WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	"Tale of Two Malls" (WTNH) _ Will the long wharf mall be the boost New Haven is looking for or will it destroy downtown business as we know it? Here's a tale of two malls - in Waterbury the Brass Mill has really increased retail activity for the city, but in Meriden downtown stores have been hurt by the Meriden Square Mall. News Channel 8's Christina Hager reports. The effect of a mall on this spot at Long Wharf could go either way. When we spoke with merchants in other connecticut cities we found malls helped some and hurt others. The owner of the "Just in Time" diner in Meriden says he should have called it something else. Stephen Prescott, Just in Time Diner: "I should have called it Just Too Late." Too late, because when Stephen Prescott opened this old-style eating spot in the middle of Meriden, he says the downtown began to deteriorate. "When I first bought the business it was super busy. All the buildings were rented. All the banks were occupied." Not anymore. Prescott and other Meriden merchants blame recent profit losses on the neigbor across town -- the Meriden Square Mall. Locals consider this a modern hub of consumerism that's sucking up business from the heart of the city. "Banks closed up. Buildings closed up. Most of the buildings down here are vacant." But that's not the rule. In Waterbury quite a different story. This mall, the Brass Mill Center opened about a year and a half ago and downtown merchants say it has helped their business. Some say the difference is in the location. Waterbury's mall is close to downtown. By contrast, Meriden's mall is quite separated. Whatever the reason, Waterbury is experiencing what locals call a boom of sorts. Ask the owner of the Brass City Tobacco Shop. Mark Vallillo, Brass City Tobacco Shop: "People want cigars and accessories. So what they'll do is go to the mall, see there's nothing there, and come down here." A tale of two malls and two cities - one on the upswing, another with an uncertain economic future. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

"Tale of Two Malls"
(WTNH) _ Will the long wharf mall be the boost New Haven is looking for or will it destroy downtown business as we know it? Here's a tale of two malls - in Waterbury the Brass Mill has really increased retail activity for the city, but in Meriden downtown stores have been hurt by the Meriden Square Mall.
News Channel 8's Christina Hager reports.

The effect of a mall on this spot at Long Wharf could go either way. When we spoke with merchants in other connecticut cities we found malls helped some and hurt others.

The owner of the "Just in Time" diner in Meriden says he should have called it something else.

Stephen Prescott, Just in Time Diner: "I should have called it Just Too Late."

Too late, because when Stephen Prescott opened this old-style eating spot in the middle of Meriden, he says the downtown began to deteriorate.

"When I first bought the business it was super busy. All the buildings were rented. All the banks were occupied."

Not anymore.
Prescott and other Meriden merchants blame recent profit losses on the neigbor across town -- the Meriden Square Mall. Locals consider this a modern hub of consumerism that's sucking up business from the heart of the city.

"Banks closed up. Buildings closed up. Most of the buildings down here are vacant."

But that's not the rule. In Waterbury quite a different story. This mall, the Brass Mill Center opened about a year and a half ago and downtown merchants say it has helped their business. Some say the difference is in the location. Waterbury's mall is close to downtown. By contrast, Meriden's mall is quite separated.

Whatever the reason, Waterbury is experiencing what locals call a boom of sorts. Ask the owner of the Brass City Tobacco Shop.

Mark Vallillo, Brass City Tobacco Shop: "People want cigars and accessories. So what they'll do is go to the mall, see there's nothing there, and come down here."

A tale of two malls and two cities - one on the upswing, another with an uncertain economic future.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.