Future Revealed for Norwichtown Commons: Tenant Mix Will Give Shoppers More Options

Sit-down dining, tanning, shoe shopping, ladies fashions, and much more are expected to be part of the new Norwichtown Commons shopping center, formerly known as the .

According to Eagle Rock Retail, while the shopping center was “originally built in the late 1960’s, the property is undergoing a major renovation to create a fresh and modern outdoor shopping center. Super Stop & Shop has had a very successful store here for more than 35 years.”

Meehan and Goodwin state that “city and state land use approvals have been granted for major renovations to the Norwichtown Mall. Stop & Shop will remain as the major anchor while the remainder of the building will be reduced in size, “de-malled,” and upgraded for new tenants. Meehan and Goodin provided land survey, site engineering, and regulatory permitting services for the renamed “Norwichtown Commons.”

Shoppers of the 73,550-square-foot Stop & Shop have already seen work being done next door on the former 9,500-square-foot Dress Barn/Woman, which has been at the mall for the past 13 years. The store is now closed for renovations. The store’s size will reduce to 7,500 square feet eliminating the “woman” section, according to plans.

Plans show that next to it, there will be a 4,200-square-foot ladies fashion store, taking up a portion of the former Dress Barn and the former mall entrance.  

Other proposed tenants include a 1,700-square-foot cellular store, a 1,000-square-foot frozen yogurt shop, a 2,500-square-foot burger and fries restaurant, a 1,200-square-foot Aztec Sun Tanning, a 1,200-square-foot Hair Cuttery, and a 1,685-square-foot Fancy Nails.

Fancy Nails previously occupied a 1,235-square-foot space in the former mall.

A “public outdoor seating” area will run from the cellular store to Fancy Nails. The area would be between the front parking lot and the entrances to those stores. 

The center will also include a 5,000-square-foot junior fashion boutique, a 6,000-square-foot shoe store, and a new 9,000-square-foot Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree’s current 5,000-square-foot store is the last in the formerly enclosed mall.

The chain will open a second store in Norwich’s Marcus Plaza, in the former Fashion Bug, in March or April. 

Plans show the mall’s former 87,136-square-foot Caldor Department Store will be reduced to a 22,000-square-foot junior anchor with parking and a 6,000-square-foot restaurant. 

This reporter looked at Lisbon, home of two of Norwichtown Commons’ closest competing shopping centers, in comparing various size tenants with real-world examples. 

In Lisbon Landing, the 88,470-square-foot Kohl’s is about the same size as Norwichtown's former Caldor while the 15,226-square-foot Michael’s is similar to the size of Norwichtown's new junior anchor store.

The 5,876-square-foot Chili’s at the Crossing at Lisbon and the 6,686-square-foot Ruby Tuesday’s at Lisbon Landing are close to the size of Norwichtown's proposed restaurant. 

The 142,650-square-foot Norwichtown Commons will be much smaller than the former 241,000-square-foot mall. 

The shopping center should be fully open for business this fall.