This Deserted Connecticut Mall is Hanging by a Thread

In January 2025, I wrote an article discussing the decline of several malls: Enfield Square Mall, Meriden Mall, Waterbury Brass Mill Mall, and Crystal Mall in Waterford. According to Hearst CT Media, these shopping centers are at risk of going belly up.

Fleabitten Adventures is a well-known YouTube channel dedicated to exploring abandoned buildings. Recently, they returned to Waterford's Crystal Mall after finding out that more stores were closing down. During their visit, they discovered that the mall does not have a single functioning elevator or escalator! Can you believe it?

According to the Waterford, CT Patch, two retailers and a bounce house have officially closed, and a third retailer's lease is expiring. FYE (For Your Entertainment) is in the process of clearing out its inventory, with everything on sale. The other stores that are closing include Ice Imports, Bounce World, and Zales Jewelry.

The last anchor store, JCPenney, shut down last year. Earlier this year, the mall and the old Sears store were sold at auction. Now, Namdar Realty Group, which owns the mall, is looking into the possibility of redeveloping the property.