Back when I first wrote this blog in November of 2013, the Meadowbrook Mall was getting ready to hold a massive celebration. Although the celebration was to officially recognize a recent $5 million-plus renovation to the building, it’s also was a celebration of the mall operating for its 30^th year.

 

Fast forward five more years and the Mall is still serving as the retail hub in the City of Bridgeport. Along with that distinction has come millions of dollars to Bridgeport’s tax coffers that provide funding that supports multiple city-offered services.

 

What’s truly unique about the Mall today is that even with the departure of two of its main anchors in Sears and Elder-Beerman, most of the mall's storefronts are occupied. While folks can debate the health of the mall, let's save that for another day and rewind here a bit in this blog flashback.

 

Besides, when one considers that the avearge lifespan of most Malls is around 20 years, the fact that the developer  plunked down $5 million in 2013 (as well as about $400,000 this year in upgrades) to keep it going speaks volumes to just how successful the mall has been.

 

Yet, like any type of retail shopping facility, businesses come and go. Its the nature of the retail beast. And with the holiday shopping season here, I couldn’t help but think back to our friends that are no longer at the Mall; and I’m not talking about deceased employees or those who have moved out of the area. Rather, I’m talking about the businesses that set up shop and then have bid adieu to Bridgeport pre-2013.

 

That’s nothing unusual. In fact, it’s the trend not only of malls – successful and otherwise – but of strip malls and other retail hubs.

 

To be honest, there are very few of the original stores from the 1983 opening. Some of the early businesses, such as the food court’s The Pizza Place and T&L Hot Dogs have been around forever it seems - even Showtime Music.. As for anchors that were originals, JC Penney is one of those there on opening day and the lone anchor remaining from those early days long ago. The other anchors that came about in those early years have since vanished, including Bon Ton, Ames, Stone & Thomas (which became Elder-Beerman) and my all-time favorite Montgomery Ward.

 

To this day, I still have a VCR that I purchased in 1990 from that store. The man I purchased it from said the brand – Admiral – may have been on off brand but it was produced by a major company. It was cheap – like I was – so I bought it. More than a quarter century later – even though it’s rarely used – it still works, and works well. I still have the original remote control. I bought clothes there and even bought my tires there before the entire chain went belly up and bid the entire nation goodbye.

 

There have been others, though, that have since departed. Lerner’s, BMoss, Rex TV, Wilson’s Leather, Steve and Barry’s, Highland Furniture, Fine’s Men’s Clothing Store, Biafore’s Men’s Clothing Store, Kay-Bee Toys, Zide's Sporting Goods and also a few detached businesses – Office max and Phar Mor. 

 

Did any business ever have better deals on cereal than Phar Mor? Boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cap’n Crunch (was anyone else alarmed that Cap’n Crunch’s eyebrows were on his captain’s hat instead of his face?) for under two bucks every single day.

 

Since I’m talking cereal, it’s a nice segue into my favorite topic – restaurants. The Meadowbrook Mall has had dozens over the years and many I can’t remember. However, those eateries no longer with us include Manchu Wok, Taco Villa, Mateo’s, Don Burrito, the Peanut Shack, Cheers, J.D. Bentley’s, Long John Silver’s, Corn Dog on a Stick, Wendy’s, the Fisherman’s Pub, Mrs. Powell’s Cinnamon Buns and – my personal favorite – Tater Junction.

 

For years, Tater Junction made things work by selling – yes – potatoes. And the potatoes were top of the line spuds that were the size of softballs with more than enough fattening toppings to keep every single cardiologist on call during their operating hours.

 

Tater Junction, however, is no more. It’s been relegated to the Meadowbrook Mall’s list of those that have honorably served. And I’m sure there are plenty of others.

 

In fact, I’m going to place the ball in your court. I may have missed out on some of the original stores. If so, comment below.

 

More importantly, let me and everyone else know your favorite business and/or eatery that is no longer with the Mall. Maybe, just maybe, if there’s a big enough outcry, if they’re still in business, they may consider coming back.