Connecticut's first post-war shopping plaza was built to alleviate traffic in the Lock City's downtown area. The complex featured one of the nation's first shopping center-format Sears stores.
Graphic from Alphons Bach Associates
A late '50s physical layout of RIDGEWAY CENTER. The complex housed approximately 275,000 leasable square feet of retail and 75,000 square feet of office space. A bi-level parking area accommodated over 1,000 autos. Like many of America's early shopping centers, it was not implemented at once, but in stages. These were completed between March 1947 (in black) and April 1958 (in light gray).
A vintage RIDGEWAY photo. The Connecticut shopping complex was one of the first in the United States to include a multistory office tower. This became a feature of many mid-20th century shopping malls.
Photo from http://www.fdrich.com / F.D. Rich Company
TOWN & COUNTRY CENTER opened in the spring of 1956. The L-shaped plaza, built on an adjoining site north of RIDGEWAY CENTER, was demolished and replaced by the Sheraton Stamford Hotel & Towers, which was completed in mid-1985.
Photo from Library of Congress
A circa-1975 logo, which includes mention of the RIDGEWAY CENTER "Forty Boutiques" indoor shopping arcade.
Graphic from Ridgeway Center Associates
RIDGEWAY CENTER TENANTS 1975:
SEARS / GIMBELS / FORTY BOUTIQUES (indoor mini-mall) / GRAND CENTRAL MARKET grocery / Barry's Shoes / Better Nature Health Foods / Bread Trader / Consumers Distributing / Datemaker / Discount Records / East Winds Restaurant / Frame Art / George's Art Treasures / Gingham's Dog & Calico Cat / Hand Crafted Novelties / House of Cameras / Jay's Slacks / Lafayette Radio / Leisure Learning / Martha West / Paper Palace / Pitter Patter Maternity / Red Cross Shoes / Ridgeway Flowers / Ridgeway Theatre / Robert Bruce / Sol's Toys / Thom McAn Shoes / Trim Fashions / Waldenbooks / Young Set
By the early 1980s, RIDGEWAY CENTER was well past its prime. A remodeling and expansion was first proposed around 1982, but was bitterly contested by local residents. Several years of litigation followed, with plans finally being approved by the city. A refurbished RIDGEWAY debuted in 1998. On this layout, newly-built retail space is indicated in medium gray.
A share in the complex was sold to a Connecticut-based company in July 2002. They did further modifications to the south store block, with new tenants signed. A shuttered movie theater was reconfigured as part of an LA Fitness facility. Modell's Sporting Goods moved into upper level space that was once part of a Sears store.
A circa-2014 view of RIDGEWAY CENTER with Staples, Bed Bath & Beyond and Party City in the foreground.
Photo from http://www.ubproperties.com / Urstadt Biddle Properties
In 2014, Old Navy and Dress Barn occupy Ground Level space in the south store block.
Photo from http://www.ubproperties.com / Urstadt Biddle Properties
RIDGEWAY CENTER
Summer and 6th Streets
Fairfield County (Stamford), Connecticut
Alphons Bach was a multifaceted watercolor artist, architect and industrial designer. Born in Germany in 1904, he migrated to New York City in 1926. In 1932, he established an industrial design firm and soon became recognized for his tubular steel furniture, appliance designs and renovations of retail stores.
Bach relocated to Stamford, Connecticut in 1937. At the end of the second World War, he entered the realm of real estate development. A 15-acre site, lying .8 mile north of Stamford's center city, would become the first regional shopping center in Connecticut.
Designed and developed by Bach, the first phase shopping complex opened for business on March 26, 1947. Charles E. Moore (Mayor of Stamford) cut a ceremonial ribbon. Charter RIDGEWAY CENTER tenants included W.J. Sloan Home Furnishings (October 1948), Pennsylvania Drug (May 1949), Deena's, Chizzini and a Slenderella Figure Salon.
Construction commenced on a second phase in February 1950. This southern block of stores included a 6-story Professional Building, 3-level (72,000 square foot) Sears and single-screen cinema. Originally known as the Navist Theatres Ridgeway Theatre, the venue showed a first feature on August 31, 1951.
The third -and final- RIDGEWAY construction phase entailed the addition of a central store block. This housed a 2-level (37,000 square foot) Saks 34th Street, which opened for business on April 29, 1958. A Grand Central Market grocery was housed in a basement floor. RIDGEWAY CENTER now encompassed approximately 350,000 leasable square feet and housed forty-six stores and services.
RIDGEWAY CENTER was sold to a joint venture, headed by Harry B. Helmsley, in February 1960. Ridgeway Center Associates, another New York City-based joint venture, acquired the complex in October 1960. Silverstein and Mendik, a third joint venture, took possession in October 1976.
The third -and final- RIDGEWAY construction phase entailed the addition of a central store block. This housed a 2-level (37,000 square foot) Saks 34th Street, which opened for business on April 29, 1958. A Grand Central Market grocery was housed in a basement floor. RIDGEWAY CENTER now encompassed approximately 350,000 leasable square feet and housed forty-six stores and services.
RIDGEWAY CENTER was sold to a joint venture, headed by Harry B. Helmsley, in February 1960. Ridgeway Center Associates, another New York City-based joint venture, acquired the complex in October 1960. Silverstein and Mendik, a third joint venture, took possession in October 1976.
The RIDGEWAY CENTER Saks closed and re-opened, as a Gimbels branch, on July 12, 1965. This store was shuttered in 1986. It became a Hartford-based Sage-Allen on November 12 of the same year. Meanwhile, a major competitor was being developed.
STAMFORD TOWN CENTER, a center city urban renewal project, opened in stages between February and April of 1982 and immediately usurped the smaller and older shopping hub. By the early 1990s, RIDGEWAY CENTER was being described as a "hodgepodge of lackluster architecture punctuated with vacant stores."
The complex was now owned by a joint venture of Manhattan's Larry Silverstein and the Planned Expansion Group, of White Plains, New York. A renovation and expansion had been envisaged in 1982, but was opposed by local residents. Several years of litigation followed.
Sage-Allen was shuttered in December 1992. Grand Central Market vacated their basement level store at around the same time. The Sage-Allen space sat vacant for nearly a year, with Marshalls moving in in late 1993. Sears, a charter RIDGEWAY tenant, closed in early 1996. Marshalls moved, temporarily, into the upper level of the vacant Sears.
By this time, the long-awaited RIDGEWAY remodeling was underway. The old Saks-Sage-Allen structure was demolished and replaced with a larger building. This housed several big box-type retailers. A (47,000 square foot) Bed, Bath & Beyond occupied ground level space. The upper level contained a (27,000 square foot) Michaels and (33,800 square foot) Marshalls. A (60,000 square foot) A Stop & Shop supermarket was installed in the basement.
The Professional Building was demolished and the entirety of the shopping center structure fitted with brick facades, pitched roofs and spans of glass. A multilevel parking garage was also built in the northwest corner of the site. Stores in the original shopping center, such as Salvatore's Restaurant, Fayva Shoes and Baskin-Robbins ice cream, remained in business.
A renewed RIDGEWAY CENTER was dedicated in May 1998. It now enveloped 331,000 square feet of retail stores and 29,000 square feet of office suites. There were thirty-seven tenants, including Staples, CVS and Old Navy. Greenwich, Connecticut's Urstadt Biddle properties bought an interest in RIDGEWAY CENTER in July 2002.
In 2003, Urstadt Biddle began to refurbish and retenant space in the south store block. The movie theater had been shuttered in the year 2000. It was reconfigured as part of a (42,700 square foot) LA Fitness. Adjacent office space was also gutted and incorporated into the new fitness facility. A (19,800 square foot) Modell's Sporting Goods opened, in upper level space, on September 27, 2007.
In 2003, Urstadt Biddle began to refurbish and retenant space in the south store block. The movie theater had been shuttered in the year 2000. It was reconfigured as part of a (42,700 square foot) LA Fitness. Adjacent office space was also gutted and incorporated into the new fitness facility. A (19,800 square foot) Modell's Sporting Goods opened, in upper level space, on September 27, 2007.
In January 2011, Urstadt Biddle established full ownership of the shopping complex. In May 2023, they sold it to Jacksonville-based Regency Centers. In the previous year, Bed, Bath & Beyond had shuttered their store. The vacant space was assumed by Burlington, who opened for business on July 5, 2024.
Sources:
The New York Times
The Hartford Courant
The Pentwater News (Pentwater, Michigan)
The Norwalk Hour (Norwalk, Connecticut)
The Stamford Advocate (Stamford, Connecticut)
The Norwalk Hour (Norwalk, Connecticut)
The Stamford Advocate (Stamford, Connecticut)
The Sunday Herald (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
The Bridgeport Post
https://collection.cooperhewitt.org / Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
"Urstadt Biddle Properties: The History of a REIT 1969-2007" / Gene Brown
www.cinematreasures.org
http://movie-theatre.org
http://www.permutterproperties.com
http://www.ubproperties.com / Urstadt Biddle Properties
https://www.ctinsider.com / Connecticut Insider
"Urstadt Biddle Properties: The History of a REIT 1969-2007" / Gene Brown
www.cinematreasures.org
http://movie-theatre.org
http://www.permutterproperties.com
http://www.ubproperties.com / Urstadt Biddle Properties
https://www.ctinsider.com / Connecticut Insider
https://www.regencycenters.com / Regency Centers
A Mid-Century Modern storefront in the original complex. Over the years, the center would also incorporate elements of Georgian, Country French, New Orleans Traditional and Williamsburg design.
Photo courtesy of Beryl Ford Collection, Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society
This snapshot was taken inside Dorothy's Bridal Salon.
Photo courtesy of Beryl Ford Collection, Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society
Field's ladies' wear at UTICA SQUARE was in Building # 1, which also housed a Humpty Dumpty supermarket and Walgreen Drug.
Photo courtesy of Beryl Ford Collection, Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society
An exterior view of the Building # 1 store block includes Clark-Darland Hardware and Walgreen Drug. In the background are buildings comprising the St. John Medical Center.
Photo courtesy of Beryl Ford Collection, Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society
A greenspace, known as The Gardens, was -and is- at the center of the shopping complex. Over the years, UTICA SQARE has become renowned for its meticulously-maintained landscaping.
Photo courtesy of Beryl Ford Collection, Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society
Tulsa's Vandevers chain opened its second branch at UTICA SQUARE in February 1957 (the first had been in Bartelsville). The UTICA SQUARE store was adjacent to the Medical Center building.
Photo courtesy of Beryl Ford Collection, Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society
The Utica Square Medical Center opened in 1954 and was a state-of-the-art facility in its day. The complex was built on a pad southeast of the shopping center proper. It was expanded into a 100,000 square foot facility in 1964.
Photo courtesy of Beryl Ford Collection, Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society
UTICA SQUARE TENANTS 1965:
T G & Y 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / SAFEWAY supermarket / HUMPTY DUMPTY supermarket / RENBERG'S / VANDEVER'S / Akin's Special Foods / Allied Paint Store / Baker's Flowers / Barnes-Manley / Beauty Manor / Bentworth, Limited / Cele Stekoll / Chandler's Shoes / Charm, Incorporated / Christian Science Reading Room / Clarke's Good Clothes / Dale Carter's / Dales's Orange / Danner's Cafeteria / Eva's Maternity Shop / Field's ladies' wear / Hazel Cox Casuals / Hicks Brunson Opticians / Home Federal / House of Monogram / Irene Herbert's / Jenkin's Music Company / Leone's / Malcom M. McCune, Architect / Marge McNearey's / Marilou's Pastry Shop / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Messer Jewelers / Miljan / Miss Jackson's ladies wear / Norton-Majors / Pants Parlour / Patman's (outparcel) / Petticoat Lane / Petty's Fine Foods / Phillips Petroleum Offices / Powers 1800 restaurant / Reisinger's Jewelers / Russell Stover Candies (outparcel) / S.G. Holmes & Sons / Sid Lazarus Shoes / Skilly's Studio of Dancing / Stauffer System Contour Chairs / Stewart's / Terrell's Shoe Service / The Kennel Shop / The Mail Box / The Patio Shop / The Sportsman / US Post Office / Utica Square Barber Shop / Utica Square Book & Record Shop / Utica Square Liquors / Utica Square Medical Center / Utica Square National Bank (outparcel) / Utica Square Salon of Beauty / Walgreen Drug (with Walgreen Grill) / Wolferman's Grocery
Photo from https://www.flickr.com / Daniel Jeffries
Saks' store at UTICA SQUARE was dedicated in September 1986. It was situated south of the core shopping complex. Houston's Foley's also expressed interest in building a UTICA SQUARE store, but were turned down by its owners.
Photo from http://www.uticasquare.com
Over the past several years, the once middle-market UTICA SQUARE has become very upscale. No longer are there businesses such as grocery stores, a 5 & 10 or bowling alley. Toward this end, leases of the less trendy stores have not renewed. Case in point, Russell Stover Candies. It opened -along with the SQUARE- in 1952 and was eventually outpositioned. The store was shuttered in May 2017.
Photo from Midtown Real Estate
Photo from Midtown Real Estate
One of the many feature's of today's UTICA SQUARE is a series of Street Clocks that are placed throughout the complex. The first was installed in 1974.
Photo from www.uticasquare.com
In the 2020s, the shopping center's "elegant outdoor setting" compliments tony stores such as L'Occitane En Provence, Grand Vin Bottle Shop, Restoration Hardware and Williams-Sonoma. UTICA SQUARE achieved its 70th anniversary in May 2022.
Photo from Tulsa County, Oklahoma
UTICA SQUARE
East 21st Street South and South Utica Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma
One of the first suburban shopping centers on the Great Plains, Tulsa's UTICA SQUARE was built on 25.6 acres, lying 1.2 miles southeast of the downtown district. The cluster complex was developed by Tom Nix and Dale Carter, of Tulsa, and designed by the McCune & McCune firm.
UTICA SQUARE was formally dedicated on May 22, 1952. An invocation was delivered by Reverend Guy Tetirick. Jack Cheairs, Junior (President of the Utica Square Merchants Association) served as Master of Ceremonies. A speech was given by C.M. Warren (Mayor of Tulsa). Developer Don Nix presented a symbolic set of keys to Mr. Cheairs and a ceremonial ribbon was cut by Mrs. C.M. Warren. The three-day dedication included music by Honey Hudgens & Her Orchestra.
In its original state, UTICA SQUARE incorporated four store blocks and encompassed approximately 319,000 leasable square feet. There were forty-two charter stores and services. These included Walgreen Drug, House of Monogram, Clark-Darland Hardware, Trippet's Shoes, Field's ladies' wear, Dorothy's Bridal Salon, a T G & Y 5 & 10 and Safeway and Humpty Dumpty supermarkets. Upper Level space in Building "A" housed offices for Phillips Petroleum.
The first phase of the Utica Square Medical Center was completed in 1954. The initial 3-level structure encompassed 60,000 square feet. It was expanded with an 8-story office tower in 1964. Tulsa-based Vandevers opened a 2-level (50,000 square foot) location at UTICA SQUARE on February 1, 1957. Another Tulsa mercantile, Miss Jackson's, moved from the center city into a 2-level (33,000 square foot) UTICA SQUARE store on August 29, 1965. Meanwhile, in June 1964, Tulsa's Helmerich & Payne, a petroleum company, had acquired the shopping complex.
Tulsa's suburban expansion toward the southeast brought new shopping options. SOUTHLAND CENTER and SOUTHROADS MALL {2.9 miles southeast, in Tulsa}, opened in 1965 and 1967, respectively. These were followed by WOODLAND HILLS MALL {5.5 miles southeast, also in Tulsa} in 1976.
Vandever's was sold to Oklahoma City-based John A. Brown in 1970, with the UTICA SQUARE store being rebranded. In August 1984, Dillard's acquired the John. A. Brown enterprise. The UTICA SQUARE Brown's received a Dillard's brand in September of the same year. Houston-based Sakowitz operated a (10,000 square foot) boutique-type store in the complex, which was in business between September 1984 and August 1985. A 2-level (65,000 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue made its debut on September 12, 1986.
By the dawn of the 21st century, nearly all of the original tenants at UTICA SQUARE had closed. The list of stores had shifted substantially upscale. In addition to Saks, there was now Pavilion, Ann Taylor, White House / Black Market, Restoration Hardware and Talbots.
Dillard's, shuttered in January 2002, was replaced by Pottery Barn Kids and American Eagle Outfitters. The Medical Center structure was vacated and imploded in March 2002. Two freestanding restaurants, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and P. F. Chang's China Bistro, were built on its space. Miss Jackson's went dark in January 2016. The building, and the adjacent Petty's Fine Foods, were demolished in April of the same year.
In the 2020s, Tulsa's original suburban shopping hub encompassed around 400,000 leasable square feet and housed fifty-eight stores and services. The complex had established several annual events, including Summer's Fifth Night (in May), Art In The Square (in October) and Lights On! (in November and December).
Sources:
The New York Times
The first phase of the Utica Square Medical Center was completed in 1954. The initial 3-level structure encompassed 60,000 square feet. It was expanded with an 8-story office tower in 1964. Tulsa-based Vandevers opened a 2-level (50,000 square foot) location at UTICA SQUARE on February 1, 1957. Another Tulsa mercantile, Miss Jackson's, moved from the center city into a 2-level (33,000 square foot) UTICA SQUARE store on August 29, 1965. Meanwhile, in June 1964, Tulsa's Helmerich & Payne, a petroleum company, had acquired the shopping complex.
Tulsa's suburban expansion toward the southeast brought new shopping options. SOUTHLAND CENTER and SOUTHROADS MALL {2.9 miles southeast, in Tulsa}, opened in 1965 and 1967, respectively. These were followed by WOODLAND HILLS MALL {5.5 miles southeast, also in Tulsa} in 1976.
Vandever's was sold to Oklahoma City-based John A. Brown in 1970, with the UTICA SQUARE store being rebranded. In August 1984, Dillard's acquired the John. A. Brown enterprise. The UTICA SQUARE Brown's received a Dillard's brand in September of the same year. Houston-based Sakowitz operated a (10,000 square foot) boutique-type store in the complex, which was in business between September 1984 and August 1985. A 2-level (65,000 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue made its debut on September 12, 1986.
By the dawn of the 21st century, nearly all of the original tenants at UTICA SQUARE had closed. The list of stores had shifted substantially upscale. In addition to Saks, there was now Pavilion, Ann Taylor, White House / Black Market, Restoration Hardware and Talbots.
Dillard's, shuttered in January 2002, was replaced by Pottery Barn Kids and American Eagle Outfitters. The Medical Center structure was vacated and imploded in March 2002. Two freestanding restaurants, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and P. F. Chang's China Bistro, were built on its space. Miss Jackson's went dark in January 2016. The building, and the adjacent Petty's Fine Foods, were demolished in April of the same year.
In the 2020s, Tulsa's original suburban shopping hub encompassed around 400,000 leasable square feet and housed fifty-eight stores and services. The complex had established several annual events, including Summer's Fifth Night (in May), Art In The Square (in October) and Lights On! (in November and December).
Sources:
The New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
The Tulsa Daily World
The Tulsa Daily World
preservenet.cornell.edu/publications/Longstreth Branch Store.doc
https://www.uticasquare.com
https://www.oklahoman.com
http://www.hpinc.com / Helmerich & Payne Properties
Tulsa County property tax assessor website
http://www.missjacksons.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
Comment post by Daniel Brunson
http://www.hpinc.com / Helmerich & Payne Properties
Tulsa County property tax assessor website
http://www.missjacksons.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
Comment post by Daniel Brunson
The 2 shopping levels of MERIDEN SQUARE were linked by a Speedwalk Speedramp, which whisked passengers from floor to floor in 58 seconds. Another New England retail hub, Rhode Island's MIDLAND MALL, had a similar feature. So did San Diego's MISSION VALLEY CENTER.
Drawing from May Centers, Incorporated
Several stores in MERIDEN SQUARE featured "see-in" (window-less and door-less) entryways.
Drawing from the G.R. Kinney Company
The original MERIDEN SQUARE was a definitive "dumbell plan" mall. The 15 million dollar complex incorporated nearly 600,000 leasable square feet, with a tenant list of fifty stores and services. Parking was provided for nearly 3,000 autos.
MERIDEN SQUARE TENANTS 1972:
G. FOX (with restaurant) / J.C. PENNEY (with Coffee Shop, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center) / CHILD WORLD / Allen Carpet Shops / Baker's Shoes / Barricini Candy / Card Gallery / Card 'N Party Shop / Chess King / Coney Island Snax / CVS Drug / East & West Gift Shop / Expresso International / Fabric Tree / Foxmoor Casuals / Florsheim Shoes / Friendly's Ice Cream / Galleria International Restaurant / Gordon's Jewelers / Helen Gallagher Gifts / Joel's Bootery / Joyce Leslie ladies' wear / Kay Jewelers / Kinney Shoes / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Lerner Shops / Mall Liquor Store / Mary Jane Shoes / Miles Shoes / Music City / Michaels Jewelers / Mom To Be Maternity / National Shirt Shops / Nature Food Center / Ormond's Package Store / Parklane Hosiery / Perkins Tobacco Shop / Pet Towne / Regal Shoes / So-Fro Fabrics / Sun Lighting / Susies Casuals / The Plum Tree ladies' wear / Thom McAn Shoes / Treasure Trove / The Tweed Shop ladies' wear / Waldenbooks / Welcome Aboard Vacation Center / Worth's ladies' wear
A Slenderella Figure Salon was a charter OAK CLIFF CENTER tenant.
Advert from Slenderella International
A Tom Thumb super market anchored the north end of the mall. The store awarded Frontier Savings Stamps with every purchase.
Graphic 1 from Tom Thumb Food Stores
Graphic 2 from Frontier Savings Stamps, Incorporated
At the time of the mall's grand opening in 1956, a Gaston Cafeteria was one of four stores in a Dallas-based chain.
Advert from the Gaston System
A Frontier Stamps Redemption Center opened at OAK CLIFF CENTER in February 1960.
Advert from Frontier Savings Stamps, Incorporated
The Gaston Cafeteria morphed into a Furr's operation in June 1970.
Advert from Furr's Cafeterias, Incorporated
Harris' and Sanger-Harris anchored the mall's south end for over 18 years. In this photo, we see the store during its Moving (or Going Out of Business) Sale. This was held in mid-1975.
Photo from https://www.reddit.com / "rDallas"
Above, are two vintage trademarks for the mall. In the first, from late 1997, we see the origination of the center's "Westfield Shoppingtown" moniker, which had reached fruition by the time of the second logo, from late 1998. The Shoppingtown branding debuted with Sydney, Australia's BURWOOD SHOPPINGTOWN mall, which opened in October 1966.
Graphics from www.westfield.com / The Westfield Group
A circa-2005 aerial view of WESTFIELD MERIDEN.
Photo from www.wesftfield.com / The Westfield Group
Graphic from Meriden Mall, Incorporated
At the time of a late 2006 layout, the 1,080,000 square foot WESTFIELD MERIDEN housed 127 stores and services. Dick's, Best Buy and Borders Books have been installed in the Lord & Taylor space, which was vacated in early 2004. Filene's, the south anchor, has just been "Macy-ated."
MERIDEN SQUARE
Kensington and Lewis Avenues
Meriden, Connecticut
In August 1967, plans were announced for one of South Central Connecticut's first major enclosed shopping malls. A 62-acre section of farmland, located 15.3 miles southwest of center city Hartford, had been acquired by St. Louis-based May Centers. Within the bedroom community of Meriden, the land parcel had previously been utilized as the Connecticut School for Boys. The site was accessed by the State Route 66 expressway (later co-designated as Interstate 691), which opened to traffic August 30, 1971.
Seattle's John Graham, Junior was hired to design the 2-level MERIDEN SQUARE mall. On the south end was a 2-level (155,000 square foot), Harftford-based G. Fox. This store became the mall's first operational tenant on August 31, 1971. The MERIDEN SQUARE G. Fox was the third branch in the chain. It followed a NAUGATUCK VALLEY MALL store (dedicated on August 31, 1969) and another at ENFIELD SQUARE (which made its debut an March 2, 1971).
The exterior of the MERIDEN SQUARE G. Fox was done in rose-colored custom brick with an imbedded fern design. Its interior had a full spectrum of light pastels, with "modernistic" prints and patterns. There were twenty-one fashion departments on the first level and home and outdoor furnishings, as well as a restaurant, on the second.
The official dedication of the mall proper, which was originally planned to coincide with the grand opening of G. Fox, was delayed by a labor dispute. The ceremony, officiated by Meriden Mayor Robert A. Schultz, was held on October 19, 1971. The Reliance Brass Band played as thirty-one stores opened in unison. Among these were Baker's Shoes, Barricini Candy, CVS, Chess King, Music City, Child World and Waldenbooks.
The fully-enclosed mallway consisted of 2 levels that were linked by a Goodyear Speedwalk Speedramp, similar to a previous installation at May Centers' MISSION VALLEY CENTER in San Diego. The 2-way, rubber ribbon ramp extended for 80 feet. Unlike a standard escalator, it transported baggage, wheelchairs and strollers. A trip between the first and second mall levels took just 58 seconds.
Landscaping in the common area was done with Indian Laurel, Australian Kentia Palms, Banyan Trees, Costa Rican Parlor Palms, Crotons, Dracena Marginatas and Ficus trees. The "all-weather shopping world" featured thirteen Geodesic dome skylights, with a 40-foot-diameter fixture illuminating Center Court.
The final store to open in the first phase shopping center was a 3-level (175,000 square foot) J.C. Penney. Anchoring the north end of MERIDEN SQUARE, it was designed by the Law Company of Wichita, Kansas and dedicated April 6, 1972. A freestanding Penney's Auto Center stood in the northeast parking area. May Centers morphed into CenterMark Properties in 1972.
With the completion of Penney's, MERIDEN SQUARE enveloped 580,000 leasable square feet and contained fifty stores and services. Shopping centers in its vicinity included BRISTOL CENTRE MALL (1969-2008) {10.8 miles northwest, in center city Bristol}, NAUGATUCK VALLEY MALL (1969-1999) {10.2 miles west, in Waterbury}, MERIDEN MALL (1970-2006) {.8 miles southeast, also in Meriden} and -eventually- BRASS MILL CENTER (1997) {11.3 miles west, also in Waterbury}.
MERIDEN SQUARE was given a 5.1 million dollar face lift between August 1987 and August 1988. A larger skylight was placed over Center Court, with a glass-enclosed elevator and escalators replacing the Speedramp. Moreover, neon lighting, tile flooring, landscaping and new entrances were added.
May Centers entered into a joint venture with Chicago-based Homart Development. In July 1989, a 60 million dollar renovation was announced. The prospective expansion would add a 2-level (120,000 square foot) Sears, which would anchor a 2-level East Wing.
The local government did not give their stamp of approval until April 1991. Construction commenced in May. Forty-two new stores opened on March 3, 1993. These included the aforementioned Sears, as well as Eddie Bauer, Victoria's Secret, B. Dalton Bookseller, GNC, Lane Bryant and the 11-bay Cafe Square Food Court.
On February 1, 1993, G. Fox had been rebranded by Boston-based Filene's. They initiated a renovation and expansion of the store in April. When completed in late 1994, the building encompassed 205,000 square feet. MERIDEN SQUARE now enveloped 910,000 leasable square feet, with a tenant list of eighty-seven stores and services.
Kensington and Lewis Avenues
Meriden, Connecticut
In August 1967, plans were announced for one of South Central Connecticut's first major enclosed shopping malls. A 62-acre section of farmland, located 15.3 miles southwest of center city Hartford, had been acquired by St. Louis-based May Centers. Within the bedroom community of Meriden, the land parcel had previously been utilized as the Connecticut School for Boys. The site was accessed by the State Route 66 expressway (later co-designated as Interstate 691), which opened to traffic August 30, 1971.
Seattle's John Graham, Junior was hired to design the 2-level MERIDEN SQUARE mall. On the south end was a 2-level (155,000 square foot), Harftford-based G. Fox. This store became the mall's first operational tenant on August 31, 1971. The MERIDEN SQUARE G. Fox was the third branch in the chain. It followed a NAUGATUCK VALLEY MALL store (dedicated on August 31, 1969) and another at ENFIELD SQUARE (which made its debut an March 2, 1971).
The exterior of the MERIDEN SQUARE G. Fox was done in rose-colored custom brick with an imbedded fern design. Its interior had a full spectrum of light pastels, with "modernistic" prints and patterns. There were twenty-one fashion departments on the first level and home and outdoor furnishings, as well as a restaurant, on the second.
The official dedication of the mall proper, which was originally planned to coincide with the grand opening of G. Fox, was delayed by a labor dispute. The ceremony, officiated by Meriden Mayor Robert A. Schultz, was held on October 19, 1971. The Reliance Brass Band played as thirty-one stores opened in unison. Among these were Baker's Shoes, Barricini Candy, CVS, Chess King, Music City, Child World and Waldenbooks.
The fully-enclosed mallway consisted of 2 levels that were linked by a Goodyear Speedwalk Speedramp, similar to a previous installation at May Centers' MISSION VALLEY CENTER in San Diego. The 2-way, rubber ribbon ramp extended for 80 feet. Unlike a standard escalator, it transported baggage, wheelchairs and strollers. A trip between the first and second mall levels took just 58 seconds.
Landscaping in the common area was done with Indian Laurel, Australian Kentia Palms, Banyan Trees, Costa Rican Parlor Palms, Crotons, Dracena Marginatas and Ficus trees. The "all-weather shopping world" featured thirteen Geodesic dome skylights, with a 40-foot-diameter fixture illuminating Center Court.
The final store to open in the first phase shopping center was a 3-level (175,000 square foot) J.C. Penney. Anchoring the north end of MERIDEN SQUARE, it was designed by the Law Company of Wichita, Kansas and dedicated April 6, 1972. A freestanding Penney's Auto Center stood in the northeast parking area. May Centers morphed into CenterMark Properties in 1972.
With the completion of Penney's, MERIDEN SQUARE enveloped 580,000 leasable square feet and contained fifty stores and services. Shopping centers in its vicinity included BRISTOL CENTRE MALL (1969-2008) {10.8 miles northwest, in center city Bristol}, NAUGATUCK VALLEY MALL (1969-1999) {10.2 miles west, in Waterbury}, MERIDEN MALL (1970-2006) {.8 miles southeast, also in Meriden} and -eventually- BRASS MILL CENTER (1997) {11.3 miles west, also in Waterbury}.
MERIDEN SQUARE was given a 5.1 million dollar face lift between August 1987 and August 1988. A larger skylight was placed over Center Court, with a glass-enclosed elevator and escalators replacing the Speedramp. Moreover, neon lighting, tile flooring, landscaping and new entrances were added.
May Centers entered into a joint venture with Chicago-based Homart Development. In July 1989, a 60 million dollar renovation was announced. The prospective expansion would add a 2-level (120,000 square foot) Sears, which would anchor a 2-level East Wing.
The local government did not give their stamp of approval until April 1991. Construction commenced in May. Forty-two new stores opened on March 3, 1993. These included the aforementioned Sears, as well as Eddie Bauer, Victoria's Secret, B. Dalton Bookseller, GNC, Lane Bryant and the 11-bay Cafe Square Food Court.
On February 1, 1993, G. Fox had been rebranded by Boston-based Filene's. They initiated a renovation and expansion of the store in April. When completed in late 1994, the building encompassed 205,000 square feet. MERIDEN SQUARE now enveloped 910,000 leasable square feet, with a tenant list of eighty-seven stores and services.
Meanwhile, MERIDEN SQUARE was one of nineteen CentreMark properties sold to a joint venture in November 1993. The group included Australia's Westfield, Des Moines' General Growth Properties and New York City's Whitehall Street Real Estate Limited Partnership. The joint venture divided up management of the malls, with Westfield's share including MERIDEN. In June 1996, Westfield established full ownership of the CentreMark portfolio. In November 1998, the shopping hub was rebranded as WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN MERIDEN.
A third renovation had been formally announced in December 1997. A single-level West Wing would connect with the upper level of the mall. It would be anchored by a 1-level (90,000 square foot) Lord & Taylor, house thirty-eight inline stores and include a multilevel parking garage. The 170,000 square foot expansion was dedicated on August 31, 1999.
WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN MERIDEN now encompassed 1,080,000 leasable square feet and contained 125 tenant spaces. However, its Lord & Taylor proved to be short-lived. The store was shuttered in January 2004. The vacant area, and a portion of adjoining space, was rebuilt into three big box stores. Dick's Sporting Goods and Best Buy held grand openings November 4, 2004. Borders Books was dedicated November 11, 2006.
In September of the same year, Filene's stores had been "Macy-ated." The mall's lengthy moniker had also been shortened to WESTFIELD MERIDEN in June 2005. J.C. Penney announced closings of thirty-three mall-based stores in January 2014. The WESTFIELD MERIDEN location, a 1972 charter anchor, shut down May 3rd. Reading, Pennsylvania-based Boscov's renovated and expanded the building. Adjacent inline space on Level 1 was incorporated into the new store, which now encompassed 190,000 square feet. The new Boscov's opened on October 8, 2015.
Westfield's American and European property portfolio was merged into the holdings of Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco in June 2018. A new company, known as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was created. Westfield shopping centers in Australia and New Zealand were not included in the merger. URW intends to liquidate all of its Westfield American mall portfolio. Toward this end, they sold the mall in Meriden to a joint venture of Great Neck, New York's Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management in June of 2020.
Sources:
The Morning Record (Meriden, Connecticut)
The Record-Journal (Meriden, Connecticut)
A third renovation had been formally announced in December 1997. A single-level West Wing would connect with the upper level of the mall. It would be anchored by a 1-level (90,000 square foot) Lord & Taylor, house thirty-eight inline stores and include a multilevel parking garage. The 170,000 square foot expansion was dedicated on August 31, 1999.
WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN MERIDEN now encompassed 1,080,000 leasable square feet and contained 125 tenant spaces. However, its Lord & Taylor proved to be short-lived. The store was shuttered in January 2004. The vacant area, and a portion of adjoining space, was rebuilt into three big box stores. Dick's Sporting Goods and Best Buy held grand openings November 4, 2004. Borders Books was dedicated November 11, 2006.
In September of the same year, Filene's stores had been "Macy-ated." The mall's lengthy moniker had also been shortened to WESTFIELD MERIDEN in June 2005. J.C. Penney announced closings of thirty-three mall-based stores in January 2014. The WESTFIELD MERIDEN location, a 1972 charter anchor, shut down May 3rd. Reading, Pennsylvania-based Boscov's renovated and expanded the building. Adjacent inline space on Level 1 was incorporated into the new store, which now encompassed 190,000 square feet. The new Boscov's opened on October 8, 2015.
Westfield's American and European property portfolio was merged into the holdings of Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco in June 2018. A new company, known as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was created. Westfield shopping centers in Australia and New Zealand were not included in the merger. URW intends to liquidate all of its Westfield American mall portfolio. Toward this end, they sold the mall in Meriden to a joint venture of Great Neck, New York's Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management in June of 2020.
The Morning Record (Meriden, Connecticut)
The Record-Journal (Meriden, Connecticut)
The Meriden Journal
www.westfield.com / The Westfield Group
www.westfield.com / The Westfield Group
Comment posted by "Go Nordike!"
www.abcnews.go.com
www.reuters.com
www.abcnews.go.com
www.reuters.com
https://namdarrealtygroup.com
Southern California's Buenaventura Center
The mall's first trademark, which debuted -along with its first group of inline stores- in November 1964. Note the mention of "the Freeway", a reference to the US 101 / Ventura Freeway. It was the only expressway in the area at the time.
Graphic from Broadway-Hale Stores
The mall's first trademark, which debuted -along with its first group of inline stores- in November 1964. Note the mention of "the Freeway", a reference to the US 101 / Ventura Freeway. It was the only expressway in the area at the time.
Graphic from Broadway-Hale Stores
LA-based The Broadway was the shopping hub's first operational tenant. The posh, 3-floor department store was dedicated in September 1963. It was the twelfth Broadway branch.
Photo from Broadway-Hale Stores
Desmond's was a junior anchor of the original mall. This So-Cal-based apparel store encompassed 2 levels. It sat on the south end of the mall, across from The Broadway.
Drawing from Broadway-Hale Stores
Barker Brothers at BUENAVENTURA CENTER was part of a NORTH MALL section which faced Telegraph Road. The store, which occupied a stunning Mid-Century Modern structure, opened for business in November 1964 (and would be shuttered in late 1991).
Photo from Midtown Ventura Community Council Newsletter / http://www.cityofventura.net
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