There is an Ocean State Job Lot here. I heard the town wants to tear down the mall but the Job Lot offered to buy it. The town previously asked tenants to leave so they could tear down the mall but some have stayed since they dont want to break their lease.....what's the latest on this issue? Is this the only Ocean State Job Lot that has a mall entrance?
I visited the place today and I'm going back tomorrow to take a slew of pictures. I remembered this dumpy mall as a kid and I'm *shocked* to see it alive and abled to visit today.
This mall is amazing for those looking for a unique "time travel" experience. The interior smells like some 1960's basement. Furthermore, the mall is lacking lighting, there are very few tenants left, and there's tons of old signage there. I snapped a few today after looking through one of the only stores operating (an Ocean State Job Lot). It's a scary mall... there's a bunch of old people and weirdos walking around there. Take a look towards the end of the album...
http://ccsu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2007808&l=f9207&id=48807574
what were teh rogal ancors?
According to an old map, a Sears Outlet Center anchored this place. I know that a Railroad Salvage store used to own the Job Lot end of the building. Either way, Railroad Salvage used to be part of the mall.
QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
According to an old map, a Sears Outlet Center anchored this place. I know that a Railroad Salvage store used to own the Job Lot end of the building. Either way, Railroad Salvage used to be part of the mall.
i liekd teh pics lol ive never seen a mall look sooo old before i mean i have seen tacky 80's and 90's dezied but never anything like u saw
QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
I visited the place today and I'm going back tomorrow to take a slew of pictures. I remembered this dumpy mall as a kid and I'm *shocked* to see it alive and abled to visit today.
This mall is amazing for those looking for a unique "time travel" experience. The interior smells like some 1960's basement. Furthermore, the mall is lacking lighting, there are very few tenants left, and there's tons of old signage there. I snapped a few today after looking through one of the only stores operating (an Ocean State Job Lot). It's a scary mall... there's a bunch of old people and weirdos walking around there. Take a look towards the end of the album...
http://ccsu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2007808&l=f9207&id=48807574
Photos were great!! Look forward to seeing more of your photos in the future.
Behold. My journey to the Bristol Centre Mall with commentary. Enjoy!
http://ccsu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2007936&l=9b6a9&id=48807574
Very creepy! What were the anchor stores when the mall opened?
Take a look at this article I found on WFSB.com today.
Follow this link:
http://www.wfsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=4717856
Pretty interesting.
I also think that if Bristol wants to take the mall down and Ocean State doesn't want to leave, I think they should keep Job Lot standing, and tear the rest of the mall down and re-vamp the outside if they were to build new buildings around it.
I went down there this afternoon and the mall was still open to the public. The main tenant, Eagle Auctions, had stripped their signage away pending the "vacate by March 31" mandate set by the town of Bristol but still have lots of stuff left inside. There's something going on here and I'll make sure I do one final shoot of this bizarre mall before any demolition plans.
Furthermore, the restaurant which still operates there was open as was the Ocean State Job Lot which anchors the otherside of the mall - everyone else left there is closed or closing soon.
Also, as AmesNewington said, if they destroy the mall, I believe Ocean State should go along with it (which is what the town of Brisol wants too). The building is as decrepit as the eyesore mall itself not to mention they have a location five minutes up the road which they bought from a recent Stop & Shop closure in the Bristol Plaza (they also painted the facade recently too!). It's all very complicated as I don't know the ins and outs of what's legal here.
I have a feeling the whole property is in it's final days.
Here's a look at the attract sign seen from the road as of March 21, 2006.
The mall has three weeks to live.
I went by today and took a slew of more photos of the mall which will soon fall into the hands of Bristol and demolition. It's finally the mall's time to go but that doesn't mean it's remaining tenants will go willingly.
There's an article in today's Bristol Press (Bristol's local paper) about the main tenant, Center Mall Pizza, which refuses to leave. Appearently they will be fighting it, but resistence is most likely futile.
I had the chance to speak to personnel of the mall who I sighted walking around the mall today and he was completely fine with me photographing what was left of it. He also let me up on the second floor, where I had gone before :) which was now locked off from the public. He allowed me to photograph some areas not available to everyone!
Here's a blurb of the article from today's Bristol Press about the restaurant which refuses to vacate.
I've managed to gather more information regarding the state of the mall. Appearently it will shut off to the public in approximately three (possibly four) weeks and demolitions will be slated for year's end.
I'm going to be uploading my return gallery very soon so stay tuned!
I've finally uploaded and completed commentaries for My Return To The Bristol Centre Mall (http://ccsu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2008985&l=117e2&id=48807574). I'll be going back in a few weeks to see if the mall actually gets locked up. Enjoy!
Update: The city of Bristol is now working to relocate the four businesses located in outparcels of the Bristol Centre Mall Property. Those four businesses are: McDonald's, Sherwin Williams, Rent-A-Center, and Discount Food Outlet.
From the 7/7/06 Bristol Press:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16887297&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=571108&rfi=6
You know that you never really think of what happens to the stores that want to stay inside a mall once the decision is made to tear it down. I have never seen a case like this where the stores are fighting so hard to stay in such a deserted place.
In the case of the Mall of Memphis, the few remaining stores all relocated to a newest strip mall across the street so it didn't really matter to them about having to move.
:o:o:o:o:o:o
Many thanks to you, Xismzero, for all your reporting and the great photo albums!!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
I apprechiate that!
I think the reason why Job Lot and Centre Mall Pizza are fighting so hard is probably because they've been there for such a long time and are seen as familiar places on Bristol's Main Street. To relocate means moving to another part of town, possibly lesser scope of people will see them and business might hurt. Now for the case of Job Lot, well they have another brand new store right on Rt. 6 and approximately two minutes away.
We're keeping our eyes open to the status of the mall.
Here's some pictures of the Bristol Centre Mall taken today. This is the former Sears Outlet Center (became a Railroad Salvage Outlet then a local auction site) now a vacant space as of earlier this year.
The side of the former Sears Outlet Center facing North Main Street. This almost looks like it contained a few garage bays from a possible former auto center.
A sunset glare from the outdated 1960's tiles.
Looking to the sidewalk towards the other end of the mall.
Ocean State Job Lot, still in business, but not for too much longer. Their unusual, withering facade was a former/originally Sage-Allen department store which closed in 1993. Sage-Allen was a Hartford-based business which collapsed in around the early 90's and anchored a few malls in Connecticut.
The Mall's attract sign responding to recent press about Centre Mall Pizza and their reluctance to vacate this dying mall.
Thanks for the updates. Have you heard anything else about when the mall will be closed for good and when they plan to tear it down? Also, have you heard or seen anything about what they plan to do with the land after the mall is gone?
:question::question::question::question::question::question:
QuoteOriginally posted by beachgal26
Thanks for the updates. Have you heard anything else about when the mall will be closed for good and when they plan to tear it down? Also, have you heard or seen anything about what they plan to do with the land after the mall is gone?
:question::question::question::question::question::question:
While I'm not certain on anything, I've heard many things. The city wanted all the tenants out by March's end but the two anchors are still there (Ocean State and Centre Mall Pizza). I've heard that the city wants to make it a recreation/arts center but more recently I heard they want to make the lot a throughway for traffic.
The building is supposedly going bye-bye by Winter of this year but it doesn't seem too believable. I assume once the two unwilling businesses finally leave (or the town finds an area to relocate them), they'll start pronto. The McDonald's in the plaza has already agreed for the town to move them but they haven't found spaces for Job Lot or the Discount Food store.
I'll keep an eye out as will some of our other local reporters.
My family and I lived in Bristol from 1983 until 2003. Sears Outlet did not have an Auto Center. I don't know if Sears used that space for anything or not, but Railroad Salvage used it for their garden center. When Railroad Salvage closed they sealed it off making it a small little space to rent out, albeit with no access to the mall. It was a nail salon called Today's Nails.
Centre Mall Pizza is opening their new location 7/31/06. It's across the street in the building that says Lynn's Restaurant. Centre Mall Pizza bought Lynn's from it's owner Rodd, who owns Rodd's Restaurant on Route 6 across from CVS. Lynn's is now across the street from Price Chopper in Southington. From September 2005 until April or May 2006 that was also Rodds. The new name for Centre Mall Pizza is gonna be "Centre Pizza."
I wonder where they're gonna put that McDonald's. You know what's shocking? That run down dump McDoanld's is owned by the same guy who owns that gorgeous shiny one in the Lowes Plaza in Plainville. I nearly caused a friend of mine to choke when I told him that.
As for Discount Food Outlet they can move into the abandoned grocery store up on Divinity Street. It's only a few miles from there.
Funny that's gonna be the second time that Rent-A-Center's been relocated. They were originally in Bradlee's Plaza. They moved in next to Sherwin Williams as the part of Bradlees Plaza where they were was torn down.
There used to be two Rentowns in Bristol. The on next to Walgreens and one inside the Centre Mall itself. It's the store front who's exterior is painted yellow. They shut down the one in the mall years ago. The one next to Walgreens stayed open. Then Rent-A-Center opened in the Bradlees Plaza. Then Rentown next to Walgreeens became Rent-A-Center too. Two locations right near one another. Weird.
A judge ruled Job Lot Has to get out of the Mall by August 15th, but they're appealing the ruling.
Hartford Courant: http://www.courant.com/news/local/nb/hc-brimall0801.artaug01%2C0%2C6634234.story
Bristol Press:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16990774&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=10486&rfi=6
I am reporting that the Bristol Centre Mall is now officially closed. I went by the mall yesterday, took some photos, and tried to get back into the mall - to my dismay the entire inside portion of it is now closed. Centre Mall Pizza and Ocean State Job Lot are still conducting business as usual and attracting a decent amount of customers though.
Here's the McDonald's outparcel the Bristol Centre Mall. This store is owned by one of the leading owners, Santa Cruz, and it opened sometime in the early 1960's.
This McDonald's is well known for it being one of the oldest stores in Connecticut and for this etched out of a bush "M" on the Riverside Ave. portion of the building. Inside the store is yet another story... this is probably one of the oldest, unrenovated stores you've ever been to as it's all brown inside.
Demolishing the mall is gonna take longer than the originally thought. They hope to be able to throw Job Lot out soon because them filing an appeal to the ruling they lost could take up to 30 months.
From the Bristol Edition of the Herald-Press 8/27/06
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17115500&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=10486&rfi=6
The City of Bristol also does not have money set aside for the demolition.
A Seperate article from today's Herald Press Bristol Edition 8/27/06:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17115502&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=571108&rfi=6
Interesting news. I wonder how well the mall will hold up being locked for a few years. I'll be checking back regularly...
Thanks to everyone for all the updates!!
Center Mall Pizza moving out tomorrow:
http://www.courant.com/news/local/nb/hc-brigone1014.artoct14%2C0%2C2173198.story
Here's a brand new photoset of The Mall at Bristol Centre. Job Lot is still active but the mall is awaiting demolition which might take a few years they say.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/xismzero/album/576460762387882419
Pictures taken January 30, 2007
Enjoy!
QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
Here's a brand new photoset of The Mall at Bristol Centre. Job Lot is still active but the mall is awaiting demolition which might take a few years they say.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/xismzero/album/576460762387882419
Pictures taken January 30, 2007
Enjoy!
The link doesn't work for me.
QuoteOriginally posted by dmx10101
QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
Here's a brand new photoset of The Mall at Bristol Centre. Job Lot is still active but the mall is awaiting demolition which might take a few years they say.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/xismzero/album/576460762387882419
Pictures taken January 30, 2007
Enjoy!
The link doesn't work for me.
Whoops! Sorry about that people. I accidently had it on Private. It's all set now. Enjoy!
It's kind of sad to see it because as a child my parents and I used to shop at Sears often.
That is one old looking mall inside. It looks really freaky. Great pics of the time warped mall.
QuoteOriginally posted by dmx10101
That is one old looking mall inside. It looks really freaky. Great pics of the time warped mall.
Back then, I was still very much a giddy amateur at using a camera which is why I'd like to get back in there today - especially since it's shuttered. At this rate, I'd probably have to talk to someone at Town Hall to give me the keys to the mall or break in somehow. I don't really see myself convincing the city of Bristol to let me in for some photos but who knows...
My biggest regret is I didn't steal the floor plan that's hanging on the wall in the entrence opposite the Super Dollar Store. The last time I was in there I asked someone to photo copy the floor plan for me, he told me he would, but after waiting 20 minutes I had to go as I had a bus to catch.
The City of Bristol let it's department heads take anything that was left in the mall. They also may sell what's left to the general public. Sadly the head of The Parks & Rec Department discovered that the toy solider that's been guarding the mall for years is now missing an arm. (Both Arms were there when I was last at the mall in June 06).
Article about the city taking what was left in the mall:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17866104&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=571108&rfi=6
Pic of the toy soldier I took in June 06:
The City of Bristol is gonna lose tons of money once they sell the mall.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18282277&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=10486&rfi=6
THIS SATURDAY AT 10AM THEY WILL BE AUCTIONING OFF THE CONTENTS OF THE DEFUCT MALL AT BRISTOL CENTRE IN BRISTOL, CONNECTICUIT. LOOKS LIKE LOTS OF INTERESTING THINGS. THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN STARTING YOUR OWN BUFFET RESTAURANT AS SOME OF THE ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION INCLUDE ALL THE EQUIPMENT FROM XO GRAND CHINESE BUFFET. (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE GOLDEN WOK BUFFET). A FLYER OF THE AUCTION CAN BE FOUND HERE. (ACROBAT READER IS NEEDED TO VIEW) http://www.ci.bristol.ct.us/filestorage/3070/bristolmallbrochure.pdf
AS OF RIGHT NOW IT APPEARS THAT NEITHER NICK (XISMZERO) NOR MYSELF WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS AUCTION.
They held the auction. The solidger pictured above went for $300.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18454818&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=571108&rfi=6
They finally began knocking down the Bristol Centre Mall. There's a 90 second video on the Courant's Website about the demolition. I was unable to attend the demolition because of car trouble.
http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hcu-brimalldemo-0211,0,1428334.story
Ron Tessman, webmaster for BristolCT.Net has posted over 90 photos of the demolition ceremony.
http://bristolct.net/slideshows/slideshow.asp?s=1&c=101
The mall is finally gone as of 230PM yesterday. Final couple pictures and comments can be seen in Bristol Press Reporter Steve Collin's blog.
http://bristolnews.blogspot.com/2008/04/mall-is-gone.html
Will it make the city better? Will it cause less homeless people and crackheads? WIll it make gas prices go down? :yup:
QuoteOriginally posted by NJxxJon
Will it make the city better? Will it cause less homeless people and crackheads?
Yes it'll make the city better. The mall has been a white elephant in the town since the day it opened in the 1960s. Plus the city owns the property so they'll sell the land to developers and get in back on the tax rolls. Will it cause less homeless people? Possibly. They hope housing, retail, and offices will be built on the property. And crackheads are crackheads. They all live in that area and they will continue to do so.
I hope they could restore some semblance of downtown that was there before the flood, I saw old pictures of it in a book about the history of Bristol and it looked fantastic, it looked completely different to what is there now.:o
Went to The Discount Food Outlet Thursday night which is a grocery store on the Mall at Bristol Centre's Property. Snatched some pictures of the vacant lot where the mall used to be. DFO used to be ADAMS IGA and before that WAZ's IGA and before that FINAST. (WAZ died and most of the stores were bought by ADAMS). DFO is owned by ADAMS.
Went to The Discount Food Outlet Thursday night which is a grocery store on the Mall at Bristol Centre's Property. Snatched some pictures of the vacant lot where the mall used to be. DFO used to be ADAMS IGA and before that WAZ's IGA and before that FINAST. (WAZ died and most of the stores were bought by ADAMS). DFO is owned by ADAMS.
Went to The Discount Food Outlet Thursday night which is a grocery store on the Mall at Bristol Centre's Property. Snatched some pictures of the vacant lot where the mall used to be. DFO used to be ADAMS IGA and before that WAZ's IGA and before that FINAST. (WAZ died and most of the stores were bought by ADAMS). DFO is owned by ADAMS.
Demolition in progress of another building on the Centre Mall Property. This old Rent-a-Center on the corner of N. Main and Riverside Avenue used to be Centre Mall Cinema 1 & 2. Next door was a Sherwin Williams. The Rent-a-Center was vacant for years after Fitness for Women moved to N. Main Street. The vacant space was utilized by the Bristol Police Dept when some renovation work was being done at the station. The Rent-a-Center relocated to N. Main Street. Sherwin Williams moved all the way across town to Farmington Ave (Route 6) across the street from Shoprite where Stella's Pizza House and Sir Speedy Printing used to be located. Stellas closed down several years ago. Sir Speedy relocated to a mostly industrial complex on Middle Street (Route 229).
Demolition in progress of another building on the Centre Mall Property. This Sherwin Williams Store on the corner of N. Main and Riverside Avenue used to be Centre Mall Cinema 1 & 2. Most recently a Rent-A-Center was located next to Sherwin Williams but before that it was vacant for several years after Fitness for Women moved to N. Main Street. The vacant space was utilized by the Bristol Police Dept when some renovation work was being done at the station. The Rent-a-Center relocated to N. Main Street. Sherwin Williams moved all the way across town to Farmington Ave (Route 6) across the street from Shoprite where Stella's Pizza House and Sir Speedy Printing used to be located. Stellas closed down several years ago. Sir Speedy relocated to a mostly industrial complex on Middle Street (Route 229).
Discount Food Outlet closed last Friday March 16th, 2012. The building will be demolished in May or June. A new McDonald's will be built on the site. Once the new McDonald's is built the other one will be demoilshed.