Westfarms Mall
Encyclopedia
WestFarms Mall, sometimes referred to as WestFarms, is a mall located seven miles (11 km) southwest of Hartford, Connecticut. The mall developer is The Taubman Company
. It is the third largest indoor mall in the state.
Westfarms Mall is located between the towns of West Hartford, Farmington, Newington and New Britain. Westfarms features more than 160 shops, including anchors Nordstrom, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor and JCPenney. The shopping center offers a mix of stores and restaurants, many unique to the area including Apple, Bare Escentuals, bebe, Brio Tuscan Grille, California Pizza Kitchen, Coach, Cole Haan, J.Crew, Janie and Jack, Pandora, P.F. Chang's, Pottery Barn Kids, Rainforest Café, Restoration Hardware, and others.
, and Sage-Allen
. The mall was well known for its lavish ceilings and waterfall-style fountains and just like their sister mall, The Mall at Shorts Hills in New Jersey (also a Taubman Company owned mall), the designer made sure people could see from one side to the other.
The first expansion project of the mall took place when Lord & Taylor
moved from Bishop's Corner in West Hartford to the mall in the early 1980s. Then in 1997, the mall expanded once again and went through renovations when New England's first (and Connecticut's only) Nordstrom department store opened. Not only did Nordstrom build a new store, but a new wing of 32 additional stores were added.
The G.Fox store converted to its sister Filene's
division in 1993 and after Sage-Allen's demise, its space became the Filene's Men's & Home store in 1995. Both locations are now rebranded as Macy's.
From its grand opening in 1974 until 2002, the mall's center court featured waterfall-style fountains and a small stage area, taking up much of the center court area. A 2002 renovation removed all of the water display and gave the space a more open look with a Starbucks
located in the center.
In early 2008, Westfarms announced another renovation to the mall. The main entrance will get a facelift as well as introducing new signature dining P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Brio Tuscan Grill. Both of these places will include outdoor seating, for the summer time. Also, Westfarms brought in upscale stores like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Vera Bradley
to replace departed stores like Timberland
, L'Oréal
& FYE
.
Taubman Centers
Taubman Centers is an owner of United States upscale regional malls and has headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The Taubman Asia subsidiary is headquartered in Hong Kong. It has the highest selling portfolio of malls in any mall company in the United States.Taubman was founded in 1950 by...
. It is the third largest indoor mall in the state.
Westfarms Mall is located between the towns of West Hartford, Farmington, Newington and New Britain. Westfarms features more than 160 shops, including anchors Nordstrom, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor and JCPenney. The shopping center offers a mix of stores and restaurants, many unique to the area including Apple, Bare Escentuals, bebe, Brio Tuscan Grille, California Pizza Kitchen, Coach, Cole Haan, J.Crew, Janie and Jack, Pandora, P.F. Chang's, Pottery Barn Kids, Rainforest Café, Restoration Hardware, and others.
History
Westfarms mall opened in 1974 with original anchors JcPenney's, G. Fox & Co.G. Fox & Co.
G. Fox & Co. was a large department store that originated in Hartford, Connecticut. The store was also the largest privately held department store in the nation when it was sold in 1965 to the May Department Stores Company. In 1992 May Department stores phased out the G. Fox & Co. name converting...
, and Sage-Allen
Sage-Allen
Sage-Allen was a mid-market department store chain based in Hartford, Connecticut. The store was a fixture in southern New England and anchored a number of smaller local and regional shopping centers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and, later, New Hampshire, until it ceased operation in 1994.-...
. The mall was well known for its lavish ceilings and waterfall-style fountains and just like their sister mall, The Mall at Shorts Hills in New Jersey (also a Taubman Company owned mall), the designer made sure people could see from one side to the other.
The first expansion project of the mall took place when Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
moved from Bishop's Corner in West Hartford to the mall in the early 1980s. Then in 1997, the mall expanded once again and went through renovations when New England's first (and Connecticut's only) Nordstrom department store opened. Not only did Nordstrom build a new store, but a new wing of 32 additional stores were added.
The G.Fox store converted to its sister Filene's
Filene's
Filene's was a Boston-based department store owned by Federated Department Stores , and May Department Stores . It operated throughout New England and in New York.-Early years:...
division in 1993 and after Sage-Allen's demise, its space became the Filene's Men's & Home store in 1995. Both locations are now rebranded as Macy's.
From its grand opening in 1974 until 2002, the mall's center court featured waterfall-style fountains and a small stage area, taking up much of the center court area. A 2002 renovation removed all of the water display and gave the space a more open look with a Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
located in the center.
In early 2008, Westfarms announced another renovation to the mall. The main entrance will get a facelift as well as introducing new signature dining P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Brio Tuscan Grill. Both of these places will include outdoor seating, for the summer time. Also, Westfarms brought in upscale stores like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Vera Bradley
Vera Bradley
Vera Bradley Designs, Inc. is an American design company best known for its soft, brightly patterned bags. The Fort Wayne, Indiana company produces a variety of products, including quilted cotton luggage, handbags and accessories. There are more than 3500 retailers of Vera Bradley and stand alone...
to replace departed stores like Timberland
The Timberland Company
The Timberland Company is an American manufacturer and retailer of outdoors wear with a focus on footwear. Its three key locations are in Stratham, New Hampshire; Danville, Kentucky; and Ontario, California....
, L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
& FYE
Fyé
Fyé is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France.-References:*...
.
Anchors
- JCPenney's (200,000 square feet (19,000 m2); 2 Floors)
- Lord & TaylorLord & TaylorLord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
( 117,000 square feet (10,900 m2); 2 Floors) - Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
(292,000 square feet (27,100 m2); 3/2 Floors) (2 locations) - NordstromNordstromNordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
(189,000 square feet (17,600 m2); 2 Floors)