Comments on: Westgate Mall; Brockton, Massachusetts

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:05:59 +0000

Was it a Filene’s, or a Filene’s Basement? I thought it was a Basement, but it’s been a long time… I could be wrong…

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 01:05:18 +0000

Due to economic conditions, the 12-screen cinema has been put on hold.

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 03:08:02 +0000

I grew up in Brockton in the 1950’s and 60’s not far from Westgate Mall. I used to walk there from my home quite often. The Jordan Marsh store at the mall was originally a relatively small Gilchrist’s department store when the mall first opened in 1963. The Gilchrist’s used to be located on Legion Parkway in downtown Brockton, but moved to Westgate when the mall opened.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:35:39 +0000

Hi. Wondering if the new snazzy renovation of the mall, mostly on the South side of the mall will also include, finally, an upgrade and unified facade on the adjoining West side of the mall???

I was born in Brockton in 1963 so also know much of the mall’s history. At best it’s never been more than quaint and at times run down. Moved to CA in mid-90s but still get back to Brockton at Xmas for family visits. Over that time it’s been interesting to see the mall’s various redevelopment attempts. The first one in the 80s was superficial. The last one in the late 90s was better, especially on the East and North sides of the mall where much of the renovations and additions took place. But they failed to tie together the facade on the West side of the mall as the pics show — like that cheap generic “MALL” sign. Looks like it’s handmade, like a cutout!

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:16:57 +0000

The vacant building that once had Gilchrist, Jordan Marsh and Macy’s is now been demolished. The building is no longer there. Its sad to see that the only last piece of that original building from 1963 is finally gone. They demolished that building on September 29th. It would be intersting to see what the new Cineplex will look like and bring more life back to the mall than it used to be in the 1970’s and 80’s.

I hear they are going to be adding more stores outside in the parking lot area near A.C. Moore, but theyre going to need more parking spaces for a 12 screen cinema, so maybe they will add a parking garage , but i dont see that in the plans.

By: donna

donna — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:41:11 +0000

This mall use to be somewhat of a cemetary. It is doing very well now. It is awesome that they’re getting a new movie theater since the old one closed a few years ago.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:02:32 +0000

I used to work at the Woolworth’s in the Westgate Mall back in ‘95,in the cafeteria section.Soda dispensers with no refrigeration.It needed ice in the top of it.The menu was old school cafeteria.I worked there for the groovy,old factor.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:23:36 +0000

Everyone seems to be curious about empty space that was Jordan Marsh and then Macy’s. When the Westgate Mall was opened in 1963, the original occupant of that space was a store called Gilchrist’s. I remember it (boy, does that make me feel old). Gilchrist’s closed in 1975. The space was empty for a couple of years until Jordan Marsh opened a store there in 1977. I believe it was the smallest of all the Jordan Marsh locations. I remember that there were times I went there to get something in the sales flyer, only to find out that they didn’t carry my item at that store. In 1996 this store became Macy’s (along with every other Jordan Marsh). In 2006, Macy’s acquired Filenes. Westgate Mall had a Filenes at the opposite end of the Mall (in a location formerly occupied by Bradlees). As with many other Malls that had both a Macy’s and Filenes, there couldn’t be two Macy’s, so a decision had to be made about which location to keep and which one to close. This was a no-brainer at this particular Mall, because the Filenes location was much larger and nicer. So in 2006, Filenes became Macy’s and the old Macy’s location became vacant. It has been vacant ever since, but it is soon going to be turned into a 12-screen cinema.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:49:32 +0000

Just announced:
The former Jordan Marsh/Macy’s will be torn down for a 12 screen stadium movie theater with additional retail.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:44:34 +0000

Oh yea, also the new Zayre was located on Torrey st where the former King’s Department store and Mammoth Mart once stood. After Zayre it was Ames then Homegoods