Vernon Retail Plaza Has New Owner, But Future Remains A Mystery

VERNON, CT — A new owner has emerged for a shopping plaza in the heart of Vernon's Rockville section, but just what's in store for the property remains a mystery.

Vernon Economic Development Director Shaun Gately confirmed that the property — the Courthouse Plaza at 20 East Main St. — sold about a month ago for just more than $1 million. The closing has not appeared in the official town records so the buyer has not been named in public yet.

Gately did, however, say the new owner had plans to "invest in the plaza," but no plans are on file yet in the zoning office.

The property sits on 3 acres and features 38,856 square feet of retail space and three loading docks. Frontage on East Main Street itself totals 450 square feet. There are 200 spaces in the parking lot.

The plaza's longtime anchor tenant, Ladd & Hall furniture, closed in 2020 after 83 years in business. The retirement left the left side of the plaza mostly vacant, save for a law office. The plaza also features a pizza, place, a thrift store, a liquor establishment and a convenience store.

It was built in 1977.

The Courthouse Plaza is aptly named because it sits between both the Tolland County civil and criminal courthouses. The two free-standing buildings that abut the parking lot were not part of the transaction, Gately said.