New London Mall in New London, CT Offers Variety Amongst Five Buildings

This holiday season, many will head to the New London Mall in New London, CT to visit a number of stores in one stop.

t's too bad that one stop wouldn't require moving one's vehicle from one end of the center to the other.

The New London Mall was an enclosed shopping mall consisting of 290,000 square feet and approximately 35 stores with a dumbbell shape and originally opened in 1968 on a 26 acre parcel.

During its time it has seen several stores as part of its lineup including, according to the Directory of Major Malls 19th Edition: Marshalls Department Store, Sage-Allen Department Store, Bradlees Department Store, D&L Department Store, Hobbytown U.S.A., Things Remembered, Gemstones, Etc., Subway, Orange Julius, Papa Gino's, CVS, Hickory Farms store, Fifth Avenue Card Shop, Abba Travel, Dollar Plus, Paperback Booksmith, Fifth Avenue Clearance Shop, Fifth Avenue Halloween/Christmas Shop, Fashion Bug, Hair International, Cutting Crew, Tolan Nail Salon, Singer Sewing Center, Triumph Auto Glass, and Tobacco Kiosk.

The mall provided comfort in a climate controlled atmosphere and encouraged shoppers to walk from one end of the mall to the other.

In an effort to modernize the center and breathe new life into a regional mall, it was made into a lifestyle center, a project starting in 1998, with five separate buildings, some of which are quite awkward to walk between as a pedestrian.

All buildings have a New England architectural element such as white pillars and have high window tower elements along with a mix of brick and vinyl siding characteristics along with sheltered walkways and a park-like atmosphere.

Outside of each building is at least one sign with a directory of all stores in the mall but no actual handout for shoppers to take along with them.

Today, the New London Mall consists of a southern building anchored by a 64,017 square foot Shop Rite Supermarket with Dime Savings Bank and Subway, a 4,156 square foot Kay's Hallmark, a 23,500 square foot Petsmart (former OfficeMax), and a 6,060 square foot West Marine.