Ames / West Hartford, Connecticut

[beachgal26]

Is the Dollar store the only thing that is left there? Also, did you ever find out what the "stop work" order was about?  It really looks like it is time to tear the whole thing down.

Thanks again the for the pics and the wonderful updates!!

[XISMZERO]

I've scaled the building with a fine-tooth comb. There are no markings, surprisingly, from Caldor. Since two others like it in the area had "rainbow" logos, I only assumed this one did as well. There's nothing to prove it however :(

[Caldor1999]

i dbot this but dose anyone have a pic of it  when it was a caldor??? cause i rememebr seeing it posted before the sigh crashed a year ago

[XISMZERO]

WEST HARTFORD-ELMWOOD; January 6, 2008.

The store is coming down, folks. Connecticut loses another former Ames, and has only one former Caldor left in the state.

Full story: http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/01/west-hartford-elmwood-swept-wing-caldor.html

[Marc82]

Price Rite is building a supermarket in this former AMES Building in West Hartford, Connecticut, which before that was Caldor.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/fv/hc-whdstore0205.artfeb05,0,3539143.story

[XISMZERO]

UPDATE: 7-1-2008.

PRICE RITE is here!

[XISMZERO]

UPDATE: 7-1-2008.

So long Caldor/Ames!

[XISMZERO]

Here's me in front of the late, since demolished Caldor back in January 2008 from The Hartford Courant.

[C. Fontaine]

Damn, you wouldn't even know that was an Ames... or a Caldor!

[AmesNewington]

WOW. What a transformation. I'm also glad that the Dollar Dreams got a new facade as well to compliment the Price Rite. That was fast construction too. I'm led to believe the building wasn't demolished though, just torn apart to the frame of the building like the Newington Caldor. Maybe I'm wrong, but they would have had to build the new building very quickly. It's nice and surprising to see 983 New Britain Ave looking so good and being used. I should check out the Price Rite some day with my family.

[XISMZERO]

Right you are -- they never demolished the building but more or less its identities. If you look on Dollar Dreams side, you can see the stucco/pebble facade from the old building.

Chris, I said the same thing -- you'd never be able to tell it was its former self by looking at it now.

By my estimation, this was a perfect move for this part of town and finally this isn't the ugliest end anymore.

[AmesNewington]

It saddens me to see both the Caldor facade and the Waldbaum's facade go, but I'm also happy the building was utilized.

Nick, by any chance, did you notice if Dollar Dreams is doing interior renovations to their store? The last time I was in it, the interior was falling apart (leaking ceilings, aged floors, probably looked exactly like Food Mart did). Also, what does the pylon sign on New Britain Ave. look like now? Is it the same? And is that a newly paved parking lot I see?

Since I pass through New Britain Avenue on my way to work, I should head on down to see the plaza.

[former amesguy]

I was the district trainer for this district when we closed. This store was huge inside, and had awesome offices.

[Marc82]

Looks nice from Nick's photos. Can't believe Dollar Dreams is still open. The New Britain one closed and is now AJ WRIGHT.

[amesguy95]

http://plasticbox.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/caldorsnight.jpg

There it is as a former Caldor.