Danbury Fair Mall
Encyclopedia
As of 2011, Danbury Fair is the second largest shopping mall in Connecticut
as well as the fifth largest in New England
. It is located off of Interstate 84
and U.S. Route 7
in the city of Danbury
opposite the Danbury Municipal Airport
.
, who paid $170,000 per acre, at that time the highest price ever paid for land in the Danbury area. It opened in 1986, anchored by Sears
and G. Fox
(which became Filene's
in 1993 and since closed). Macy's
opened in October 1987 and JCPenney in March 1988. In 1991, Lord & Taylor
and a parking garage were added. In 2005 the Wilmorite Corporation sold the mall to The Macerich Company
.
During construction it emerged that two Wilmorite executives had paid Danbury's mayor, James Dyer, $60,000 in cash, sometimes concealed in newspapers. They claimed he demanded the money to assure his support for the mall. The allegations contributed to Dyer's defeat for re-election in 1987. He was acquitted of corruption
charges in 1990; other charges were dismissed later. Lawyers for him and other city officials portrayed the executives as willing to do anything to get the mall built.
There are approximately 200 retailers and eateries, including the major department stores Macy's
, Sears, Lord & Taylor
and JCPenney. Filene's was in the mall until the 2006 Macy's consolidation. The store was 168879 sq ft (15,689 m²). on two levels. The mall is especially popular with kids, partly due to the double decker carousel
in the food court as well as many youth-oriented events and activities the mall sponsors on a regular basis (such as "Family Fun Night"). Many of these events take place in the mall's center on the lower floor. This space changes throughout the year. The mall is often decorated during the holidays. For special events such as song and dance performances, the central area can be converted into a stage area.
coffee bar, soft seating with tables, and a down-scaled water feature to reduce the noise level.
During the last few years a large traveling carnival operates rides and amusements in several parking areas from mid June to mid July, billing the event as the "Danbury City Fair" in a nod to the original upon whose site the mall was built.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
as well as the fifth largest in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. It is located off of Interstate 84
Interstate 84 (east)
Interstate 84 is an Interstate Highway extending from Dunmore, Pennsylvania at an interchange with Interstate 81 to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, at an interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike . I-84 has mile-log junction numbering in Pennsylvania; otherwise, exit numbers are roughly sequential...
and U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7 is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for from Norwalk, Connecticut, to Highgate, Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut...
in the city of Danbury
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
opposite the Danbury Municipal Airport
Danbury Municipal Airport
Danbury Municipal Airport is a public use general aviation airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Danbury, in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The airport opened in 1930. It is currently run by the city of Danbury.The Reliant Air building burned...
.
History
Danbury Fair was built by the Wilmorite Corporation on land formerly used for the Danbury FairDanbury Fair
The Danbury Fair was a yearly exhibition in Danbury, Connecticut. It was begun in 1821 as an agricultural fair, but did not have a regular schedule until 1869 when hat manufacturers Rundle and White helped form the Danbury Farmers and Manufacturers Society...
, who paid $170,000 per acre, at that time the highest price ever paid for land in the Danbury area. It opened in 1986, anchored by Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
and G. Fox
G. Fox & Co.
G. Fox & Co. was a large department store that originated in Hartford, Connecticut. The store was also the largest privately held department store in the nation when it was sold in 1965 to the May Department Stores Company. In 1992 May Department stores phased out the G. Fox & Co. name converting...
(which became Filene's
Filene's
Filene's was a Boston-based department store owned by Federated Department Stores , and May Department Stores . It operated throughout New England and in New York.-Early years:...
in 1993 and since closed). Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
opened in October 1987 and JCPenney in March 1988. In 1991, Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
and a parking garage were added. In 2005 the Wilmorite Corporation sold the mall to The Macerich Company
The Macerich Company
Macerich is a self-managed Real Estate Investment Trust headquartered in Santa Monica, California.It traces its antecedents to the MaceRich Real Estate Company founded in New York in 1964 by Mace Siegel and Richard Cohen, who combined their first names to name their company...
.
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
charges in 1990; other charges were dismissed later. Lawyers for him and other city officials portrayed the executives as willing to do anything to get the mall built.
There are approximately 200 retailers and eateries, including the major department stores Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Sears, Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
and JCPenney. Filene's was in the mall until the 2006 Macy's consolidation. The store was 168879 sq ft (15,689 m²). on two levels. The mall is especially popular with kids, partly due to the double decker carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
in the food court as well as many youth-oriented events and activities the mall sponsors on a regular basis (such as "Family Fun Night"). Many of these events take place in the mall's center on the lower floor. This space changes throughout the year. The mall is often decorated during the holidays. For special events such as song and dance performances, the central area can be converted into a stage area.
Renovation
In January 2007, Danbury Fair began the process of an interior renovation, which was completed in spring 2008. The mall received new lighting fixtures which replaced the original globe bulb lighting, new stone style floors which replaced the original tan, brown, and green tile floors, soft seating areas through-out the mall, new stained wood accents, and new paint. The two areas that received the most changes were the food court and the center court. A newly renovated food court features a slightly curved panoramic view of the restaurant choices, which reduced the number of restaurants from 16 to 11. New banquet seating is featured in the food court. The center court includes the removal of the large scale fountains (which also doubled as event areas), and has been replaced with a StarbucksStarbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
coffee bar, soft seating with tables, and a down-scaled water feature to reduce the noise level.
During the last few years a large traveling carnival operates rides and amusements in several parking areas from mid June to mid July, billing the event as the "Danbury City Fair" in a nod to the original upon whose site the mall was built.
Anchors
- JCPenney (137000 sq ft (12,727.7 m²)) opened in 1988
- Lord & TaylorLord & TaylorLord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
(80000 sq ft (7,432.2 m²)) opened in 1991 - Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
(240000 sq ft (22,296.7 m²)) opened in 1987 - Sears (178000 sq ft (16,536.7 m²))opened in 1986