Stamford Town Center

Stamford Town Center is an urban shopping mall located in Downtown Stamford, Connecticut. The 761,000-square-foot (70,700 m2) mall is the eighth largest in Connecticut, with space for about 130 stores and restaurants. The mall's two anchors are a 250,000-square-foot (23,000 m2) Macy's and a Barnes and Noble. An 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2) Todd English Food Hall is scheduled to open by 2024.[2]

Stamford Town Center
The Grand Court of Stamford Town Center in 2006.
LocationStamford, Connecticut
Coordinates41.053236°N 73.536242°W / 41.053236; -73.536242
Opening date1982
DeveloperF.D. Rich Co.
Taubman Centers
OwnerStamford Town Center LLC
Total retail floor area761,000 sq ft (70,700 m2)[1]
Public transit accessBus interchange 311, 312, 328, 333, 334, 341, 344
Websiteshopstamfordtowncenter.com

History

Construction

Built by F.D. Rich Co and Taubman Centers,[3] Stamford Town Center opened in 1982 as part of an urban renewal project[3] and had been the location of tenement structures that once lined Greyrock Place,[4] the street which is its primary address.

The mall was a significant part of Stamford's urban renewal efforts, and thus its construction was not without controversy. Upon the mall's opening, the city of Stamford reoriented nearby Bedford Street and Summer Street to be one-way, in order to make the mall more accessible via car, a move which harmed surrounding businesses.[5] An opinion piece in the New York Times lamented the destruction of once lively housing complexes which hosted lower-income residences, which was done to make way for the mall.[4]

Launch and success

The mall launched with two anchors: Macy's and J.C. Penney.[3] Saks Fifth Avenue opened its store in the mall on March 12, 1983,[6] and served as the mall's third anchor.[7] From its opening, the mall was very popular and drew shoppers and tourists from as far as the New York City boroughs and even internationally,[8] and was considered "one of the country's most successful malls" by the 1990s, despite stiff nearby competition.[7] In July 1994, it was announced the mall's J.C. Penney would move out, and would be replaced by a Filene's.[7]

2000s redevelopment

In May 2006, the southern portion of the mall, along Tresser Boulevard, was demolished and redeveloped.[9] The redevelopment of the former Filene's anchor emphasized being more pedestrian-friendly,[5][10] and improving the nearby better streetscape.[10] This portion of the mall, which included Filene's, was replaced with space for six new restaurants,[9] and Connecticut's largest Barnes & Noble,[9] the latter of which opened in 2008.[5]

The initial opening of the Plaza (which included Barnes & Noble, H&M, California Pizza Kitchen, Così, Kona Grill, and P.F. Chang's) occurred on November 1, 2007. Mitchell's Fish Market opened on December 8, 2007, while the Capital Grille opened on February 25, 2008. Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que had planned to open in this new space, but pulled out of the project.[11] Plan B Burger Bar opened on August 4, 2012.[12]

Decline

On February 15, 2013, it was announced that Saks Fifth Avenue would be closing by early 2014, which left Macy’s as the only anchor left.[13]

On March 10, 2014, Mitchell’s Fish Market closed.[14]

On January 14, 2015, it was announced that Saks OFF 5TH would replace the former Saks Fifth Avenue and open by June 2015.[15]

On April 21, 2016, P.F. Chang’s closed, and was later announced that The Cheesecake Factory would replace the space. The Cheesecake Factory opened on October 18, 2016.[16][17]

On October 12, 2016, Cosi closed their space after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2016.[18]

On August 10, 2017, Rascal Flatts opened in the former Mitchell’s Fish Market space.[19]

On November 17, 2017, Pieology opened in the former Cosi space.[20]

On January 12, 2018, California Pizza Kitchen closed.[21]

On September 2, 2018, Peter Chang opened in the former California Pizza Kitchen space.[22]

On April 17, 2019, Kona Grill, the last remaining original restaurant tenant at The Plaza, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed their location at the mall. This left the mall without any of its original restaurant tenants at The Plaza.[23]

Further decline and attempted comeback

During the course of 2019, 2020 and 2021, many stores closed, either due to companies filing for bankruptcy, the COVID-19 pandemic or relocation to the nearby SoNo Collection mall. These include Gap, LOFT, Godiva, Go!, GameStop, American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, GNC, The Cheesecake Factory, Justice, Brooks Brothers, Apple, Clarks, H&M, UNIQLO, Boost Mobile, Papyrus, Chico's, Pandora, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Gymboree, Ann Taylor, J.Crew, and Armani Exchange.[24]

On October 23, 2020, Taubman sold the mall to furniture chain Safevieh.[25]

On December 9, 2021, it was announced that Saks OFF 5TH would be closing by December 18, 2021. This once again left Macy’s as the only anchor left.[26] However, Saks Off 5th later returned to Stamford in the former Lord & Taylor spot in October 2022, almost a year after closing their Stamford Town Center store.[27]

With all of these closings, multiple businesses that were apart from retail opened in many of these old spaces, in an effort to transform the mall. Some of these new tenants include a dance center in the former Ann Taylor, a fitness gym in the former Apple Store, a Fun Palace play center in the former Foot Locker, and a 30,000 square foot mutli-purpose hub called The Living Room in the former UNIQLO and Gap spaces, which is set to have a lounge, cafe, gaming spaces, and a theater.[28]

On January 9, 2022, it was confirmed that an 80,000 square feet (7,400 m2) Todd English Food Hall would be coming to the mall, and is scheduled to open in the former Saks OFF 5TH space by 2024.[2]

On September 8, 2022, Plan B Burger Bar was confirmed permanently closed after being closed since 2020. New York Comedy Club later opened in the space in early 2023.[29][30]

On October 15,2022, Pink Sweets Cakes opened in the former Godiva space, located on 4th Floor. On October 22,2022 Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse opened in the former Cheesecake Factory space.[31]

On April 5, 2023, Pickleball America announced that they would be opening a 28-court indoor pickleball court in the old Saks Off 5th space. This would make it the largest indoor pickleball court in America, and is set to open by the end of July 2023.[32]

On April 24, 2023, Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant opened in the former Kona Grill space, which made The Plaza’s restaurant area fully occupied for the first time since 2014.[33]

On June 25, 2023, Forever 21 closed its store at the mall, but owners of the mall are currently finding a tenant to replace the space.[34]

Layout and design

The mall's design has been criticized for not being pedestrian-friendly,[5] something that its developers sought to address in a redevelopment during the mid-2000s.[5][10]

Anchors
  • Macy's (250,000 sq ft, 23,000 m2) – opened in 1982
  • Barnes and Noble – opened in 2008[5]
  • Pickleball America - opening in July 2023

Former anchors
  • JCPenney (160,000 sq ft, 15,000 m2) – opened in 1982, closed in 1994[35]
  • Filene's (160,000 sq ft, 15,000 m2) – opened in 1994, closed in 2005, demolished in 2006[35]
  • Saks Fifth Avenue (78,000 sq ft, 7,200 m2) – opened in 1983, closed in 2014, reopened as Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH in 2015
  • Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH (78,000 sq ft, 7,200 m2) – opened in 2015, closed in 2021[2]
  • Inside the Stamford Town Center during the 2007 holidays.
    Inside the Stamford Town Center during the 2007 holidays.
  • The Plaza at the Stamford Town Center. H&M (closed in 2020) is shown here.
    The Plaza at the Stamford Town Center. H&M (closed in 2020) is shown here.
  • The Plaza at the Stamford Town Center. California Pizza Kitchen (closed in 2018) and Così (closed in 2016).
    The Plaza at the Stamford Town Center. California Pizza Kitchen (closed in 2018) and Così (closed in 2016).
  • Kona Grill at The Plaza at Stamford Town Center.
    Kona Grill at The Plaza at Stamford Town Center.
  • The Largest Barnes & Noble in Connecticut.
    The Largest Barnes & Noble in Connecticut.
  • The Capital Grille.
    The Capital Grille.
  • The entrance to the main mall from the Plaza.
    The entrance to the main mall from the Plaza.

References
  1. "Stamford Town Center". Taubman Properties. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  2. Schott, Paul (September 28, 2021). "Saks Off 5th to close at Stamford Town Center, Michael Kors confirms exit". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  3. Barmash, Isadore (February 14, 1982). "SHOPPING CENTER PLANS OPENING MINUS 132 STORES". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  4. Bascom, Lionel C. (May 8, 1988). "CONNECTICUT OPINION; A Town Sells Off Pieces of Its Soul". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  5. "Future of Stamford Town Center Discussed at City Planning Board". Greenwich Free Press. November 19, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  6. Walsh, Erin (March 10, 2008). "From the Archives: The Week of March 9". The Advocate. Stamford. p. A5.
  7. Charles, Eleanor (July 10, 1994). "Commercial Property/Suburban Mall Competition; Stamford Town Center Pins Hopes on New Addition". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  8. Cavanaugh, Jack (May 22, 1988). "Tourists Welcome at Stamford Mall". The New York Times.
  9. Juliano, Michael (April 3, 2010). "Shopping malls put on a new face". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  10. "Stamford Town Center's New Outdoor Plaza Draws Six Full-Service Restaurants Making Area Debuts". Stamford Town Center. Archived from the original on November 9, 2006.
  11. Pinto, Amanda (April 2, 2017). "Food court and play area to debut in mall". The Hour.
  12. "Plan B Burger Bar opens in Stamford". Hey Stamford!. August 3, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  13. "Saks Incorporated to close its store in Stamford". Business Wire. February 15, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  14. "Mitchell's Fish Market closes at Stamford Town Center". Stamfod Advocate. March 10, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  15. "Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH to Open Store in Stamford, CT". Business Wire. January 14, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  16. "P.F. Chang's closes in Stamford". Stamford Advocate. April 21, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  17. "The Cheesecake Factory opens in Stamford". The Cheeesecake Factory. October 18, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  18. "Cosi shuts doors in Stamford, Greenwich". Stamford Advocate. October 12, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  19. "Rascal Flatts opens restaurant at Stamford Town Center". Hey Stamford!. August 10, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  20. "Pieology Pizzeria expands into Stamford". Hey Stamford!. November 15, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  21. "Pizza chain to close Stamford outlet". Stamford Advocate. January 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  22. "Peter Chang brings latest restaurant arrival to Stamford Town Center". Stamford Advocate. September 28, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  23. "Embattled restaurant chain closes site at Stamford Town Center". Patch. April 17, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  24. "Stores that have left Stamford Town Center since 2019". Stamford Advocate. July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  25. >"Taubman Centers sells 760 KSF Connecticut mall". Commercial Search. October 23, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  26. "Saks Off 5th to close at Stamford mall before Christmas". Connecticut Post. December 9, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  27. "Why Saks Off 5th decided to return to Stamford". CT Insider. October 24, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  28. "'We are transforming': To fill vacancies, Stamford Town Center turns to non-retailers to spur revival". CT Insider. March 26, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  29. "Stamford Plan B Burger Bar permanently closed". Patch. September 8, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  30. "New York Comedy Club opens soon in Stamford". Patch. February 1, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  31. "Terra Gaucha announces October 22 opening in Stamford". Patch. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  32. "Pickleball America coming to Stamford Town Center". CBS News. April 5, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  33. "Puerto Vallarta opens new restaurant in Stamford". Patch. April 24, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  34. "Forever 21 closes Stamford location, keep other CT locations open". CT Insider. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  35. Fritsch, Jane (September 22, 1997). "Stamford Would Like to Turn A Successful Mall Inside Out". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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