Gone, but not forgotten: Beloved Eastern Connecticut shops and eateries we miss
Over the decades Eastern Connecticut has said farewell to several beloved stores and restaurants, from stand-alone eateries that succumbed to the economic challenges of COVID-19 to indoor malls where declining foot-traffic made traditional “anchor” stores unviable.
Take a walk down memory lane as we recall some of the places we've said goodbye to over the year.
The Norwichtown Mall
After a 44-year run beginning in 1968, the Norwichtown Mall off Town Street closed for good in 2012. The indoor shopping center over its lifetime boasted a bevy of shops and restaurants, from Bee Bee Dairy, the Caldor department store and Bob’s Discount Furniture to the Golden Chinese restaurant and Waldenbooks.
In 2013, the center was revamped and rechristened the “Norwichtown Commons,” a connected shopping strip home to, among others, a Super Stop & Shop, Planet Fitness franchise, the Asian Bistro and 36 Town Grill & Tap.
Benny’s
In October 2017, Benny’s locations in Norwich, Killingly and Danielson shuttered their doors for good. The New England retail giant’s corporate owners a month earlier announced its plan to close all of its Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts locations, partly due to an inability to compete with online retailers.
The stores served as a one-stop shopping outlet for customers seeking anything from motor oil and lawn equipment to holiday decorations and greeting cards. The Norwich site has since become an FW Webb Company distribution center and warehouse, while Steve Bousquet’s Appliance and TV moved its operations into the North Main Street location in Danielson.
Trink-ett no more
After a half-century of operations and decades of giving local prom-goers and prospective wedding couples their choice of gowns and tuxes, the Trink-ett Shoppe on Danielson’s Main Street closed on Oct. 31. Co-owners Alan and Cindy Parsons, who had been planning to retire at some point, said a forced closure prompted by COVID-19 accelerated their plans.
Jim Weigel, owner of the Pourings & Passages used bookstore, moved his stock from a second-floor space down the road to the former clothing store in April.
COVID closures
COVID-19 has been the toughest on small businesses, and Connecticut was no exception. Throughout New London and Windham counties, several local restaurants, stores and shops had to shut their doors for good. We've compiled a list of closings across several towns for those wondering if their favorite, local business is still around.
Norwich
One of the biggest hits to Norwich came with the loss of Phelps Dodge Industries Inc., who made cast rods for the building wire, telecommunications, power cable and magnet wire markets. They laid off 117 workers after closing back in the fall of 2020. Norwich lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue from the plant's property taxes and electricity bills.
Norwich also lost Café Otis after one year's worth of business. It was run out of the original Otis Library location. The owner cited struggles with running a café during a pandemic. Create a Cut Hair Designers closed as well after 38 years. The owner, Monika LaPointe, wouldn't be able to run the business profitably enough while following Connecticut COVID-19 guidelines.
Most recently, Norwich lost Namoo Korean Eatery. As they say on their Facebook page: "This world has been full of so many changes, and with that being said I’m sure there are many of you who know how hard it is to sustain a successful business." It's unclear if Namoo will make a return.
Mystic
Avanti's of Mystic Pizza and Bartleby's Café both closed their doors late spring of 2020, each due to the stark drop in business caused from the onset of the pandemic.
New London
NoRA Cupcake Company shut its doors in June of 2020, sighting a 75% drop in business with no rise in the foreseeable future. New London's only openly gay bar, Brass Rail, also shut its doors around this time, as the lease was not renewed due to the pandemic.
Another New London bakery, The Cake Lady, also shut their doors. Charlene Lindquist announced her retirement at the end of 2020, citing the pandemic as the driving factor. She's hopeful that someone new will take over the space and continue on in her absence.
Woodstock
The Village Restaurant and Lounge closed down in March of 2020 amid the inital COVID-19 regulations. It has since remained closed.