Comments on: Fairfield Mall; Chicopee, Massachusetts

By: Scott S

Scott S — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:21:05 +0000

I was the manager of Zales Jewelers at the Fairfield Mall. I arrived while the mall was still under construction in October or 1974 and took part in the grand opening. Danny Kay was the special guest for the opening and he “hid” in the back of my store until introduced on stage. At that time the mall was a huge success and the 2 anchors, Two Guys and Forbes and Wallace brought in lots of traffic. There was also an excellent mix of stores including Spencer Gifts, Anderson Little, Friendly’s Restaurant and Foggie’s Tavern. The mall manager was a well qualified, hands on person and we had an excellent Mall Board consisting of various store managers. We met monthly to come up with various marketing promotions, sales events, etc. It was a great place to work, the employees were like a family and all the stores were doing very well. I just can’t believe its gone!

[Reply]

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:38:09 +0000

@Chris, it was called Foggies

By: Carla B.

Carla B. — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:26:28 +0000

Loved to go to the mall too. And Katelyn loved you Dad “BOZ” also he was the best DJ United Skates had in the 70’s and 80’s. Rock and Roll Friday nights was the best.
Pizza from lucas, a tour through the arcade and then stand in line to get into the rink.
Rosco, Bosco, and Boz always thought that was cool, the Owl, and Louie. I know this is about the Mall but it was all about a night out with the gang. I remeber Boz’s 69 Firebird Convertible sitting out at the mall, that was a great time… Anyone ever see these guys around?
A reunion would be cool!

By: Deanna

Deanna — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:17:24 +0000

@MALLRATT(MARK M),

OMG! ALICE! Haven’t thought of her in years. I was a mallrat too and she would chase us through the mall. Of course we deserved it, cause she knew we we stoned and drunk coming in from partying in the woods in the corner of the parking lot. There was also an older man security guard too, but can’t remember his name. (That’s what drugs does to your brain! ha ha ha)

By: Lynette Staszko

Lynette Staszko — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:06:47 +0000

@Steven Swain, Yes, you are correct in your recollection of other anchor stores being at the Fairfield Mall prior to Caldors and Bradlees. Where Bradlees was, it was origianlly Two Guys Department Store. They had great deals reminiscent of K-Mart’s old blue-light specials. They even did the “bargain of the moment” thing, too.

And prior to Caldor, it was , I believe, J.M.Fields Department Store. For some reason I am not as positive about this one. Guess we did not shop there as often.

Hope this rings a few bells…..

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:57:04 +0000

There’s a Walmart Supercenter near Cedar Point in Ohio that apparently was a smaller Walmart at one time but had been expanded. The main merchandise section looked practically untouched, with the drop ceiling and everything intact, and the food center was added on the end, which has that warehouse look like in most Supercenters.

By: Jonah Norason (Pseudo3D)

Jonah Norason (Pseudo3D) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:08:14 +0000

Did they raise the ceiling line? A local Wal-Mart is about to become a Supercenter soon here…

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:29:38 +0000

the walmart store is now a superwalmart store they renavated it to make it newer it dosent look like it was ever a walmart [discount store]

By: Paul S

Paul S — Sat, 30 May 2009 05:04:41 +0000

The mall also had a Commonwealth Registry branch for renewals, and it was the last place I ever got my Mass license before permanently residing in NY.
I think it was 1994.
I went to the bar Foggies once in the 80’s when I was in college.
Don, you are reporting on a corrupt union- they are not all like that.

And I agree with the sentiment- this is change not for the better.

By: Billy

Billy — Thu, 07 May 2009 03:39:51 +0000

Not that this has to do with the mall (but sort of, since Stop & Shop did own Bradlees at one point), but just across from it.

Who came up with the design for the Stop & Shop, Big Y and BJ’s on the opposite side of Memorial Drive?

(See the aerial shot at the top of the post).

With the S&S up close to the road and totally cut off from the other two, such that if you went to Big Y or BJ’s first, you can’t get back to S&S without a long, round about trip.

Seems kind of a strange set-up, even though the grocery stores may not mind (making it harder to have people reach the competition).