTyg27nmzK_Se_eLct_pUKxyYtEssGSi8oL0ln7i6e7rP8brpOG_3pPOJZKxeN1FVxIQzjiJcCmMkLxGOPHH7RtKg9CZs_-6GGOVMid9ykOL1CgKQRlOmcql3c_oqhq2/s1600-h/DSC06567.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGd3wpfTyg27nmzK_Se_eLct_pUKxyYtEssGSi8oL0ln7i6e7rP8brpOG_3pPOJZKxeN1FVxIQzjiJcCmMkLxGOPHH7RtKg9CZs_-6GGOVMid9ykOL1CgKQRlOmcql3c_oqhq2/s400/DSC06567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294178507481777058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ROY ROGERS <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">TIMEWARP</span> AT A REST STOP ON I-90</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtxO76SiWZCPvNq1aHezupNjIh2E__ueJcSOyJI_w60dkWZaISg1fdfBhsm1SxbUAmHEfTJiRmWLLlsLPRST85p6aGHKAfK9NSaSnKokAH4n6GST4G4-eKLKd58YNXxu4zW6V/s1600-h/DSC04047.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 305px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtxO76SiWZCPvNq1aHezupNjIh2E__ueJcSOyJI_w60dkWZaISg1fdfBhsm1SxbUAmHEfTJiRmWLLlsLPRST85p6aGHKAfK9NSaSnKokAH4n6GST4G4-eKLKd58YNXxu4zW6V/s400/DSC04047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294178501983526338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ROY ROGERS <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ROCKFACED</span> RECEPTACLE TAKEN AT FORMER <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">NEWINGTON</span> LOCATION</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;">All photos taken by THE <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">CALDOR</span> RAINBOW.</span><br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-10397153885564331962009-01-19T12:05:00.001-05:002009-02-18T12:33:05.234-05:00Everything Must Go At Circuit City<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESDRwwltqay_Xv7FDToPAX0_0COLE_b9QRTL1XnIdWziKp44s_VCXxEP0OH0It56KrPUMXrFy0-iZxoX8yZysBjHbNldGRY4qYiopWnAJG0fwvhTD6oDekqJur0a2vao00mRT/s1600-h/3279872363_f953ccac1b_b.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESDRwwltqay_Xv7FDToPAX0_0COLE_b9QRTL1XnIdWziKp44s_VCXxEP0OH0It56KrPUMXrFy0-iZxoX8yZysBjHbNldGRY4qYiopWnAJG0fwvhTD6oDekqJur0a2vao00mRT/s400/3279872363_f953ccac1b_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304191543176028194" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Say goodbye to yet another retail electronics giant, Circuit City. <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5irmWZmMlki7isG4T9NmoHzSlAMJwD95OAOSG0">As you've heard</a>, the chain has announced everything must go, announcing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">chainwide</span> liquidation this past Friday January 16, 2009.<br /><br />Yes, the monochrome roulette of retail's death bringer follows one of the most crippling retail seasons in recent time of 2008 and into 2009, and no more than a few weeks after the company announced a mega-sized dose of doze, as expected, the struggling second-best electronics retailer has announced it's seizure to retail la-la land shortly after the post-Christmas season, joining the ranks of other big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">namers</span> who've folded in recent years (and months, for that matter) including the a 90's boomer chain from New York <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nobody Beats The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Wiz</span></span> (later <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">remarketed</span> as just "The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Wiz</span>"), <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">CompUSA</span></span> last Christmas season of '08 and most recently a Massachusetts-based hi-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ender</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tweeter Etc.</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">whose</span> success mirrored hi-fidelity electronics of the 80's.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOTP6e-aLuEoTwZIwdEkrlAkzlk2gJP4kQwPvC_oVH9pvkVi5_qxH02UNNr6CNR8hLFK70hF6-oRRtNX4oHkUk0YvC_yvRFeSzZzARLhzgJw9ox9lIApa4t9SeXA299mh2dAE/s1600-h/DSC07496.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOTP6e-aLuEoTwZIwdEkrlAkzlk2gJP4kQwPvC_oVH9pvkVi5_qxH02UNNr6CNR8hLFK70hF6-oRRtNX4oHkUk0YvC_yvRFeSzZzARLhzgJw9ox9lIApa4t9SeXA299mh2dAE/s400/DSC07496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293048950682761314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TWEETER ETC.; MANCHESTER, CT JUST WEEKS BEFORE <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">CHAINWIDE</span> CLOSURE</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9497mAFj6K5HuUOBDkjMb7kbbbkZbe8jvtCmk7lcrG6jrLzUB7hlYTiJtaH3e8rVBdbRomc4CQivJoLWnUpfH3ox8B7VB63wl7m91M_k2of5HiaLTE3RgB4zZf_r6Q60DLjPF/s1600-h/DSC03296.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9497mAFj6K5HuUOBDkjMb7kbbbkZbe8jvtCmk7lcrG6jrLzUB7hlYTiJtaH3e8rVBdbRomc4CQivJoLWnUpfH3ox8B7VB63wl7m91M_k2of5HiaLTE3RgB4zZf_r6Q60DLjPF/s400/DSC03296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293048960641028082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TWEETER ETC. FORMERLY AT THE STRUGGLING WATERFORD, CONN. CRYSTAL MALL</span> (TAKEN JAN. 2007)<br /><br /></div>The chain recently opened stores in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Enfield</span> at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Stateline</span> Plaza; placing a years vacated Media Play and most recently a concept "The City" in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Torrington</span> in 2007 at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Torrington</span> Fair Plaza replacing Sears Hardware.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VN_SUcDxWZQAA2QTByid_GASyqsZEquZSCMzEOb55zCLMyYID_pDAcRB1w1OrjlpREq4oWoC3JscvjLkMJoYncc5x8wstXg9w2XndE5riXargnc4WWWifAJQu_Rii6hm7BWt/s1600-h/DSC04390.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VN_SUcDxWZQAA2QTByid_GASyqsZEquZSCMzEOb55zCLMyYID_pDAcRB1w1OrjlpREq4oWoC3JscvjLkMJoYncc5x8wstXg9w2XndE5riXargnc4WWWifAJQu_Rii6hm7BWt/s400/DSC04390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293048961949168210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"THE CITY" CIRCUIT CITY NEWLY BUILT IN <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">TORRINGTON</span></span> (TAKEN SHORTLY BEFORE OPENING IN DEC. 2007)<br /><br /></div>Other stores in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Meriden</span> weren't too long leased in a revamped, former <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Waldbaums</span> plaza outskirts the nearby mall while others with aged looks in Manchester , Trumbull and North Haven had toughed it out through the 90's. Orange had been the one store to close just before the Christmas shopping season at the cusp of 2009.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuYj2IJlX9HlfHn1czaP5Yzkn3WtTajI95BqL3SnYR472nPwryd8qVahUJKeHpuRGUK5_NLklzR8gka4H4SEfDNMv8zfd5tSwdyJXehnV7Za0BCcexujFyzEwl26O2dVQJ5tH/s1600-h/DSC07503.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuYj2IJlX9HlfHn1czaP5Yzkn3WtTajI95BqL3SnYR472nPwryd8qVahUJKeHpuRGUK5_NLklzR8gka4H4SEfDNMv8zfd5tSwdyJXehnV7Za0BCcexujFyzEwl26O2dVQJ5tH/s400/DSC07503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293048955803600466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A NOW YEAR VACANT <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">COMPUSA</span> IN MANCHESTER WILL LIKELY STAY THIS WAY FOR A WHILE LONGER</span> (TAKEN DEC. 2008)<br /><br /></div>While my own thoughts reflect that of many of Circuit City's harshest critics, and not just for a move that damaged the chain's corporate image, my views are shared on a consumer angle as well as many of its stores struggled to capture the unique flair and competitive model that many prefer in the flashier competitor Best Buy. Heck, that's not too far from <a href="http://consumerist.com/5132952/circuit-city-will-completely-liquidate">a bitter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Consumerist's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">editorial</span> perspective...</a><br /><br />It hasn't always been that bad, has it? We never cheer any chains' demise (unless they are truly dreadful organizations, to which Circuit City brushed with years back) so we'll miss them. In a troubling retail economy, it's a time unlike recent years when the slacker chains will have to pay up or pack up as we've seen. With even prominent names like Circuit City going, how far long before some of the suspect chains start shuttering underperforming stores (Kmart and/or anything under the Sears umbrella comes to mind...)<br /><br />So whose left to take on Best Buy? With all the cleansing that took place in just the last year, premiere electronic giant Best Buy lives on to dominate the market with very little competition on the same level. It seems their closest game is now on par with the department retail market a la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Walmart</span> and Target.<br /><br />The Caldor Rainbow will soon collect an array of vacant storefront shots to better remember the chain's impact on the retail sphere in coming months.<br /><br />Share your thoughts...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Title image by The Caldor Rainbow; Orange, CT.</span></span><br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-76085657622355402042009-01-07T13:00:00.001-05:002009-01-10T13:48:52.360-05:00Retro Toys "R" Us; Bowling Green, Kentucky<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-CdnwfFTpfCKROmQlJ9GJWctDDdP8P42qJonRoJPUnf8pMBE1a_XEUKwl2Y90we53GIhN3mEfZ5IWoe5pw_FN-g1ZBZn6pE14NM3Da-kznuBUv1py5cxPe9rD-ub6edsUBcc/s1600-h/ToysRUs07.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-CdnwfFTpfCKROmQlJ9GJWctDDdP8P42qJonRoJPUnf8pMBE1a_XEUKwl2Y90we53GIhN3mEfZ5IWoe5pw_FN-g1ZBZn6pE14NM3Da-kznuBUv1py5cxPe9rD-ub6edsUBcc/s400/ToysRUs07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288609571878695314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Reader Jessica Nielsen threw us an e-mail <a href="http://www.shinigamiempath.com/ToysRUs.htm">and accompanied gallery of photos</a> of yet another left-behind Toys "R" Us located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It would appear apart from the stripped-away rainbow bars along the front and a white-washed road sign, this store would be a spitting image of it's original look from twenty years ago. According to the town's assessor database, the store was built in 1989 as a Toys "R" Us-Kids "R" Us hybrid.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Kckpo448iFXlQIPPbQUCYeCjgrLjE-p4nLCJQqw8-AYhN1LZNof4XznkMXTNCSB6fKt3zg4eZ4FfPMmABjoMId9NxMaZyat7RyEZ4T9PNO6r7tqTeZKYrYYrjz4m34dFXLrK/s1600-h/ToysRUs01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Kckpo448iFXlQIPPbQUCYeCjgrLjE-p4nLCJQqw8-AYhN1LZNof4XznkMXTNCSB6fKt3zg4eZ4FfPMmABjoMId9NxMaZyat7RyEZ4T9PNO6r7tqTeZKYrYYrjz4m34dFXLrK/s400/ToysRUs01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288609528137935058" border="0" /></a><br />Road sign of BOWLING GREEN store<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUMIFOsSeCFRWh3IKHspCNfwqYBvpS-klLzaTF0QiLfT_QMl8imF3aA4Za7u1qDmKJUcBBXQ-xX0JvcZniyNETSWDWdz9MqFMBlEXR8hCq2da94sizwa62Ofhy-cCtGnLb7We/s1600-h/ToysRUs06.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUMIFOsSeCFRWh3IKHspCNfwqYBvpS-klLzaTF0QiLfT_QMl8imF3aA4Za7u1qDmKJUcBBXQ-xX0JvcZniyNETSWDWdz9MqFMBlEXR8hCq2da94sizwa62Ofhy-cCtGnLb7We/s400/ToysRUs06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288609552682613858" border="0" /></a><br />Classic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Jeoffrey</span> sign of BOWLING GREEN store<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-w__jHfpylGzThnUW1iQZztHqs6tVQoqdWrI6OIdqatvUpC9MtnQh21X8JWoPdBFJKTS6EmDw0awi6Izp5iKh-_FNvemoOxzEKpuGlRGgg7zoFbG_g8SBbOOKp-kCBiWDHLr/s1600-h/ToysRUs04.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-w__jHfpylGzThnUW1iQZztHqs6tVQoqdWrI6OIdqatvUpC9MtnQh21X8JWoPdBFJKTS6EmDw0awi6Izp5iKh-_FNvemoOxzEKpuGlRGgg7zoFbG_g8SBbOOKp-kCBiWDHLr/s400/ToysRUs04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288609587702858818" border="0" /></a><br />Orange Entrance sign of BOWLING GREEN store<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAY9U7JLrxuVHDMwGFd0fP5gt4VGySjWPNCeUZESh_dbGGk_8eLDFF27fRqWQtb71WvSh66U50mnSbBaYBvCZN1xeaNgfbhSJfUOSXhH7ZjytWDyuO4gZ43c8CjeXPeN6tJiS/s1600-h/Fullscreen+capture+152009+24800+PM.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAY9U7JLrxuVHDMwGFd0fP5gt4VGySjWPNCeUZESh_dbGGk_8eLDFF27fRqWQtb71WvSh66U50mnSbBaYBvCZN1xeaNgfbhSJfUOSXhH7ZjytWDyuO4gZ43c8CjeXPeN6tJiS/s400/Fullscreen+capture+152009+24800+PM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288607658711188354" border="0" /></a><br />THE BOWLING GREEN store from space; Courtesy: Live Maps.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpmlw777xus6Us9mlPjACPSyNbKliPy0FbmmgEBnSKh55ksfSDFjhsPGDv0ZCcdkNu57dnI7-lJGAIi9EaxoAxCPPrs6_FCKYlyKNU9_t5wizd9Xql5G7PCQ87-PZ_ki20RPO/s1600-h/Fullscreen+capture+172009+121651+PM.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpmlw777xus6Us9mlPjACPSyNbKliPy0FbmmgEBnSKh55ksfSDFjhsPGDv0ZCcdkNu57dnI7-lJGAIi9EaxoAxCPPrs6_FCKYlyKNU9_t5wizd9Xql5G7PCQ87-PZ_ki20RPO/s400/Fullscreen+capture+172009+121651+PM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288607654083887330" border="0" /></a><br />THE BOWLING GREEN store pictures; Courtesy: the Warren County town <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">assessor</span>.<br /></div><br />Jessica, who shot the series of superb shots, tells in her e-mail "The building is white brick and appears that the rainbow boarding might have been removed at one point." At that, she's correct. Like some other older stores, like one in Durham, N.C., the once rainbow-pallette along the store's front has been removed. But when?<br /><br />If anyone else remembers the Bowling Green store, tell us more about it. If we missed a store, notify us. You can refer to <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/12/retro-toys-r-us-round-up.html">our list of known old-school stores</a>.<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-64555668949204362042009-01-05T13:40:00.000-05:002009-01-05T13:41:42.876-05:00Retro Toys "R" Us In Tallahassee<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyngswuw3rISfMhhMIWL_E7bDgfgS6y2U3ejrcT_0MwP1dd_t8WOlH-SI7ZJfzWa8OT1cztZ0COer_G1dMo_tqhRh8qBMaomVF7zSgq0yUalgDiil9LnNPJRdZpWpnsRtf65Sw/s1600-h/IMG_0457.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyngswuw3rISfMhhMIWL_E7bDgfgS6y2U3ejrcT_0MwP1dd_t8WOlH-SI7ZJfzWa8OT1cztZ0COer_G1dMo_tqhRh8qBMaomVF7zSgq0yUalgDiil9LnNPJRdZpWpnsRtf65Sw/s400/IMG_0457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287880397269211986" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Caldor Rainbow reader and fellow retail enthusiast who traverses the circuit of mall-related blogs, Jack Thomas, has provided wonderful on-site pictures of a known, old-school Toys "R" Us in Tallahassee, Florida. This update comes off the heel of a recent retro round-up.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVlqG3xhZvVCPCX4ztgHH6xRrIpEBdBILzocXjJBbFqYKOvB0x4eDkbjSZiahNHLpA0sb3LP3SEW1dNGitAeB9ni7ca5EGtDbxJ_t5MTcSwhrYWmVB29jNFsvsH4o0adrQJL6/s1600-h/IMG_0458.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVlqG3xhZvVCPCX4ztgHH6xRrIpEBdBILzocXjJBbFqYKOvB0x4eDkbjSZiahNHLpA0sb3LP3SEW1dNGitAeB9ni7ca5EGtDbxJ_t5MTcSwhrYWmVB29jNFsvsH4o0adrQJL6/s400/IMG_0458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287880396421681538" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The retro store, likely built in the late 80's (our guess is 1986), located along Appallache Parkway seems to contain all the elements from the store's conception: the signature brown "mansard" roof, rainbow-stripes (not repainted!) and even a pastel-colored road sign these oldies typically contained. Thomas ensures us the photos are recent, taken in December 2008. The Caldor Rainbow discovered the store back in March 2008 via our <a href="http://maps.live.com/">eye in the sky</a>.<br /><br />To get some perspective, here's the store <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/forum/viewthread.php?action=attachment&tid=46&pid=32945">shot from the sky</a>, courtesy of <a href="http://maps.live.com/">Live Maps</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf8PiyMiCTLI_-8Npb1ew4qIcxsBmFRGl0Nlqd-XD3f0l3PBZ1bON4-bLYk_cDUzIXOXvV8etojHcLB_0yrg2tGcl3alhyphenhyphenoFmlMBHuX4vz9iowGmclX2lsC9Po5tpBaVS83Cs/s1600-h/IMG_0459.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf8PiyMiCTLI_-8Npb1ew4qIcxsBmFRGl0Nlqd-XD3f0l3PBZ1bON4-bLYk_cDUzIXOXvV8etojHcLB_0yrg2tGcl3alhyphenhyphenoFmlMBHuX4vz9iowGmclX2lsC9Po5tpBaVS83Cs/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287880400202177058" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oddly enough, there's no Jeoffrey sign anywhere on the building nearby but we assume with Florida's frequent, rampant weather patterns, it's likely the mascot's plexiglas iteration had been destroyed or mangled over the course of the store's 20 plus year run.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The Caldor Rainbow suspects other stores with left-behind looks in Bradenton, Orange Park and Gainesville. Check out <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=46&page=57">The Ames Fan Club Forums</a> for satellite imagery.<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-50908811584471766912008-12-01T12:30:00.002-05:002009-01-07T12:51:24.233-05:00Retro Toys "R" Us Round-Up<div style="text-align: justify;">It's been too long since we've featured a Toys "R" Us related update, and thanks to plenty of badgering by our own reader Jonah Norason, a regular who always provides worthwhile feedback in our mall sphere, he provides us with his own array of photos captured from a vintage store still out in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Waco, Texas</span>, which appears to resemble one such store in Horseheads, New York and a now (still?) vacant one in Battle Creek, Michigan.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mR8dswyeYwbzvwmKU2vzczF7dtWLrNXbwhhv983fk9fW07SChn3VFuofqyieSTr_nCjv3YwQlblEn450hSSWFQeI3ze-L1ugqg_mjETLcCDH-mAiBkXQU1Z5leVBpq7QCbSW/s1600-h/P7130032.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mR8dswyeYwbzvwmKU2vzczF7dtWLrNXbwhhv983fk9fW07SChn3VFuofqyieSTr_nCjv3YwQlblEn450hSSWFQeI3ze-L1ugqg_mjETLcCDH-mAiBkXQU1Z5leVBpq7QCbSW/s400/P7130032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274504790860315858" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHF-bS8HwsW-zQQuuO_uNUGsT5r8es1LIqULkJ07_hLRNpH5WXqj4TAR_umw-Z3303GcADVDgY_fX7K7sJoo3ndZA9ZuVvJPTlXrFAdHcUc_5g8dIdwo3mJ4lMzERiCOx_c8S/s1600-h/P7130031.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHF-bS8HwsW-zQQuuO_uNUGsT5r8es1LIqULkJ07_hLRNpH5WXqj4TAR_umw-Z3303GcADVDgY_fX7K7sJoo3ndZA9ZuVvJPTlXrFAdHcUc_5g8dIdwo3mJ4lMzERiCOx_c8S/s400/P7130031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274504794264151426" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WACO, TEXAS: STILL FEATURES RAINBOW-STRIPED CURTAIN MOTIF, RETAINS JEOFFREY SIGN; AN ENDANGERED SPECIES (IMAGES: J.NORAHSON)</span><br /></div><br />The Caldor Rainbow knows of most of the vintage-looking, left-behind, or unremodeled stores left in the country in large part to our own research and on-site of Ames Fan Club board member Daniel Fife, who'se just about raided the entire eastcoast in confirmation of these stores. This year, we've visited one such location in Boardman, Ohio and have no updates regarding other stores we've since exposed here including <span style="font-weight: bold;">Horseheads, NY</span>; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Clay, NY</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Woburn, MA</span>. We've also got a superb set of shots submitted by Steven Swain, another friend of ours, whose taken shots direct from the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Roanoke, Virginia</span> store.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsklKRGSGxiGCfpz-FhLnI04BIzNBgIFUzmtBurxPIfFoZdOOoSmCGW6s3Td7XKcb7R65DOZ-rVP9V-M71KbHEVj5RjEmKI4HsAAX9rKd9DMUDvyvmamHhpYdnQ_heER4Hx_0a/s1600-h/Toys+R+Us+Roanoke+004-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsklKRGSGxiGCfpz-FhLnI04BIzNBgIFUzmtBurxPIfFoZdOOoSmCGW6s3Td7XKcb7R65DOZ-rVP9V-M71KbHEVj5RjEmKI4HsAAX9rKd9DMUDvyvmamHhpYdnQ_heER4Hx_0a/s400/Toys+R+Us+Roanoke+004-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274516816963030002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRWkjFtotpRGTmcqG_DZeCboyyiCrs1kjm2y8fwyZl1eoWrIY1IHQTkqfnzSzYB2qzpTGsNKe2JanLXwDzsnD9Qj0jVZrWRHNPI31B9H2i6oJvHgYvBHDoPJMKRYsOYPnNzBC/s1600-h/Toys+R+Us+Roanoke+001-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRWkjFtotpRGTmcqG_DZeCboyyiCrs1kjm2y8fwyZl1eoWrIY1IHQTkqfnzSzYB2qzpTGsNKe2JanLXwDzsnD9Qj0jVZrWRHNPI31B9H2i6oJvHgYvBHDoPJMKRYsOYPnNzBC/s400/Toys+R+Us+Roanoke+001-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274516820137546114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ROANOKE, VA; FEBRUARY 2008 (IMAGES: S. SWAIN)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaftJ6qe7o-s6VZQwX4mYEVXKWwNjGhKUR8B365111UUtIGhPOj3sJmQvVXsLJ0BAM3vSGB9yA5nXHRmIvmcgEyqeSvYHG_weWp1bi4MquOO-TyO4ylEp6Cs8y0ThH7q1K_EkG/s1600-h/DSC05253.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaftJ6qe7o-s6VZQwX4mYEVXKWwNjGhKUR8B365111UUtIGhPOj3sJmQvVXsLJ0BAM3vSGB9yA5nXHRmIvmcgEyqeSvYHG_weWp1bi4MquOO-TyO4ylEp6Cs8y0ThH7q1K_EkG/s400/DSC05253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274514138604520146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcrvrECqdVHEp5xixbj-x6-7MDkY_XUdV9WAeG65Mw0swiFWMtupyHI7CpyuIygNzUju3kmzRtDGpf0YCB0_dH33VnxB2ZtwzjgQOUXvs4dAezi_CBpzr91ExW78loHeLsLip/s1600-h/DSC05259.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcrvrECqdVHEp5xixbj-x6-7MDkY_XUdV9WAeG65Mw0swiFWMtupyHI7CpyuIygNzUju3kmzRtDGpf0YCB0_dH33VnxB2ZtwzjgQOUXvs4dAezi_CBpzr91ExW78loHeLsLip/s400/DSC05259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274514134991098786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BOARDMAN (YOUNGSTOWN), OHIO; MARCH 2008</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fc_xqqRSTy-HlQpErn-xpuIvpCOl6mza-PHlQtr0NGVDx8bJLd9BDLimhyphenhyphen550wOvUjcaKCGnvd6OxHlmIzwVNKrLWlNJPOUmpMI6c-nAqL421dBWpBqJrAZAGrnM1laH6Sod/s1600-h/DSC05810.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fc_xqqRSTy-HlQpErn-xpuIvpCOl6mza-PHlQtr0NGVDx8bJLd9BDLimhyphenhyphen550wOvUjcaKCGnvd6OxHlmIzwVNKrLWlNJPOUmpMI6c-nAqL421dBWpBqJrAZAGrnM1laH6Sod/s400/DSC05810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274514141981701298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZCsQL7EH83qtmjfHGcoxng6ewRcgPsUBn9hH7nVxBlxDprbavtpj-8qgJmG6v9OQiEFXmMrbUk9rqKIql4SJ6vgSTxWPUjEJtsummLBjMaO_7GkCGH7YuPBmAbIr04ZZ6Mgu/s1600-h/DSC05787.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZCsQL7EH83qtmjfHGcoxng6ewRcgPsUBn9hH7nVxBlxDprbavtpj-8qgJmG6v9OQiEFXmMrbUk9rqKIql4SJ6vgSTxWPUjEJtsummLBjMaO_7GkCGH7YuPBmAbIr04ZZ6Mgu/s400/DSC05787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274514142504922450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SAINT CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO; MARCH 2008</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JheS4YOkGPN3aBuaaOz91Z6-4wqrwwv3w8wvFHH7A1AdakAvmYQWA3u37sjlti1OevUOSZeYdfHrdDc9ITT8TfAo48o_y4pJNLndxWZ4STr_mIMlajNaDHvpG4jDNvThJC6I/s1600-h/DSC05973.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JheS4YOkGPN3aBuaaOz91Z6-4wqrwwv3w8wvFHH7A1AdakAvmYQWA3u37sjlti1OevUOSZeYdfHrdDc9ITT8TfAo48o_y4pJNLndxWZ4STr_mIMlajNaDHvpG4jDNvThJC6I/s400/DSC05973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274515013897546898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOgiWiKgN1mfaqcD_TUELxEV-kdrAycENTCSmuptEL41NwL4KELc_hIeNWy8wa99cB83iR8vgyCgKJ5W0bNa5cvh5KeD-gR5LK3IqNG8Gih2Qwq67gTUNjqKugncBttAVwg2V/s1600-h/DSC05949.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOgiWiKgN1mfaqcD_TUELxEV-kdrAycENTCSmuptEL41NwL4KELc_hIeNWy8wa99cB83iR8vgyCgKJ5W0bNa5cvh5KeD-gR5LK3IqNG8Gih2Qwq67gTUNjqKugncBttAVwg2V/s400/DSC05949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274515019069884338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WOBURN, MA; MARCH 2008</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;">LIST OF KNOWN VESTIGIAL OR RETRO STORES<br /></span>Below is a compiled list of stores we know of that still feature original build date design elements, though some may be painted over, signs and other features removed or replaced.<span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW YORK</span><br /><a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/05/rainbow-striped-milestone.html">CLAY<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><br />HORSEHEADS <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted white</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MASSACHUSETTS</span><br />WOBURN <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted blue</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MAINE</span><br />BANGOR <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes, roof repainted white</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OHIO</span><br />EUCLID (MIXED USE; STILL VACANT) <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />BOARDMAN <span style="font-style: italic;">Original; removed Jeoffrey</span><br />SAINT CLAIRSVILLE <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted white</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CALIFORNIA<br /></span>ANAHEIM (VACANT)<br />ONTARIO <span style="font-style: italic;">A real oldie! </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Roof repainted white, stripes removed</span><br />RICHMOND (VACANT) <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes removed; roof repainted white, then green</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MARYLAND</span><br />CATONSVILLE <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes, roof repainted white</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">INDIANA</span><br />INDIANAPOLIS / <span class="mediumtxt">4575 W 38th St.</span> (VACANT) <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes removed</span><br />LAFAYETTE <span style="font-style: italic;">Original though roof ripples removed</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ILLINOIS</span><br />BLOOMINGTON <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted white</span><br />MOLINE <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted white</span><span style="font-style: italic;">, signage updated to "Concept 2000"<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">IOWA</span><br />CEDAR RAPIDS <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted white</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">IDAHO</span><br />BOISE <span style="font-style: italic;">Roof repainted red, removed ripples</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MICHIGAN</span><br />GRAND RAPIDS<br />BATTLE CREEK (VACANT) <br />PORTAGE/KALAMAZOO <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted blue</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">KENTUCKY</span><br />BOWLING GREEN <span style="font-style: italic;">Rainbow stripes removed</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TENNESSEE</span><br />KNOXVILLE <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ALABAMA</span><br />MONTGOMERY <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">FLORIDA</span><br />BRADENTON <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted white, roof repainted blue</span><br />GAINESVILLE <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted white</span><br />TALLAHASSEE<br />ORANGE <span style="font-style: italic;">Roof repainted gray, stripes repainted white</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NORTH CAROLINA</span><br />WILMINGTON<br />DURHAM <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes removed</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GEORGIA</span><br />SAVANNAH (RECENTLY RELOCATED, NOW VACANT)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TEXAS</span><br />WACO<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">VIRGINIA</span><br />ROANOKE <span style="font-style: italic;">Stripes repainted blue</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WASHINGTON</span><br />SPRINGDALE <span style="font-style: italic;">Roof repainted blue, s</span><span style="font-style: italic;">tripes repainted white</span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>If you have an update or one we've forgotten, please inform us.<br /><br />Hey, You! We like on-site photography here and since our resources limit us from traveling halfway across the country, you'd be swell to lend us your digital eye for The Caldor Rainbow and its audience. Just enter any information about old-school Toys "R" Us stores -- we've become synonymous with any information and, of course, the best images out there.<br /><br />If you missed our report on the now twenty-year, classic Clay store, <a href="http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/05/rainbow-striped-milestone.html">see it here</a>. Look at my personal collection, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/sets/72157603809162317/">a gallery of stores on Flickr</a>. And of course, tons of user submitted pictures on the <a href="http://www.amesfanclub.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=46&page=45">Ames Fan Club forums</a>.<br /></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33709921.post-50021396263798383212008-11-27T20:00:00.004-05:002008-11-29T00:29:42.371-05:00Black Friday 1978<span style="font-weight: bold;">BLACK FRIDAY</span> is here again.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheclS_2n-sXIiIpxS_b46Mj3-XhBlf_pfXhvrN_J3b8QgpTACyiWS5Xfm3PSWUoihSxOYqwi5Umvs7KaS2DoWK7-_knb3YF-ahEHH6q3qafxIPB9bgXOcRXk5hB6aM4ieZTAcQ/s1600-h/Saleatcaldor.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheclS_2n-sXIiIpxS_b46Mj3-XhBlf_pfXhvrN_J3b8QgpTACyiWS5Xfm3PSWUoihSxOYqwi5Umvs7KaS2DoWK7-_knb3YF-ahEHH6q3qafxIPB9bgXOcRXk5hB6aM4ieZTAcQ/s400/Saleatcaldor.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273555394978470658" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fresh on the minds of those who dozed off from turkey (not tofurky) at the early noon hours of Thursday, they were caching up on sleep, ready to cash in on the dawn-breaking deals, gearing up for camping outside, snaking lines around buildings of the big boxers and malls early Friday morning, awaiting hearty deals and avoiding stampedes of people wanting to bombard the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Walmart</span> at 4am for a $79 giant-screen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">thirdworld</span> LCD TV or quite possibly access to a Wii.<br /></div><br />They weren't thinking about this stuff... in 1978. Or were they?<br /><br />Roll your cart back down the aisle -- if you can fit it down the aisle!<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The "Black Friday" retail tradition has more or less been hijacked over recent time, specifically by the material age and isn't the same as <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/black-friday"><span style="font-style: italic;">the </span>day in history</a> Steely Dan eluded to on <a href="http://www.steelydan.com/lyrkaty.html">Katy Lied</a>, instead, the day is typically heralded as one of the biggest shopping days of the year. <a href="http://www.snopes.com/holidays/thanksgiving/shopping.asp">In fact, it's not</a>, but it's the one and only day were dedication to standing long hours in frigid outdoor lines and getting sick deals on high-priced goods they may or may not get upon arriving at the gates. Don't worry about its meaning, it's "Black" largely in part of the immense volume of would-be spenders, but conversely the very climate of dead-cold darkness before conventional opening hours -- not necessarily crippling sales for retailers as you may have been lead to believe in the past.<br /><br />While the term wasn't officially a household term back even ten years ago, the day after Thanksgiving is the prized grand slam, kick-off to shopping for the Christmas season -- even back thirty years ago.<br /><br />However, in 2008, the retail and financial crisis of this [unofficial] holiday seem to be merging with the current dour spending climate in the U.S. (and comparable to one era of "<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stagflation">stagflation</a>" back in the late 70's), as well as the sour retail market amidst some big name closures and cutbacks this year. It's not likely to break tradition; meaning droves of people at the malls, especially with some retailers teetering on extinction, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Walmart</span> and Best Buy will predictably continue to lure the most bargain hunters long before, into and after the sun wakes.<br /><br />The electronic age of the 2000s exploded with the "must-haves"; LCD TVs, MP3 players, all-in-one cellular gadgetry, an impossible-to-find video game console, GPS devices -- more distractions, more <span style="font-style: italic;">things</span> people will fill their closets with and toss out before Black Friday 2009. And you know what to expect: the annual <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wal</span>mart trample, the midnight tents, foaming mouthed zombies, and lines in below freezing late November temps (while asleep in my warm slumber) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">newsstories</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">caffeine</span>-maniacal early morning shoppers who picked up a radical deal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEiBpYxoNUaxl2SvImWCHqHKOs0fvG0QaOGqoRKLpI-9A0tpZlCiYkWnujduyjnxo1b-mDXDnwtmCk__1JVBr6LWWG35OvKlJVJHZ8axBuYBNOklEZXY_2xGYs5hGf8qPqK0U/s1600-h/bf112378(1).JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEiBpYxoNUaxl2SvImWCHqHKOs0fvG0QaOGqoRKLpI-9A0tpZlCiYkWnujduyjnxo1b-mDXDnwtmCk__1JVBr6LWWG35OvKlJVJHZ8axBuYBNOklEZXY_2xGYs5hGf8qPqK0U/s400/bf112378(1).JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273555392082424946" border="0" /></a></div>Should you go, have fun shoppers and bundle up, maybe consider body armor. If you're not going or waiting it out until afternoon (like me) and you choose to stay home cozy at wee hours of morning, get a load of what consumers were saving their cents on back in good old '78 at our favorite defunct retailer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Caldor</span>: toys for the little buckaroos, portable black-and-white TVs, wood-trimmed "stereo" FM radios, power tools, hot $5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">LPs</span> (Steely Dan Greatest Hits, anyone?!) and more.<br /><br />"The Big Holiday"; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Caldor</span> advertisements that ran on in the November 23 (above) and November 24, 1978 (below) issue of The Hartford <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Courant</span> ("Black" Friday 1978).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzhZHzzVUsqDWo7a70tqtnyI9TuBviwrdMWOM0Zibont60qj4XtmtGcLGejPS40hsTDmSk_kY0EmtauHNsiRMDKQnsKS7jYUeEGQjMzczGKzFh1QU3jYF12W5PFBd_YzfEHEd/s1600-h/Blackfriday78.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzhZHzzVUsqDWo7a70tqtnyI9TuBviwrdMWOM0Zibont60qj4XtmtGcLGejPS40hsTDmSk_kY0EmtauHNsiRMDKQnsKS7jYUeEGQjMzczGKzFh1QU3jYF12W5PFBd_YzfEHEd/s400/Blackfriday78.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270061680369400626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycz8ODL4OnP6p_ZskURuLIFrtPQuValJ95sf-fIvd1GPLAHuIa9_ZHMiCiiMjurUSZpYn7SBGjusRNML7x4ss6Dpvcp9ckhKFe3GWfz-GihQD1jMnTrNlWsZ3OEK9h8JdRYPA/s1600-h/Caldorbf78.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycz8ODL4OnP6p_ZskURuLIFrtPQuValJ95sf-fIvd1GPLAHuIa9_ZHMiCiiMjurUSZpYn7SBGjusRNML7x4ss6Dpvcp9ckhKFe3GWfz-GihQD1jMnTrNlWsZ3OEK9h8JdRYPA/s400/Caldorbf78.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270061676541505410" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>Nicholas M. DiMaiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063999916020250354noreply@blogger.com11