[Comp625]

Originally Posted by CTbrooktrout

You guys are all talking about retail but I remember reading several times that this was going to be a different mall than most that we know. It's supposed to focus on lifestyle and have open space for events other than shopping. A sort of central community center. I'm in town and actually looking forward to this building because of the "other than shopping" features. If anything, it's a nice place to walk in winter.

While retail will keep the place in business, lifestyle will be the draw for people who will become regulars. If this were to be a replica of say the Trumbull mall or Stamford mall with higher end stores then it would not work and GGP knows that. It was never advertised as that.

This video on their website looks great. https://ggpnorwalk.com/

Agreed that the video makes it look great, and aside from adding to the West Ave traffic, I'm all for this community hub.

After the initial curiosity phase, the SoNo collection will definitely impact the Stamford Mall on a longer-term basis. The latter targets the same demographic but pales in comparison with its dated "boring" look while offering similar lifestyle stores without the community gathering aspect.

The Trumbull Mall is far enough from Norwalk where I don't think the SoNo collection will hurt it as much. Westport and Fairfield shoppers close to I-95 will likely switch to Norwalk, but anything north from there (e.g. Fairfield residents near Route 15, Easton, Bridgeport, etc.) will likely remain with Trumbull given the easier conveniences of traffic and time.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Comp625

Agreed that the video makes it look great, and aside from adding to the West Ave traffic, I'm all for this community hub.

After the initial curiosity phase, the SoNo collection will definitely impact the Stamford Mall on a longer-term basis. The latter targets the same demographic but pales in comparison with its dated "boring" look while offering similar lifestyle stores without the community gathering aspect.

The Trumbull Mall is far enough from Norwalk where I don't think the SoNo collection will hurt it as much. Westport and Fairfield shoppers close to I-95 will likely switch to Norwalk, but anything north from there (e.g. Fairfield residents near Route 15, Easton, Bridgeport, etc.) will likely remain with Trumbull given the easier conveniences of traffic and time.

I am not sure why you think SoNo Collection will appeal to the same clientele as Stamford. They do not. SoNo will feature more upscale shopping to serve Connecticut customers who currently shop in Manhattan and Westchester. It will have upscale anchors Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. Stamford serves the middle class with Macy’s. There may be some minor overlap of customers but the core shoppers are very different. Jay

[Stepfordct]

Originally Posted by Comp625

Agreed that the video makes it look great, and aside from adding to the West Ave traffic, I'm all for this community hub.

After the initial curiosity phase, the SoNo collection will definitely impact the Stamford Mall on a longer-term basis. The latter targets the same demographic but pales in comparison with its dated "boring" look while offering similar lifestyle stores without the community gathering aspect.

The Trumbull Mall is far enough from Norwalk where I don't think the SoNo collection will hurt it as much. Westport and Fairfield shoppers close to I-95 will likely switch to Norwalk, but anything north from there (e.g. Fairfield residents near Route 15, Easton, Bridgeport, etc.) will likely remain with Trumbull given the easier conveniences of traffic and time.

Disagree. Have owned stores in most every mall in Ct. People will travel farther than you might think. 15 south to rt. 7 is pretty ez. Malls are regional draws. This is going to hurt Trumbull, Milford, and Danbury. Even the malls in Westchester, etc...
This is also why i got out of the mall biz...

[BPt111]

Central Norwalk Innovation District proposal moves forward

"The Norwalk Innovation District is intended to revitalize the Wall Street/West Avenue area and diversify its economy with public/private partnerships that fuel job growth, the drafted ordinance states. Project that include office use, mixed use, retail, manufacturing, information technology."

https://www.nancyonnorwalk.com/2018/...-to-ordinance/

[Stephy0519]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I am not sure why you think SoNo Collection will appeal to the same clientele as Stamford. They do not. SoNo will feature more upscale shopping to serve Connecticut customers who currently shop in Manhattan and Westchester. It will have upscale anchors Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. Stamford serves the middle class with Macy’s. There may be some minor overlap of customers but the core shoppers are very different. Jay

Agree. I rarely shopped at the Stamford Mall, when I lived in CT. I would go down to Westchester, Greenwich Ave, and into the city (and the smaller shops, in New Canaan.) I am literally the core demographic they are trying to hit, as well. Plenty of expendable income, "finer" tastes, and age group of late 20s-40s.

[BPt111]

Major residential-retail development proposed for Route 7

https://www.wiltonbulletin.com/12312...d-for-route-7/

[BPt111]

Wilton Heights could be Wilton new town center


https://www.thehour.com/wilton/artic...g-12919774.php

[BPt111]

I talk to one of construction workers they say the mall will be completed faster than expected it could be August 2019 instead of October of next year.

[Stephy0519]

Originally Posted by BPt111

I talk to one of construction workers they say the mall will be completed faster than expected it could be August 2019 instead of October of next year.

I wonder if they will open any stores during construction. Anyone know? As I've said, it's similar to the Westfield Century City...and they actually opened 4 months before the "official" date. It was done enough.

[BPt111]

Phase One of Norwalk’s Washington Village redevelopment nears completion

https://westfaironline.com/103242/ph...rs-completion/