Comments on: Norwichtown Mall; Norwich, Connecticut

By: J Kaminski

J Kaminski — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:37:49 +0000

I remember the Norwichtown Mall well. Tons of fun always had the best games. Before it was University Music it was called Tara Music I believe. I took guitar lessons there from a grumpy old man who told my parents I was too young to learn to play. I was eight. Caldor was the place to go for toys and records. Waldenbooks supplied me with all the necessary Cliffs Notes I needed to avoid actually reading full length books. There were two shoe stores I remember, Thom McAnn, and another one who’s name escapes me. The Sports Shack was awesome for finding that one baseball card that you had to have to complete your collection that was never really complete.

This article was awesome, and the comments are like a trip down memory lane back to a simpler time. I was back in Norwich this past Christmas and it’s just sad how there’s really nothing there anymore. I think it’s safe to say you can blame Wal Mart for the demise. It totally shocks me that Benny’s is surviving. I worked at Benny’s for about 2 years. I can’t tell you how many times I had to damp mop those aisles. Management made sure that store was CLEAN. Good times.

By: C

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:21:05 +0000

@Bonnie,

remember when Nathan’s opened in Caldor?

By: C

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:14:32 +0000

@Rob Walker,

have we mentioned Debutant?

and Ski House

By: C

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:11:43 +0000

@Seth Gordon,

Hi Seth!

It was Russo Opticians (& your music was too loud for them sometimes!)

By: C

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:09:30 +0000

@MoonBunny,

the smaller pink jewelry store (next to McDermott’s) that had an RN come in to do ear piercing was Dazzle (first as Kim’s Kiosk in front of McDermott’s, later Engravables, Etc)

Let’s not forget the health food store between U Music and Puppy Love/ Two Legs

By: C

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:00:07 +0000

@frank kasacek,

do you mean Picadeli Pub?

By: Mike Thorne

Mike Thorne — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:22:44 +0000

Does anyone have a picture of the mall with Vernon Drug and Bee Bees in it’s original location? I did my first restaurant management there for quite a few years and would love to see a pic. Remember Jan Lynn…Mall Cop?

By: Mike Thorne

Mike Thorne — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:17:00 +0000

@Variety House, Original Stores in New London Mall that I remember… The Outlet (later Malley), Two Guy’s, D&L(Woman’s department store), Loft Candy, Kay Jewelry, Kaplan Travel (in kiosk first than former Loft), London Luggage, Tarney’s Men Store, Fifth Avenue Card, paperback Booksmith, Hickory Farms, Orange Julius, (This side still standing as is 1/2 Outlet), other side..Thom McAnn, Mall Coffee Shop, CVS (no pharmacy then), Castro Convertibles, Singer, and Taj.Can’t remember if there was another 1 or two. Also there was a tobbacco stand and the can do shoppe in the middle of the mall with Kaplans.

By: Mike Thorne

Mike Thorne — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:09:13 +0000

@tim, last I knew Darlene was at Grumpy
Joes…don’t know if she stayed on at Shorty’s

By: Mike Thorne

Mike Thorne — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:07:00 +0000

@Tony, I was manager of the old Bee Bees for about 8 years. I was told that the building which housed styles, piccadilly, Puppy Luv, Radio Shack and the bank was the ooriginal WT Grant. The Mall offices and bathrooms were left over from this previous use. Just like the sister site in Old Saybrook, the former Grant store became divided up and the bigger Grant City complete with Bradford House Restaurant opened in a new building next door…In Norwich this soon became Caldor as in Old Saybrook.