[nep321]

Caldor's new official website: https://corporate.caldor.com/our-story/

Caldor opening in 2015 news release: Caldor Department Store Set To Open Online In Fall 2015 | PRLog

Exciting!!! I have memories as a kid of shopping with mommy at Caldor all over CT. We went to the one in Rocky Hill (where Walmart is now) and occasionally the one in Newington. Also the one in Waterford during the summer when we stayed at our beach house (behind where Walmart is right now).

The company will be an online retailer and will be headquartered in Vernon, CT. This could help create some jobs in the Vernon area.

The CEO is a 24 year old gay guy who went to University of Hartford. Promoting LGBT rights and equality will be part of the corporate mission!

[7 Wishes]

Remember, this is online only.......I knew about this for awhile. Used to love Caldor!

[Mike 75]

If you like caldor, this is a great blog:
The Caldor Rainbow
Hasn't been updated in awhile, but some cool stuff nonetheless.

[JayCT]

Caldor was great before it was sold. It was a more upscale discount store, sort of like Target. Once sold, it became a junk store, full of cheap crap. It was really sad and no wonder it went out of business. The store started in Port Chester, New York but then moved to a large store on Route 7 in Norwalk near the Wilton town line. I remember going there as a kid. My aunt knew Cal Bennett, the owner, so I even met him. We were so excited when Caldor began expanding and opened a store in Fairfield. I shopped there a lot. Jay

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Caldor was great before it was sold. It was a more upscale discount store, sort of like Target. Once sold, it became a junk store, full of cheap crap. It was really sad and no wonder it went out of business. The store started in Port Chester, New York but then moved to a large store on Route 7 in Norwalk near the Wilton town line. I remember going there as a kid. My aunt knew Cal Bennett, the owner, so I even met him. We were so excited when Caldor began expanding and opened a store in Fairfield. I shopped there a lot. Jay

Caldor was a classic, the one on Rt 7 is the Walmart now, there was also one on Conn. Ave. where the Kohls is now.

[nep321]

The one that was in Newington is now a Stew Leonards.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Caldor was great before it was sold. It was a more upscale discount store, sort of like Target. Once sold, it became a junk store, full of cheap crap. It was really sad and no wonder it went out of business.

Bradlee's wasn't that bad either. But at the end, both of them were really sad places. I still haven't encountered anywhere that topped Stratford Town Fair for the worst shopping experience though. That place would have made Walmart look like an upscale store. LOL.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Bradlee's wasn't that bad either. But at the end, both of them were really sad places. I still haven't encountered anywhere that topped Stratford Town Fair for the worst shopping experience though. That place would have made Walmart look like an upscale store. LOL.

So true. I could never get over the fact that the store had no ceiling. You looked up and all you saw was the underside of the roof. This was before it was considered stylish to expose the structure and believe me that store was anything but stylish. Still it was cheap and it was opened late, even on Christmas Eve. I remember my aunt use to go there Christmas Eve to do last minute shopping. Not sure what was left at that point. Jay

[sskink]

I was a cashier at the one in Stamford while in HS in the early 70s. Awful place, awful customers. I was making minimum wage working part time and still got a shakedown from the union reps. Luckily for me I sprained my wrist, so I couldn't manage a regular register or stock shelves, so they put me in the parking garage booth. Got a lot of homework done there :-)

[seymourct]

Worked at Caldor Corp when the end came. This is what we were told. They had finished their restructuring/retooling, were poised to emerge from bantuptcy, the judge had signed off--- when blammo the investment conglomerate that had invested and backed them during restructure called for an all cash payout. I don't remember exact details it was something like maybe cash payout request was for guessing 7million and they only had 5million liquid. There was a tense week+ while staff was told the judge was trying give Caldor time. In the end the investors forced the liquidation. Contractual severance pay got paid in drips & drabs over at least 18months. Sad shame the way it played out. Real life corporate raiding Gordon Gecko scenario. When they closed they were in the top five discount retailers in the NorthEastern US. They were an absolutely awesome company to work for. Heard this young guy was bringing it back a while ago. Good for him!