Danbury’s Mayor on Backus Ave: An Exciting Future for Retail!

On Wednesday (9/18/24), the News-Times reported that Hobby Lobby has made plans to move into the space formerly occupied by the Christmas Tree Shops in the Danbury Square Mall on Backus Avenue.

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The report says:

Hobby Lobby, a national arts and crafts supply retailer, plans to open a new store in Danbury Square, the city’s economic development director confirmed. It plans to move into the space vacated when the Christmas Tree Shops location closed in 2023. Hobby Lobby now operates four stores in Connecticut, with plans to relocate one of its existing stores and plans to open two new stores — in Danbury and Norwalk.

However Danbury Economic Development and Community Relations Adviser Farley Santos says the company has yet to apply for permits. We spoke to Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves on the Thursday (9/19/24) edition of the I-95 Morning Show and asked him about the retailer and future of the plaza.

Lou: We were wondering aloud recently what the hell was going to happen with the space that used to be the Christmas Tree Shops and then we read in the paper this morning that it's possible, not 100% that maybe a Hobby Lobby store could occupy that space, they've showed interest. What can you tell us about that?

Alves: "Yeah, sometimes we see things blowing up online before they are either finalized or not. Right now it looks like there is some interest from Hobby Lobby to go into that space right now. That shopping center, Danbury Square Mall they had the loss of the Christmas Tree Shop, and there is another store that is going out of business there and moving but they have the Planet Fitness there, they have Ocean State Job Lot, and what we're really excited about is the Brew Pub that is going there. They are building a huge patio, it's going to be a real boom for that part of town. It's just another area for us to go, you can watch a ball game, have a burger, have a beer, so we're really excited about that one over there where the old Barnes & Noble was. That shopping center is definitely going to be exciting. There is another one, we just did a ribbon cutting there last week, the line was around the corner. Boost Bowls, congratulations to them! They have multiple locations around the state, West Hartford, Milford, they've been incredibly successful. It was started by a couple that is originally from Danbury so we're really excited to see them come full-circle and start their business here at home. So, that shopping center is happening, also the guys over at Legend's Barber Shop, that is a great group of guys over there."

Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves joins the I-95 Morning Show every Thursday at 8:20 am.

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NOTE: There is a link in the description box to each businesses' menu or website.

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