Civic Center Stores

[blink55184]

The mall would just fill up with people and then the surrounding streets would be a dead zone and smaller shops would not see an influx of people. Those visiting the mall would do exactly what they do in West Farms. That is they would park, shop inside, and then leave never setting foot on the street. Just because something can or has been successful isn't a reason to support it. A casino and a porn shop would probably do well downtown but it wouldn't make the city itself a success.

[grock]

The Providence Place mall brings lots of people downtown and many venture out and check out the sights and other businesses. Why let Manchester and Westfarms take all the customers?

[Bill Mocarsky]

The biggest problem I had with the design of the Civic Center mall was that it felt like a cul de sac.

[spatulashack]

.. I still feel interior store fronts would do just as good if not better than street facing. I dont see anything wrong when people "park, shop inside, and then leave never setting foot on the street."

[GHartford]

The Providence Place mall brings lots of people downtown and many venture out and check out the sights and other businesses. Why let Manchester and Westfarms take all the customers?

[blink55184]

Something like The Corner Mall in Downtown Crossing Boston would work wonders in Hartford. There are multiple entrances from all different sides and streets. Foot traffic in and out from all the different sides is always crowded, even off peak time. A "mall" (it has no retail) like this would work good in downtown. I still think if retail was added to it, it would still be successful

[drc72]

Something like The Corner Mall in Downtown Crossing Boston would work wonders in Hartford. There are multiple entrances from all different sides and streets. Foot traffic in and out from all the different sides is always crowded, even off peak time. A "mall" (it has no retail) like this would work good in downtown. I still think if retail was added to it, it would still be successful

[Mr. Brass Bonanza]

At Buckland Hills, you have such establishments like Vinny Ts and Barnes and Noble that are attached to the mall, but have nice exteriors. In fact, Vinny Ts isn't even accessable from the mall. Could something like this have been done at The Mall?

[GHartford]

At Buckland Hills, you have such establishments like Vinny Ts and Barnes and Noble that are attached to the mall, but have nice exteriors. In fact, Vinny Ts isn't even accessable from the mall. Could something like this have been done at The Mall?

[Richhamleigh, DC]

Does any one remember Luettgen's Limited? Are there any pix out there of the (brief) time in the late 1970's and early 1980's when downtown Hartford had 3 department stores??????

[JimSawhill]

Does any one remember Luettgen's Limited? Are there any pix out there of the (brief) time in the late 1970's and early 1980's when downtown Hartford had 3 department stores??????

[Theophrastus Bombastus]

Phillydog:

Luettgen's was a great store. IIRC, Luettgen's was founded by some managers of G Fox, when May consolidated some operations, so they started Luettgen's, which when it opened was one of 4 Department Stores in Hartford. (The 4 were G. Fox, Sage-Allen, and Brown-Thompsons - E.J. Korvette's just went out!) Luettgen's held on until 1986.)

Luettgen was in the space where T.J Maxx was. It was a 2 store store -- with an elevator to the food court. Wish Luttegen was around still. maybe someday, someone will build a new department store. (Every city had at least 1 major store. Springfield had 3, Hartford had 3, New Haven 1 Bridgeport 1 even East Hartford had 1!)

JimS

[Jerry2]

I dont think storefronts need to be street facing downtown to be successful.

If the Buckland Hills Mall was in the middle of downtown Hartford, I think it would be just as successful, and some of the million parking lots and garages would fill up.

You are right, Providence is a better example.

[beerbeer]

The Providence Mall was built because there was nothing downtown. It has served its purpose of helping folks find downtown, but as downtown Providence develops there will be less and less reason for the mall.

[JimSawhill]

Actually, it was owned by Aetna! They pulled the rug out from under them when they bailed on the Civic Center (why would an insurance co. ever get involved with retail???) I remember eating at Rein's, going with my dad to get a 25% discount at Luettgen's, then browsing thru "Al Franklin's Music World", then getting an ice cream at that little store next to the tobacco shop, then going to the Whalers game - pretty fun!