Stamford Town Center

Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox shopping mall Stamford Town Center is an urban shopping mall located in Downtown Stamford, Connecticut. The Template:Convert mall is the eighth largest in Connecticut, with space for about 130 stores and restaurants.Template:Citation needed The mall's three anchors are a Template:Convert Template:Citation needed Macy's, Barnes and Noble, and Pickleball America. The latter opened in the nearly 80,000-square-foot (7,432 m²) anchor space previously occupied by Saks OFF 5th in September 2023.

History

Construction

Built by F.D. Rich Co and Taubman Centers,<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> Stamford Town Center opened on June 17, 1982 as part of an urban renewal project<ref name=":1" /> and had been the location of tenement structures that once lined Greyrock Place,<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=":2" />

Launch and success

The mall launched with two anchors: Macy's and J.C. Penney.<ref name=":1" /> Saks Fifth Avenue opened its store in the mall on March 12, 1983,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and served as the mall's third anchor.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was considered "one of the country's most successful malls" by the 1990s, despite stiff nearby competition.<ref name=":4"/> In July 1994, it was announced the mall's J.C. Penney would move out, and would be replaced by a Filene's.<ref name=":4" />

2000s redevelopment

In May 2006, the southern portion of the mall, along Tresser Boulevard, was demolished and redeveloped.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> The redevelopment of the former Filene's anchor emphasized being more pedestrian-friendly,<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref> and improving the nearby better streetscape.<ref name=":6" />Template:Non-primary source needed This portion of the mall, which included Filene's, was replaced with space for six new restaurants,<ref name=":5"/> and Connecticut's largest Barnes & Noble,<ref name=":5"/> the latter of which opened in 2008.<ref name=":3"/>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Plan B Burger Bar opened on August 4, 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Change in ownership

On October 23, 2020, Taubman sold the mall to furniture chain Safevieh.<ref>>Template:Cite web</ref>

Anchors

Macy's (Template:Convert) – opened in 1982
Barnes and Noble – opened in 2008<ref name=":3" />
Pickleball America - opened in September 2023

Former anchors

JCPenney (Template:Convert) – opened in 1982, closed in 1994<ref name="The New York Times">Template:Cite news</ref>
Filene's (Template:Convert) – opened in 1994, closed in 2005, demolished in 2006, in the former JCPenney Space <ref name="The New York Times"/>
Saks Fifth Avenue (Template:Convert) – opened in 1983, closed in 2014, reopened as Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH in 2015
Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH (Template:Convert)Template:Citation needed – opened in 2015, closed in 2021, relocated to the old Lord & Taylor store at High Ridge Road in 2022<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Gallery

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. California Pizza Kitchen (closed in 2018) and Così (closed in 2016).
Kona Grill at The Plaza at Stamford Town Center (closed in 2019).
The Largest Barnes & Noble in Connecticut.
The Capital Grille.
The entrance to the main mall from the Plaza.