The Retail Apocalypse: 5 Major Chains Fleeing Connecticut Malls and Plazas This Spring 2026

From the demolition of suburban anchors to the loss of a 70-year-old local icon, here are the major retail shifts hitting Connecticut this spring.

1. The Death of a Connecticut Icon: Bob’s Stores

Perhaps the most heartbreaking news for local shoppers: Bob’s Stores—a brand founded in Middletown in 1954—is officially closing its remaining doors statewide this spring.

• The Impact: After a failed attempt to secure financing for a total restructuring, the chain is liquidating all locations, including high-traffic spots in Milford and Norwalk.
• Status: "Going Out of Business" sales are entering their final weeks. For generations of Connecticut families, this marks the end of a primary destination for casual apparel and footwear.

2. The "De-Malling" of Enfield and Waterford

Two of Connecticut’s major shopping centers are undergoing radical transformations this spring, moving away from the traditional indoor retail model.

• Enfield Square Mall: The bulldozers are scheduled to arrive in Spring 2026 to begin the total demolition of the aging structure. It will be replaced by "Enfield Marketplace," a mixed-use town center featuring residential units and hotels. Note that Target will remain open as a standalone anchor during the process.
• Crystal Mall (Waterford): The biggest retail story in New London County is the conversion of the Crystal Mall. Following its acquisition by General Dynamics Electric Boat in 2026, it transitioned from a shopping hub to an educational and support center for submarine manufacturing.

3. Stop & Shop: Trimming the Fleet

While Stop & Shop remains the state’s dominant grocer, it is continuing to "prune" its portfolio to focus on high-performing, remodeled locations.

• Spring Closure: The company has confirmed the closure of its Clinton location (215 East Main Street) for early 2026.
• Logistics Shift: In a major pivot for online shoppers, Stop & Shop has shuttered its dedicated e-commerce "warerooms" in Norwalk and Windsor. Delivery orders are now being picked directly from local store shelves to increase efficiency.
• Previous Cuts: This follows the 2025 closures of underperforming stores in Ansonia, Torrington, Stamford, and Danbury.

4. The Amazon Fresh & Go "Total Retreat"

Mirroring the national trend, Amazon has officially pulled the plug on its branded physical grocery experiment in Connecticut.

• The Closure: All Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations are scheduled to close by early spring.
• The Future: Amazon is pivoting entirely to Whole Foods Market. Some former Fresh sites in the Northeast are being evaluated for conversion into the smaller Whole Foods Market Daily Shop format later this year.

5. The Discount Collapse: Big Lots and Rite Aid

Value-conscious shoppers are seeing their options dwindle as two major national chains complete their exits.

• Big Lots: Following its bankruptcy proceedings, the chain is aggressively shrinking its Connecticut footprint. Leases for stores in Bristol, Derby, and Middletown have been put up for auction, with liquidations expected to conclude this spring.
• Rite Aid: After decades on Connecticut street corners, Rite Aid has officially completed its total brand exit. All locations have now closed, and most prescription assets have been transferred to CVS.

Why the Shift?

Industry analysts point to a "migration" of retail in 2026 rather than a simple decline:

1. "De-Malling": Landlords are realizing that massive, climate-controlled malls are less profitable than open-air "town centers" that mix housing with retail.
2. The Submarine Effect: In areas like Waterford, demand for industrial and defense-related space has simply outpaced that for traditional retail.
3. Efficiency First: Chains like Stop & Shop and Macy's (which is shuttering its Cheshire logistics hub this March) are moving toward "localized" models to cut down on the massive overhead of centralized warehouses.