Danbury Fair Mall: Business is Booming at this Unusually Busy Mall! Danbury, Connecticut.

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  • Опубліковано 2 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 141

  • @ObviousTrollFrom2007
    @ObviousTrollFrom2007 26 днів тому +16

    Finally, someone else has noticed this about a mall. Not sure what it is, but going here has been magic for me my entire 22 year life. And I'm beyond grateful that it's still plenty packed to this day. 😁

  • @therapiststeve3294
    @therapiststeve3294 26 днів тому +28

    It's amazing how many people are willing to go to a mall when they feel safe there.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому +1

      Yes, it seemed safe to me. Nice mall and great selection of stores too.

  • @aarondellacioppa2847
    @aarondellacioppa2847 26 днів тому +8

    Grew up going to this mall as a kid in the early 2000's, it was always super busy. Came back recently and was surprised at how busy it was considering how every other mall in the surrounding area seems to be declining.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Yeah, it's definitely doing much better than 95% of the malls I've been to!

  • @mac_c
    @mac_c 17 днів тому +4

    Never been to this mall, but I would definitely go to it. I think a BoxLunch location would be perfect to be there.

    • @SSNESS
      @SSNESS День тому

      Marcus Dairy

  • @petersideris6216
    @petersideris6216 25 днів тому +4

    This mall and West Farms have managed to defy gravity. I think it's close proximity to the New York line really helps this mall. Plus they have a nice blend of stores to cater to lots of different shoppers + lots of shopping in and around the mall that brings crowds.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому +1

      Yes, Danbury Fair and Westfarms are without question (in my opinion) the most successful malls in Connecticut! Thanks for watching!

    • @rl8429
      @rl8429 23 дні тому

      @@fleabittenadventures The third most successful in Connecticut seems debatable. It comes down to Buckland Hills, Sono, Trumbull, and Connecticut Post. I'm leaning towards Sono the most because they have luxury anchors. Their stores range from mid to high-end. Buckland Hills lost 2 anchors and Trumbull is owned by Namdar (still doing ok but Namdar is a bad sign for the future).

  • @BlackArroToons
    @BlackArroToons 26 днів тому +5

    Thanks for the Danbury Fair Mall tour!

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому +1

      No problem! Thanks for watching!

    • @BlackArroToons
      @BlackArroToons 24 дні тому

      @@fleabittenadventures Thanks! Round One Arcade is a big, nice arcade. Thanks for the walkthrough.

  • @may0naiz
    @may0naiz 25 днів тому +3

    This is my local mall. I really miss the way it looked prior to renovations when I was a kid in the early 2000’s. There was so much thought into the tile and paint choice. The green metal accents all over the mall were really pleasing to look at. The initial renovations weren’t even bad until they painted white over everything.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому +1

      Yeah, I'm not a fan of the all-white or tan malls. Bring back the bright colors!

  • @ohlookitsmaria
    @ohlookitsmaria 24 дні тому +3

    I cannot even begin to estimate the amount of Saturdays I spent at this mall in my teen and young adult years with my parents in the 80's and 90's. It was a short hours drive from the part of New York I'm from and the nicest mall around. I love that it's still thriving. :)

    • @SSNESS
      @SSNESS День тому

      Ridgefield Tigers 🐅

    • @ohlookitsmaria
      @ohlookitsmaria 21 годину тому

      @@SSNESS I have no idea what Ridgefield Tigers is.

    • @SSNESS
      @SSNESS 21 годину тому

      @@ohlookitsmaria it’s the town next door

  • @forthefiends
    @forthefiends 26 днів тому +5

    So many memories here❤️

  • @butterscotch9189
    @butterscotch9189 26 днів тому +3

    A very nice mall
    I go there because they have so many good stores. Primark and Target are a big draw and Barnes and Noble
    Thanks for the video Tom! Happy shopping and can't wait to see more video's.

  • @Glitteringmoonstone2022
    @Glitteringmoonstone2022 21 день тому +1

    Freehold Race way Mall is my mall since childhood. 1:17 it does look similar to Freehold. The roof is the same, the layout is similar, the abondened anchor stores have similar murals. The food court is similar with a double decker merry go round with Elavator close by over looking where the fountain used to be.
    Looking forward to your analysis on the Freehold Race way mall

  • @trevorgotch4607
    @trevorgotch4607 25 днів тому +2

    As someone who visits the Freehold Raceway Mall every other week, I can tell that it is thriving. In spite of losing three anchors store over the past few years (Sears, Nordstrom, and Lord & Taylor), Macerich continues to maintain a class A regional shopping center in the Freehold Raceway Mall.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Good to hear! I hope to get out to see Freehold Raceway Mall sometime early in 2025! Thanks for watching!

  • @mscarolynnigro
    @mscarolynnigro 24 дні тому +2

    The two-tiered carousel, which has been in the mall since it opened in 1986. The carousel is an exact replica of the one that was used at the Danbury Fair for decades prior to the mall being built on the site of the fair. The carousel itself was built in 1985

  • @Lightsngear
    @Lightsngear 11 днів тому

    This is a great mall! Super-crowded. I was in Danbury this past summer for a weekend event. Had lunch one day at the Chick Fil-A and the next day at the Shake Shack.

  • @ChristopherSmithNYC
    @ChristopherSmithNYC 26 днів тому +2

    I miss the fair. Wasn't as big as Big E, but it was really fun. Closed when I was 6. This mall has always been good. It would get so busy during the Holidays.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      I'd love to see video of the Danbury Fair! I'm from northern CT, and I had never heard about it until I started doing these mall walkthroughs.

  • @KatIoannou
    @KatIoannou 20 днів тому

    Wow!! Most beautiful mall I’ve ever seen!!❤❤❤

  • @Yeahno-ey3rb
    @Yeahno-ey3rb 26 днів тому +5

    This mall was always our post Christmas trip. We would take our Christmas money and hit all the clothing stores with big sales. And there was a Chik Fil A in Marley Station Mall Glen Burnie MD.

  • @oliverchang7560
    @oliverchang7560 24 дні тому +2

    Yes, this is very similar to the Freehold Raceway Mall in NJ, and at first glance, I was almost fooled. Good location in central NJ down the road from Six Flags Great Adventure, and in the heart of Monmouth County (one of NJ's most affluent). The FRM used to easily be a top three NJ premiere mall. Now, it is sadly a dying mall. I would be willing to give you a VIP tour if you like. Great channel, keep up the fantastic work sir.

    • @skeeline6176
      @skeeline6176 20 днів тому +1

      honestly i doubt the "dying" claim on freehold as somebody whos local mall is freehold, granted it obviously had a slow downturn (especially the department stores) as the pandemic went on but as the storm went away i feel like much of the vacant spaces (even by the lord and taylor) were being filled up again, granted i've been seeing a trend of less brand names and more local businesses but the mall still seems to be holding up in my opinion, and also much of the vacant department stores finally getting confirmed tenants in the future, with dicks moving into the lord and taylor and also dave and busters. but at the same time, i see what u meant by describing the mall as dying :D

    • @oliverchang7560
      @oliverchang7560 20 днів тому

      @ as much as it pains me to make that claim, simply go visit other malls in NJ. Cherry Hill Mall, Willowbrook Mall, Garden State Plaza Paramus, and American Dream, for example, are much more lively and filled with shoppers, even on weekdays. Simply a different tier of activity, you’ll see what I mean.

  • @beast6525
    @beast6525 26 днів тому +2

    This is my local mall lol this is awesome to watch

  • @soysaucavenger
    @soysaucavenger 26 днів тому +2

    i live about 15 minutes away on the new york side.. the family ad i come here after work on random weekdays, and while not as packed as a saturday afternoon, this mall is busy. and it's Target is the best Target we've ever been to.

  • @kittycypher
    @kittycypher 23 дні тому

    This is pretty cool! I live close by, so it's often fun to just wander around the stores. Greetings from the 203 area! ^^

  • @Mark99229
    @Mark99229 26 днів тому +6

    I think the advantage this mall has is its proximity to downstate New York, half the shoppers there are New Yorkers and many of the tenants live in New York as well.

  • @pierrerosado6445
    @pierrerosado6445 10 днів тому

    I remember getting a job there when it first opened up back in 1986. A lot has changed.

  • @airzingis1169
    @airzingis1169 23 дні тому

    Been to Freehold so many times and yeah it’s got the same kind of ceiling lights, and it also has a 2nd floor food court with a double decker carousel in the middle just like this one, cool to see a mall so similar to one I’ve gone to for years, thanks for the vid

  • @majorasecho
    @majorasecho 8 днів тому

    Always love going to the danbury mall. Im from ny and always go here over the two malls that are closer to me (jv and palisades). It's just so much livelier there.

  • @K1TT3NM1TT3N5
    @K1TT3NM1TT3N5 23 дні тому

    Worked in many different stores in the mall over my years of living in CT. It’s a nice place, you wouldn’t believe that the entire lot is full almost every Christmas holiday.

  • @BreakTime10101
    @BreakTime10101 21 день тому

    It seems like any mall with an Apple Store is doing well. That Danbury Family Diner looked like an old Johnny Rockets diner. Five Below has items above $5. That was the first two story Barns and Noble I’ve seen. Did you figure out the two story Target? That Round 1 did not require payment to get into? The one we have does. Great video, thanks for sharing.

  • @mikehawk72-e7w
    @mikehawk72-e7w 25 днів тому +1

    I'm back here in the area. I was 14 when they opened this mall in 1986. We weren't mallrats but spent many hours in this mall back in the day as a teenager. Being back now it's nice to see this mall is thriving when I am back in it again as most are going belly up. This mall was rand still is looked down upon for killing downtown main street business and the beloved Danbury Fair. Now with Amazon and brick and mortar becoming extinct it's somehow nice to see business thriving where there's real live people interacting in some way.

  • @Tracksidebench
    @Tracksidebench 26 днів тому +6

    The mural painting was done by a artist named kepto he did a whole you tube video. On what it means

  • @Snappers1_
    @Snappers1_ 26 днів тому +2

    9:30 That used to be a McDonalds, where you can sit and eat. They even had a fountain machine where you can get free refills.

  • @Forget1987
    @Forget1987 22 дні тому +1

    Look at all these happy people

  • @burngwngs
    @burngwngs 24 дні тому

    This is just about a regular day there. I love this mall. I go maybe twice a month or more. Especially for the Lego store but the food court has great food. Believe me, just before Thanksgiving, you won't be able to walk as easy. It also get more beautiful with decorations. They just added and bowling alley too. Great place to spend a few hours.

  • @cristinacho7881
    @cristinacho7881 24 дні тому +1

    I live in Jersey. Funny you said that, because I’m looking at this mall and it reminded me of Freehold Mall (that’s where we call it here or just “Freehold”). 😂

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  22 дні тому +1

      Cool! I should be taking a look at Freehold Mall sometime early in 2025.

    • @cristinacho7881
      @cristinacho7881 22 дні тому

      @ Yeah! Enjoy! There are a lot of restaurants in the area, too. But I don’t want to spoil it anymore. 😂

  • @scottbracci768
    @scottbracci768 21 день тому

    Tom I like your channel a lot. My one suggestion would be maybe discuss some stores that aren't always common. Many times I can't quite see the sign or I do and I wonder what it is. Just a thought

  • @walterwright8454
    @walterwright8454 19 днів тому

    I have been going to this mall since the late 90's. On Saturdays it used to be busier than what you see here, but it was the 90s-00's. I will say what you see here is "jumpin" for today's world.

  • @Bifyton
    @Bifyton 18 днів тому

    In the remodel they redid the foundation also. I remember as a kid you can smell the bleach from the old foundation

  • @Ih8escalators
    @Ih8escalators 25 днів тому +4

    Freehold is absolutely this mall’s twin. No question.

  • @pauld7991
    @pauld7991 26 днів тому +2

    The connection between malls booming after Primark becomes the anchor!

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому +1

      Yes, that seems to be true. Also, all the Primarks I have seen seem to leasing out old Sears stores. Primark almost feels like the new Sears to me.

  • @John_Locke_108
    @John_Locke_108 24 дні тому

    First time went to this mall would have been a good 35 years ago when I was a kid.
    Rarely ever went because it was a good hour drive.
    Farmington Valley Mall, however, was a mall I visited weekly.

  • @rl8429
    @rl8429 26 днів тому +1

    18:41 It seems pretty common that Hollister stores in thriving malls have that updated storefront while the ones that aren’t doing so great still have the roof design.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Most of the old Hollisters that I see with the roof design are either vacant or occupied by a new business, especially up north.

  • @Candie-d6t
    @Candie-d6t 26 днів тому +3

    Huge mall very busy

  • @matthewhack
    @matthewhack 26 днів тому +1

    I live pretty close by, less than a ten minute drive away. I’d say this flow of traffic is an average Saturday, maybe a bit slower since Saturday had really nice weather. Very funny that you missed the fountain and got the tree again - they had literally installed the tree late Friday evening.
    Norwalk and their SoNo Collection mall are probably a little closer than Trumbull, at least by distance even if taking 7 south is a slow go.
    The Lord & Taylor has been approved by the city for a zoning change to be converted into apartments. The last I’d heard, the plan for that conversion was still many years out, assuming they even pursue it.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Bad timing for the fountain I guess.... Oh well. Do they want to build apartments INSIDE the old Lord and Taylor? That would be weird.

    • @matthewhack
      @matthewhack 19 днів тому

      @ That’s the plan for the apartments! Really strange but they’ve been slowly working with the city on it for a couple of years, they were rezoned to support up to 150 apartments throughout the whole mall so you figure maybe 20-25 apartments in Lord & Taylor across the three floors? Strange times for all these huge spaces, glad Danbury Fair’s at least planning ahead instead of letting things die.

  • @itachi112ify
    @itachi112ify 25 днів тому +1

    16:58 I love that store, always going in there to check on what they have for Dreamcast

  • @Foxonian
    @Foxonian 26 днів тому +1

    There is a Round 1 arcade at the Holyoke Mall in the former 21 forever (originally Steiger's) space.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Yes! If/when I do a Round 1 video, it will probably be at that location. I was going to go a few months ago, but then someone drove their car through part of it and it was shut down for a little while.

  • @rl8429
    @rl8429 26 днів тому +1

    16:17 That’s Barnes and Noble’s logo for many of their new locations which are typically smaller in size

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Thanks for the info. That's the first logo like that that I've seen.

  • @yanniyanni7326
    @yanniyanni7326 9 днів тому +1

    well I would only disagree that losing their anchor store Lord and Taylor was a big hit. I wish they would put one very upscale store and the mall such as Neiman Marcus

  • @tstidm4
    @tstidm4 26 днів тому +1

    Have you ever thought of coming down to the DC area for MAGFest? They have hundreds of Pinball, Arcade systems, indie games and console machines.

  • @harrisonhanson2998
    @harrisonhanson2998 21 день тому

    You must live in the perfect location to be able to go to so many different malls. But I think it’s really cool how you’re able to do this. Malls are definitely a thing of my generation. & idk but it seems like it’s not going to be a lasting thing.

  • @mds2465
    @mds2465 20 днів тому

    Yes I live in Wilton and I go to this mall all the time. I usually go in there to get my iPhone screen and camera protectors replaced

  • @calgarmaximus
    @calgarmaximus 4 дні тому

    Yeah, that's fairly light for the Danbury Fair. Btw, the owners of the mall were trying to get approval to renovate for apartments in Lord and Taylor.

  • @jasonthedude-wk9un
    @jasonthedude-wk9un 25 днів тому +1

    When will you visit Rockaway Townsquare in NJ?

  • @MetalGreggNY75
    @MetalGreggNY75 26 днів тому +2

    I know in Danbury there is a heavy Portuguese/Brazillian population.

  • @retroguy1976
    @retroguy1976 5 днів тому

    def freehold is so similar to danbury and still healthy despite losing 3 anchors sears, lord and taylor and nordstrom I go to freehold to visit my grandmother at the nursing home. so commonly I stop there for lunch departing outta town don't go on black friday its packed you will not get parking

  • @emocobra666
    @emocobra666 25 днів тому +1

    Love the dinner ate there a few time

  • @rl8429
    @rl8429 26 днів тому +1

    34:40 Primark didn’t take over the whole 2nd level, there was still some vacant space left.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Oh OK. Did Target go into part of that vacant space?

    • @rl8429
      @rl8429 24 дні тому

      @@fleabittenadventuresYes, the whole building is occupied now.

  • @Raysan81
    @Raysan81 6 днів тому

    I live near freehold Raceway Mall in New Jersey and this mall interior looks very similar in design and 98% occupancy for this mall that’s pretty good for today’s standards

  • @larryk731
    @larryk731 25 днів тому +1

    I've been to freehold and it's extremely similar

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Interesting. I'll try to do a comparison when I eventually get down there! Thanks!

    • @larryk731
      @larryk731 24 дні тому

      @fleabittenadventures If I wasn't told where you were, I would have guessed Freehold.

  • @zacharybabcock7809
    @zacharybabcock7809 25 днів тому +1

    I think the calendar store is thier all the time it is in my local mall

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Really? Are people buying calendars all year long? In my experience they usually open in the fall and close sometime in January.

  • @gamera1962
    @gamera1962 2 дні тому

    The mural is by an artist name kip toe and he has a youtube channel where you can watch him paint this mural.

  • @georgef551
    @georgef551 25 днів тому +1

    Never seen a Chik Fil-A in a mall before? Pheasant Lane had one........unless it was sarcasm. :) (Didn't sound like it.)

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Was there one? I honestly don't remember. After going to something like 100 malls, it all gets a bit blurry.

    • @georgef551
      @georgef551 24 дні тому

      @@fleabittenadventures I guess it would. Simon ones are "You Seen One, You Saw 'Em All."

  • @TLW896
    @TLW896 26 днів тому +5

    The commenter remarking on safety is correct and may contribute to its being busy as well as it being a Saturday. I haven't been to the Mall in a while, but there always was any number of Security Guards walking around and observing. I believe Safavieh, the furniture store occupied the upper level area where Kidz Club is. And a big Thank You for allowing me to PRETEND walk around. Much appreciation.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Thanks for watching! Glad you liked the video, and thanks for the info!

  • @cristinacho7881
    @cristinacho7881 23 дні тому

    To answer your question, yes it’s VERY similar to Freehold. Only I think it’s one might be bigger.

    • @rl8429
      @rl8429 22 дні тому +1

      Freehold is a bit bigger

    • @cristinacho7881
      @cristinacho7881 22 дні тому

      @ Is it? It’s hard to tell in the video. 😆

    • @rl8429
      @rl8429 22 дні тому +1

      @@cristinacho7881 Yes, Freehold is about 1.5 million square feet while Danbury is about 1.3 million square feet

    • @cristinacho7881
      @cristinacho7881 22 дні тому

      @@rl8429 Gotcha

  • @lucdube808
    @lucdube808 26 днів тому +1

    Kids Klub was Arhaus Furniture, Lord and Taylor is supposed to be redeveloped into apartments

    • @rl8429
      @rl8429 26 днів тому +1

      No, Arhaus is where Barnes and noble is now. You can tell from the brick storefront.

    • @lucdube808
      @lucdube808 26 днів тому +1

      @ You’re right. It was Safaveih Home Furnishings. They both left at around the same time period.

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      They would probably need to tear down the Lord and Taylor building to put in apartments, right? Thanks for the info!

    • @lucdube808
      @lucdube808 24 дні тому

      @@fleabittenadventures Not too sure, I have seen anchor boxes heavily modified into apartments. They haven’t really given specifics yet

  • @tanman1501
    @tanman1501 25 днів тому

    I think they envisioned you when they coined the term fuddy duddy

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      I'm not sure if you're trying to insult me or just joking around... Either way, what in particular do you think makes me a fuddy duddy?

  • @harrisonhanson2998
    @harrisonhanson2998 21 день тому

    Again I’ll comment on how you must have a very reliable vehicle to be able to drive up and down the east coast visiting all these different malls.

  • @tomfrenza8049
    @tomfrenza8049 24 дні тому

    It looks to me that they have 75% occupancy not 98%. There are a lot of vacant stores.

    • @rl8429
      @rl8429 24 дні тому

      75% is underestimating. Most of the vacancies are around the Lord & Taylor wing. The rest of the mall, not so much. Maybe about 10 spaces. The whole mall is about 1.3 million square feet. L&T building itself is about 80,000 sq ft, add up the rest of the vacancies and we're looking at 10% vacancy at worst.

  • @Silentbobx
    @Silentbobx 26 днів тому +2

    Great to see you at the Danbury Fair again! I’ll share some tidbits:
    Weekdays can be pretty busy as well, but yeah, the weekends are especially packed.
    There’s a rumor they’re going to put an apartment complex where the Lord and Taylor’s was supposed to be.
    I think the Barns and Nobel has been there late last year. It used to be down the road near where the Toys R Us used to be.
    And I was actually there at Round1’s opening day. It was a big event. The mayor was even there to cut the ribbon for the occasion.
    I also came across this video of the mall from when it originally opened if you want to have a look.
    Hope you have a good time when you come back. 👍
    ua-cam.com/video/HeCSXSnH5sU/v-deo.htmlsi=t7OIVX6l8Y-krLey

  • @jbucciny
    @jbucciny 12 днів тому

    Mall is in one of the richest regions of the usa and a stones throw from rural ny towns that have limited shopping choices.... thus the popularity of the mall.

  • @SHADOSTRYKR
    @SHADOSTRYKR 25 днів тому +1

    Is that a child or a dog doing the high pitch yipping sound? Either way, would totally have been unacceptable when I was a kid

  • @louismacri4252
    @louismacri4252 21 день тому +2

    The mall is not like how it used to be. I am not too crazy about people that loiter and start all kinds of trouble. I do not like rap music. Rap music should be banned. I live and love heavy metal music and forever. Metal is for life. I like safety

  • @solcario2
    @solcario2 20 днів тому +1

    Yeah this looks about average for a saturday

    • @solcario2
      @solcario2 20 днів тому

      Its doing well enough that the level one game store gets enough traffic they were able to open a second location in another mall

    • @solcario2
      @solcario2 20 днів тому

      On the topic of restaurants, you got there shortly after the chomp chomp opened, been in the works for a good while, shame it replaced probably the last desert moon, loved that place

    • @solcario2
      @solcario2 20 днів тому

      I'll watch the rest of the video later

  • @Nothinghere0101
    @Nothinghere0101 26 днів тому

    53 Minutes?!?

    • @fleabittenadventures
      @fleabittenadventures  24 дні тому

      Yes, what's your point though? I do full walkthroughs of mall. The bigger the mall, the longer the video. You should see how long my American Dream Mall video is.

  • @garygillotti4643
    @garygillotti4643 26 днів тому

    It's not that busy