East Brook Mall in Mansfield, CT Reveals Decades-Long Transformation

Sometimes a shopping mall can take on a transformation on its own and the one at East Brook Mall shows the changing needs of its community which includes Tolland, Windham, and New London Counties in Connecticut.

According to The Caldor Rainbow Web site, the mall opened April 24, 1975 and newspaper ads in the Hartford Courant told customers to come and "be in the center of everything" with a mall located in Mansfield near the Willimantic/Mansfield town line.

Anchored by Caldor Discount Store, Sage-Allen Department Store, and a A&P Supermarket, the mall truly had a variety of everything.

The ad stated that "over 30 outstanding stores and shops under a climate controlled roof in a lovely a la natural décor. From fashion to cosmetics, plants to appliances, supermarket, and everything you need for the family in one easy stop."

Stores included Books Unlimited, Bruce Too, Cricket, C.V.S., Eastern Horizons, Fayva Shoes, G.C. Lawson Farms, Gerald J. Lipee Jewelers, I Natural Cosmetics, Leighton's, Lessenger Real Estate, Music 'N More, Papa Gino Restaurant, Flenn's New York Delicatessen, Sackett's Hallmark Card and Party Shop, Savings Bank of New Britain, Shetucket Hayness Co., So-Fro Fabrics, The Connecticut Aquarium, The Hoot, The Plant Store, The Weathervane, Tubridy's, and Wahner 5.

Acres of free parking were advertised near Route 195 and Interstate 84 (now known as Route 6 after the original highway plan was cancelled).

While the ad stated the stores would be open "six nights 'til 9:30", today most close at 9:00 p.m.

The 37,000 square foot Sage-Allen store, which takes up 15 percent of the mall's space, went out of business and was replaced by a J.C. Penney Department Store while A&P Supermarkets became a T.J. Maxx Department Store.

Caldor would briefly become an Ames store becoming converted into a Kohl's Department Store while Tubridy's closed and The Hoot moved allowing the creation of a Cinema North theater.

This means that today the mall is anchored by Kohl's, J.C. Penney, T.J. Maxx, and the Cinema North Mansfield Movieplex which features eight screens.