Mystery shrouds big mall space

Macerich, the owner of the Danbury Fair Mall, may demolish and rebuild the vacant Filene’s store, though inconsistent talk throughout Danbury leaves questions.

 

Whether the empty space will become a single store or multiple stores and who the new renters of the space might be remain unknown. Though Danbury officials have speculated that Macerich has a tenant in mind, Macerich chose not to comment on plans for the space.

 

“They haven’t divulged anything, but they must have signed a tenant, so now they want to move a lot quicker,” Mayor Mark Boughton said in a prepared statement. “From what I”™ve heard, there will be a new store in there soon.”

 

An attorney representing the mall and the company sent a letter to the Danbury Common Council Dec. 21 asking for approval to modify sewer and water lines “in connection with the potential demolition and replacement of the Filene’s department store.” The extent of the potential work was not disclosed.

 

Apparently not all of the members of Danbury”™s local government have heard the same information.

 

“In this year, I think you”™re going to see a lifestyle center expansion at the Danbury Fair Mall,” said Stephen A. Bull, president of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce.

The 172,000-square-foot Filene’s has been vacant since March 2006 when Macerich bought the space. Most speculation as to why Filene”™s was forced to close in 2005 points to the lack of business due to the close proximity to Macy”™s and its well-established customer base.

 

Since Macerich purchased Danbury Fair, it has been engaged in construction projects to modernize the shopping center, having finished an extensive interior renovation this past year.

Speculation for the Filesne”™s site has included a Nordstrom’s and the redesign of the space into a lifestyle center, making the mall feel more like a village center than shopping center.

Bull said Macerich has been a good owner in Danbury. “What they’ve done with the interior is absolutely gorgeous,” he said. “I’m sure whatever they do with Filene”™s will help the mall and help them to attract more high-end tenants.”