Going Back Over 30 Years With a Drive From Brookfield to Danbury

There's one constant in life that we can't avoid, and that's change. Change can happen quickly or change can happen over the course of time.

So let's go back 32 years and see how much our area has changed with a simple drive from Brookfield to Danbury circa 1989.

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It was the year my wife and I made the move from Long Island to Danbury, CT. George H. Bush was President of the United States, a gallon of gas cost about $1.06, and stores like Bradlee's, Circuit City, and Caldor were where you did most of your shopping, and believe it or not, the Danbury Fair Mall was only three years old.

If you were hungry, you may have eaten at Ponderosa, or grabbed a shake and burger at Marcus Dairy. Heck Stew, Leonard's was just a tent.

I came across this video online that was taken back on October 22, 1989. It's someone driving from their home in Brookfield to Danbury, and heading towards the Berkshire Shopping Center. Part of the video is the driver traveling the back roads through Brookfield, but at around the 6:46 mark in the video, they make their way out onto Route 6 and head into Danbury. This is where you can really see the change that's taken place.

Now, most of the stores and buildings are still there, however many have changed names and ownership. You'll notice there's no Target and The Ground Round was located in the Ramada Hotel where the Outback was located. If they wanted to, they could have stopped and had lunch at El Torito Mexican Restaurant, which is now a Medical Center.

You'll also notice the Movie Cinema was located across from the Berkshire Shopping Center, and Teddy's Nightclub was the hot night life spot in the Holiday Inn.

My favorite part of the video is when they turn into the Berkshire Shopping Center and there's good old Bradlee's. And if you watch carefully, you can see where CVS and McCrory used to be. There was also a Service Merchandise in that plaza as well. Plus, check out some of those "classic cars".

So strap yourself in, and check out this video, because it's time to go back, way back in time.