Investors Have Big Plans For Waterbury Mall Anchor Space

WATERBURY, CT — A pair of investors who are part of a group that purchased the former Macy's at Waterbury’s Brass Mill Center mall plan to transform the space into a retail plaza, The Hartford Business Journal reported. The Macy's closed more than two years ago.

Now brothers Sami and Nazeeh Abunasra, who own Ashley Homestores in Newington and Manchester, want to make the former Macy's into a retail plaza similar to the Brass Mill Commons property across the street. The 161,744-square-foot building and 11.45 acres were sold earlier this month for $3.3 million.

The Commons has numerous national-brand stores like Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta Beauty, Buffalo Wild Wings, Barnes & Noble, Petco, T.J. Maxx, and Five Below.

Plans for the Macy's site include turning it into a plaza with retail stores with separate entrances, according to The Hartford Business Journal. One of those retailers will be an Ashley outlet. It's possible the development will include additional freestanding buildings.

Macy's also closed its location at the Crystal Mall in Waterford in 2021. The two closings in the state were among 45 nationally that year. In a November 2020 earnings report, Macy’s announced that same-store sales for the quarter declined by greater than 20 percent and cited the coronavirus pandemic.

The Brass Mill Center has seen several closings in recent years, including the shuttering of its movie theater and a Sears.

The mall and Brass Mill Commons were sold for a combined $45 million last year.

See related: Brass Mill Among 2 Connecticut Macy's Stores Closing In 2021

Large Waterbury Movie Theater Shuts Down: Report

2 Waterbury Retail Properties Sell For Combined $45 Million: Report