You Remembered: Favorite Danbury Fair Mall Memories from 1987 to 2000”

You Remembered: Favorite Danbury Fair Mall Memories from 1987 to 2000”

Ethan Carey - Danbury Fair (2022)

If you grew up anywhere near Danbury between 1987 and 2000, the mall wasn’t a shopping center — it was a lifestyle choice. It had escalators, neon, and just enough supervision to keep our parents from calling the cops. The following comments were posted on my Ethan Carey FB page.

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“I was there opening day,” said Judy S., and you can almost hear the chaos. “The floor upstairs in the food court was moving,” added Lisa R. Yeah, it was — because every human in Fairfield County was standing on it.

Mindy C. remembered the excitement vividly: “We were holding hands, walking in with so much excitement. I even bought a new bag just for shopping.” That’s the kind of preparation you only see for weddings and grand openings.

Gail R. nailed it: “Sears was the go-to. You could buy a tire, a dress, and a washing machine. The fountain — how many people fell in it? Cinnabon. Nuf said.”

For the rest of us? It was the ultimate teenage playground. “I was a mall rat when Time Out was in the food court,” remembered Jim M. Meanwhile, Pam B. confessed she “spent so much of my radio paycheck there I might as well have lived there.” Same, Pam. Same.

The Danbury Fair Mall wasn’t just a building — it was Connecticut’s unofficial indoor amusement park. You could flirt, shop, and inhale sugar in equal measure. We didn’t need social media; we had the fountain.

Reader Spotlight – A Fairground Memory That Still Melts Hearts by Kerry M.

My friend and I would gather all the young children we babysat for —my younger daughter, Meg, among them —and head to the Danbury Fair. They always had the best time, and we all loved it. For us, it was heartbreaking to see it go.

One day, as we were leaving, I asked them who would like an Italian ice, and of course, everyone did, my friend and I included! We stopped at a nice-looking vendor, and I placed our order. A lovely and kind elderly Italian couple ran it. They talked with the kids as they made our delicious ice cones, covered in all sorts of yummy syrup.
I gave them my $20 bill while constantly checking with my friend to make sure the kids stayed close to us. The woman handed me my change, and without looking, I tucked it into my pocket. We thanked them for their kindness and all headed back to the car, which seemed like miles away, which it might have been!
The Fair was always crowded; people loved it! We got the kids settled in the car, and I slid behind the wheel to head home. As I did, I pulled out my change and couldn't believe what I was holding. Instead of dollar bills, the woman had given me a hundred-dollar bill and two 50 dollar bills. My friend and I stared at the money in shock. It never occurred to us to keep the money; it was who was the lucky one who got to walk all the way back to return it, then back to the car. I won.
When I walked around the corner to the couple's stand, I could hear the woman sobbing and her husband comforting her. When they saw me, they couldn't believe their eyes. I handed them their money, saying, "I think this belongs to you"! The gratitude and relief on their faces were something I've never forgotten. The woman ran out to me, crying and hugging me, saying in her beautiful Italian accent, "Thank you, thank you, we depend so much on what we make here, you are so good, so good." Such a sweet woman, and I didn't feel that I was all that good, just doing the right thing, as I was taught.
The husband insisted I have another Italian ice "on the house," and they tried to give me the few dollars of change I was owed and an extra $5. But looking at their lovely faces, I just smiled, raised my ice, and said, "Your happiness has changed enough. Cheers!"
After more kisses and hugs, I started the walk back to the car. I thought of that beautiful couple and how hard they worked, and the look of happiness and such gratitude for having their having very much needed money back. I smiled. And the walk back to the car didn't seem nearly as long.   💜

Retro Food Court Options at Danbury Fair in the 80s and 90s...

One Year Ago Today The Swamp Almost Got Inside Danbury Fair Mall

One year ago today on January 9, 2024, major flooding was happening around our area as snow from a recent storm was melted away quickly by drenching rains. It got interesting and a bit dangerous in Danbury. I received a bunch of photos from my friend Gino who couldn't believe what he was seeing as he stopped into the Danbury Fair Mall. Here's a few of the pics he sent over.

Gallery Credit: Photos by G&R Fabrication

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