Christmas at a Live Mall: Danbury Fair Mall, Danbury, Connecticut. December 2022.

[@sirus312]

this mall just wont die. its unstoppable!

[@rottenapple9855]

They are closing it down to house immigrants

[@iiCounted-op5jx]

I heard they might be taking it down 😢

[@Impaul-r4]

Nope i come here all the time and its amazing

[@davestvwatching2408]

Danbury Fair Mall in the 90s was a serious crowd crush situation. You often had to wait for people to leave a store before you could get in to look around.

[@MichaelBarszowski]

Danbury does still have a fountain, it is just much smaller and is currently covered up for the Santa display.

[@fleabittenadventures]

Oh shoot! So I missed the fountain? I'll have to go back some day then to see it!

[@ObviousTrollFrom2007]

@@fleabittenadventures It's been so long I almost forgot about it. But I vaguely remember that giant fountain.

[@whac1c]

Was here as a kid in the early 00s. Not much has changed besides the stores, and even then much of them is the same. Wild.

[@culinary83]

She’s looking good! At least by today’s standards. I grew up 10 minutes from there. When I was a kid in the 80’s and 90’s that place was SUPER crowded during the holidays. Like shoulder to shoulder in some places. Always used to hit up McDonald’s in the food court and ride the carousel. Those were the days. Thanks for checking it out man!

[@SpecialKel66]

This mall looks amazing! I may have to make a road trip there this Fall!

[@thedeviot8368]

The mall has never been dead. It's always done pretty well, though there have been times it dipped. In the early 2000s, there was a time when a few retail chains went out of business, and rather than scoop up new tenants for each, they knocked down walls and expanded neighboring stores. When Old Navy came in, for example, they had done exactly that. The carousel was the one piece of the original Fair that the original builders and owners got. Most of the rest of the stuff was auctioned off. There's actually a group in Danbury devoted to the history of the Danbury Fair, and have been at odds with the mall ever since the fair went defunct. Still, it's one of the only malls in Connecticut that weathered the storm during the retail apocalypse. Though again that isn't to say it had zero effect on it. But it never took the same toll malls as Enfield or Watertown did. Being so close to the New York border has always helped it too as many from cities like Brewster, Carmel, and Mahopac come over in addition to capturing the Danbury area of Brookfield, Bethel, Newtown, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield.

[@fleabittenadventures]

This was definitely one of the busiest malls I've been to so far. Other than the closed Lord and Taylor, it seemed to be doing great. Thanks for watching!

[@airportexpert4799]

@@fleabittenadventuresTarget is moving in there now, as well as a massive arcade

[@295g295]

New York state has sales tax on clothing, and not in Connecticut?

[@cynthiakleist9513]

Mall was built at the site of the old Danbury Fair and that is the carousel from that fair.

[@ricc7631]

And some of the danbury airport

[@fleabittenadventures]

That carousel is actually from the old Danbury Fair? That's awesome!

[@fleabittenadventures]

Interesting!

[@patrickellis2529]

It is not from the fair

[@rl8429]

It was just announced that Target will take over the rest of the Sears space. The vacant space below Dick’s Sporting Goods will be a Japanese arcade called Round 1. Barnes & Noble is also planning to move into the mall soon.

[@fleabittenadventures]

Cool. At least something is moving in and the space won't be vacant.

[@mikegallant811]

​@@fleabittenadventuresup in Holyoke Massachusetts at the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside we also have a Round 1!😊

[@mikegallant811]

But then you did cover that in your Holyoke Mall video, which I think was a great video.

[@davestvwatching2408]

I think that both Barnes & Noble and Kohl's should move into malls (or back into malls). Maybe Hobby Lobby as well. No reason for any of those places to have separate parking lots.

[@ObO-sd1xg]

I used to work at the Great Danbury State Fair. I was on the lawn maintenance team and worked mainly in the Dutch Village and did various other small jobs around the fair. Before that when I was a kid, the owner of the Fair, gave every kid in Danbury a free fair pass every September. The teachers gave the passes to their students and we could not wait to get to the Fair on Fair Friday!! I knew John Lehey in person. The free samples in the Big Top were always a hit. I was sorry to see the Fair go.

[@andrewdurhamenglish9977]

It was before my time, wish I had been able to see it in person. I still can´t fathom why they´d shut down the Danbury fair.

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

I loved that fair!

[@wayne8276]

I was their twice apx 1989 or 1990 , during the summer . It was very nice . The thing I remember most was the merry go round . I believe all the proceeds went to charity, a children's hospital maybe . And their was definitely more people shopping or eating . I haven't been to any mall in years .

[@fleabittenadventures]

The merry go round was a highlight for me!

[@Picturepurrfekt]

Beautiful mall. Love how bright it is.

[@harolddecker4666]

My dad use to take to the fair years ago. Use to go there a lot. Beautiful mall and a excellent food court, Have not been there though in 20+ years. Enjoyed the video.

[@renardfranse]

I lived in the Danbury area for over 25 years. There is still a lot of OLD MONEY here. It will soldier on after many have fallen.

[@fleabittenadventures]

I'm sure it helps when the customers can afford to buy rather than just window shop. Thanks for watching!

[@filanfyretracker]

Danbury afaik also has never really suffered an implosion like many other CT cities, its the retail hub for basically everybody from Ridgefield all the way up to almost Waterbury and over into areas around Brewster, NY. And when hats stopped being a thing the city leadership back in that day wisely lured in corporate HQs and higher tech light industry.

[@llorenstorrespr4409]

A top 3 mall in CT, my opinion.

[@herhandle]

("she's on the other side of the mall..." 3:57 , 16:06 and 24:54 😆 Lol, that accent!) Enjoyed walking through with you. I miss nice malls like this, don't have them quite like this in Europe where I live now. It's also fun to see what ppl are wearing while running shopping errands - and don't know they're being filmed. When I was a kid in Alabama and Georgia in the '80s and '90s, all of the malls were pack shoulder to shoulder during the holidays on the weekends with long lines to ride the carousel and sit with Santa.

[@fleabittenadventures]

Yeah, that's what happens when you have to replace the audio to avoid being demonetized by KZbin for playing copyrighted music. I'll try to edit out the part of the background audio for the future. Thanks for watching so closely!

[@johnlazlo1908]

In the 1970s I used to go there for the Danbury Fair. The Fair closed and they built the mall on the property in the early 80s

[@YTLawnGnome]

The thing that makes this mall so great is how little child friendly it is. There are also many places in the mall to sit down and take breaks and there is an amazing family restroom area with changing stations, small potty rooms for kids and even two nursing rooms. My wife and I have been coming here very frequently since we had our daughter. Now, they even have a two floor Barnes & Noble and a Target!

[@garybecker7246]

I was there on Saturday, 2 days after you filmed this video and the place was really busy. I'm sure it was because it was the weekend and the week before Christmas. Nice to see lots of people out at the mall Though, especially since most malls are dead these days, I would hate to see the Danbury Mall fade away and end up abandoned.

[@fleabittenadventures]

Yeah, I think most malls are going to be busier on the weekends, especially just before Christmas. Compared to most of the other malls I have seen recently, this mall seems to be doing fairly well. Thanks for watching!

[@PeevedPigeon]

You should visit the Tanger Outlets Mall in Foxwoods next! It's pretty huge, and fairly new, I think opening in around 2015-2016, so one of the newest malls in the state! Good vid as always!

[@fleabittenadventures]

Yup. I did eventually check it out!

[@russcastellon3736]

I worked as an Security Supervisor for 11 years here , 1994 to 2005

[@scottchamberlain5594]

Pet shop by Sears was a big attraction. % Below used to be a drug store. Dick's is in fact half the old Filene's/G. Fox. As others noted, in it's day, you couldn't park or go anywhere without a line a week before Christmas. Wife was a manager at Macy's when we met; many happy memories there.

[@Charmedone9805]

i grew up going to this mall trust me its a really active even today, Macys was always in that spot JC Penny was added in 1988 and Lord and Taylor in 1991. Freehold mall in NJ has the same design and layout as this one the old sears is becoming a Target. The education works store was once a Time out arcade back in the 1990's the opposite side once had a Mcdonalds

[@brandontylerproductions2202]

I missed how it was it’s interior.

[@Charmedone9805]

@@brandontylerproductions2202 tan and brown tiles with green and white trimming on the roof. and the large fountain in the center i wish they didn't remove it when they redid the mall.

[@fleabittenadventures]

Thanks for the info!

[@fleabittenadventures]

Has it changed a lot? I honestly don't know.

[@fleabittenadventures]

The fountains are the best party of any mall. Why did they remove most of them over the last couple of decades?

[@patrickellis2529]

What they took to build this Mall, was a crime. Thank you Mr. Leahy for great memories.

[@fleabittenadventures]

You mean the old fairgrounds?

[@filanfyretracker]

Leahy as in the propane guy?. when I lived there up through 2007 there was a Leahy's gas.

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

@@fleabittenadventures yeah. It was AMAZING!

[@riproar11]

It used to be far more decorated during the Christmas season and looks like they're scaling back now. Danbury Fair Mall is one of my favorites and I have been there countless times since it opened. What's interesting is that the Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold, New Jersey is its sister mall and has the exact same floor plan and looks so much alike to it, along with the carousel in the food court! The mall did go through some rough times when riff-raff started loitering around the food court area and that causes people to avoid malls as there have been shootings in other malls due to these types.

[@filanfyretracker]

DFM is honestly one of the best malls period, I have been to a few and. Even when it was wearing its green paint it was a bright and open feeling mall. Others I have been to in the US feel so enclosing. I think they scrapped the fountain when making the mall more upscale because it was seen as kind of loud. When it opened the parking structure was not there and you could see the ride from the freeway. I will say unless they updated the glass, it does get slightly toasty in summer even if the AC is cranking. 11:35 on the right where it looks like there is some kind of foot store by the Primark that used to be a Radio Shack.

[@MrJaha35]

Ugh I remember the green paint vividly. Painting it white probably saved this place by brightening it up so much.

[@azariacba]

It's great to see that this mall is still doing well overall, though I do see that stores have closed in a couple of places. The crowds also seem a bit thinner than I remember from the '00s, though it may just be a Thursday-Saturday comparison. I loved going to this mall growing up! There used to be a roller coaster simulator ride, and the carousel was fun to ride on.

[@JL-ph9ew]

Nice to see a live one. The santa display was pretty good. Some malls just have a sad chair.

[@tammyblack2747]

Finally, there are people in the WOW arcade!

[@danielthewlis2109]

the merry go round from The old fair

[@machinenoise9622]

Tame compared to the 80s & 90s xmas season. Back then it was conjested elbow to elbow walking to the various stores. BUT, ITS NOT DEAD, it's thriving. Target and multi level arcade are going in. 😊

[@rjo8500]

Early 2000’s we took our kids here quite often. The food court and carrousel were the main attractions. Compared to the CT Post Mall, and especially the Westfield Shopping Mall, this mall was always a nicer experience.

[@judithruland3177]

Love this mall. Love the carousel. There's a carousel in Hammonasett that uses the money they collect for a different charity every month. We didn't have any children but we used to buy tickets and give them to weary looking parents!

[@BarrCode674]

Haven't been to this mall in over 20 years. At least it's still doing well.

[@fleabittenadventures]

Yeah, I thought is looked fairly healthy. Thanks for watching!

[@R32R38]

There were plans to convert most of the old Lord & Taylor locations to WeWork-style coworking spaces, but those plans seem to have faded away.

[@fleabittenadventures]

I hear that a lot. They are either talking about turning a mall into an office building or apartments/condos. I haven't seen too many actually do it though. Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelSuperbacker]

I was there on Black Friday, Thanksgiving 2022!

[@russcastellon3736]

Yes, The Old Great Danbury Fair grounds

[@stephenbrothers42]

I used to work at the DFM back in the late 80's and Macy's back in the Mid-90's. The crowd compared now to back then has dwindled

[@fleabittenadventures]

Yeah, malls were all much busier back in the 90's. This one is doing better than most though. Thanks for watching!

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

That is the original location of Macy's. As your video shows, this mall is still active in 2024 and nearly all the store fronts are filled (there are a couple that are empty, mostly around the closed Lord and Taylor). When Sears pulled out, it got a Premark on the top floor (when Sears went to one floor) and then Target moved in on the ground floor after Sears left creating an undersized Target. Lord and Taylor you correctly identified. That space was not filled. The mall is less busy than it was 14 years ago. At that point, during the holidays, there was a backup line outside the Apple store. Today as you show as recently as 2022, there is no line outside the Apple store anymore during the holidays but it is still quite busy. The food court has deteriorated in the last 2 years. By the carousal used to be McDonalds which shut down although it was busy. You are right about the Sears entrance that Primark does not use. You also drove past right before that the former Sears auto center (the two garage doors you went past).

[@TRJ2241987]

I only went to this mall once in my life, with my Dad and Grandparents, I think it was 1999. I have a very core memory of being in the KB Toys that was in this mall and a little British girl was begging her parents for something and said "Please mummy I'll never ask for another toy ever again in my life!" in the thickest British accent I've ever heard in New England. I think it's the only time in my life I've heard a little British child speak in person and not in a movie or on TV or something lmao

[@chop3625]

Ct. post mall happens to be absolutely low end. Looks on the dead side to be frank. Back in the late 90’s Danbury Mall was jamming, especially weekends.👍

[@fleabittenadventures]

Maybe I'm just used to see malls that are doing even worse than this mall because it looked pretty busy in comparison. Thanks for watching!

[@Lilcrow91]

I miss being there around 2006-2008

[@azariacba]

Same; used to go there all the time in the mid-late 00s.

[@TheAmericanLoudmouth]

I remember on Christmas that people would trip over each other in that mall. Now on the Holidays it only gets to about 60%-70% capacity.

[@tanikokishimoto1604]

I didn't go here often when i lived in the area back in the day, but there were a few establishments I'd frequent. Back in the day, Sbarro's was actually good, and just about the only place in the food court I would eat at, there. It was named the Danbury Fair Mall, because it was built upon the old site of the Danbury Fair, a previously yearly event. The carousel was a legacy from those days. I would not be surprised if most of that has been changed out over the decades.

[@Yeahno-ey3rb]

I would love to see this updated. It looks ok but not nearly as crowded as it once once.

[@wizzodd]

I frequent this mall. There’s a picture of my other siblings and cousin at the food court back in the day.

[@MrJaha35]

When I was a kid this mall was always busy but not as much as say Poughkeepsie Galleria. However it feels just as busy today. A big part of it is major attraction stores make it a destination mall. Apple store is always packed. Target took over Sears, Barnes & Noble moved into the mall, LL Bean is connected and a new massive arcade bowling alley bar a la Dave and busters just opened. It's busier than ever especially at holiday times but gets slow during the day. I seem to recall as a kid the side entrance to JC Penny wasn't there or was very different. It may be false but I seem to recall before the parking garage was built the food court just had an exit to the back lot where the side entrance now is. ironically they built a McDonalds here but it closed which you rarely see. Worst thing about this mall is the parking lot floods constantly and it chokes traffic.

[@HMinot]

Arhaus was replaced by Barnes & Noble.

[@markmcnary1785]

I was there at that mall a few years ago, when they still had the fountain, that went up high, close to the ceiling, but that fountain us a little smaller now. I've heard that they still have the carousel. I have to go back there someday soon.

[@Impaul-r4]

I cone here all the time

[@danielthewlis2109]

This is one best Malls ive been in Since Danbury Fair Days Years ago

[@pecopicante4167]

Dicks took over the Forever 21 space which prior was the old Filene's space. You are correct about the Lord & Taylor. With the pending JCPenny's closing on the horizon it will be interesting to see what they do with that space as its and 90 degree elbow footprint: it connects in the food court up top and then connects to the main mall after taking a sharp left to another wing. That mall is always busy but like every retail establishment it ebbs and flows. Time of day and what day dictates how big the crowd flow is. Near the holidays, it becomes swamped after 5 and Friday-Sunday have a pretty consistent crowd flow. Two interesting facts about this mall- Westfield has been trying to purchase this mall for the better part of two decades. It's got the perfect location as it's ten minutes from the NY border and Candlewood Lake always draws a huge crowd during the spring to fall. Many New Yorkers have summer homes or boats on that lake. The second thing is that mall is sinking. It's built on old swamp land and has been sinking since it was built. If you go into the service tunnels or look at the parking garage there's cracks everywhere on the walls but last I knew they were plastering/cementing over the ones in the parking garage. Also in response to escalators being shut down: companies can't get parts to service them. There's a huge shortage when it comes to parts and the labor rate to take the escalators apart is very expensive. They also need to clean them as if they go to long inbetween services it becomes a firehazard. There's dust, lint, oil/grease, animal/human hair and god knows what else under those tracks which like grain elevators is enough of a tinder to cause problems and the sparking can happen very fast.

[@beasaroseco5840]

My family used to go to the Danbury Fair back in the 70's.

[@petecrumpton55]

There is still a fountain at Danbury Fair. It’s not as big & definitely not noticeable. Santa’s Village probably covered it up when you were there.

[@flayedrunner]

worked weekends at primark from when it opened (in 2016 actually) until 2018. its first year primark had the entire upper floor section of what used to be sears but cut its floor space by about i think 30 or 40% to save on its rent. I don’t know if the target that moved into the anchor space below it is utilizing any of that space. Baffling how our man always sweeps through on a weekday midday and is like “gee whiz not that crowded in here huh” idk if it’s a liability thing that you’d catch too many people on camera on a saturday afternoon or what

[@Picturepurrfekt]

I assume you have audio you dub over these videos?

[@fleabittenadventures]

Yes, but only if there is copyrighted music playing in the background.

[@295g295]

1:23 - Primark took over the Sears space at King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

[@solcario2]

Targets open, a round one arcade is open, the bookstore is open, theres been a lot of change in the food court, at least one of the new places ought to be there, the fountain isnt nearly as grand as it was when its there, but it is still a nice fountain

[@HMinot]

As a boy working at WLAD I broadcasted “live” from the Great Danbury State Fair. And I worked Security there from 2014 to 2021.

[@timothybrandriff6499]

Watching this video a year late, but yeah, Danbury Fair is still busy as hell a year later. The parking lot is never not packed, and not just at Xmas time, but all the time😂

[@juanone66]

That whole area (33:15 - 35:00) was a massive drive through Covid vaccination center. Hundreds of cars at a time. Processed on the Sears Auto (defunct) side (34:15) then drove around the parking structure to get jabbed and monitored for 15 minutes.

[@russcastellon3736]

Yes, old Lord & Taylor'

[@Synergiance]

I semi regularly go to this mall, and was there just a few days ago. The crowds have thinned out in general a little, but they've remained steady. New shops still open in the mall, and there is no sign it'll die anytime soon.

[@tanikokishimoto1604]

Glad it is not dying! I no longer live nearby the Danbury Fair Mall, so good to know.

[@vanessagreene369]

It would’ve been nice to see the different food options

[@fleabittenadventures]

I may start looking more at the individual stores and restaurants in the future. Thanks for the suggestion

[@HMinot]

Yes, that was Lord + Taylor.

[@russcastellon3736]

Good evening Yes this is the original Macy's it's 3 floors

[@welding_guy7524]

My parents had concessions stands at the Danbury fair until it’s final year..

[@walterwright8454]

Now they have a Barnes and Noble which is good to see. It is where the Banana Republic was.

[@BobsGT235]

Christmas time and the mall is that dead? DFM used to always be a busy mall. But that was a long time ago. It can't survive like that.

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

I miss the fair.

[@jonathanst.thomas31]

There are two people who DON'T eat at mall food courts. You and your partner. 😁😁😁😁

[@latinoprophet]

Haha I actually prefer going during the weekday because it’s quieter. Friday and Saturdays especially Saturdays oh my god there’s so many people. It’s cool but also a little annoying LMAO But this is the only mall really in my area so it wasn’t until a few years ago trying different malls in CT did I realize how malls were doing 💀

[@295g295]

I have seen this mall from I-84 many times.

[@idekbro9143]

Did you have to ask permission to film inside?

[@fleabittenadventures]

No, which is why I try to avoid security. :)

[@andrewdurhamenglish9977]

80s, 90s was mall rat era at its prime. It was packed, you'd see half of school there.

[@captainobvious9233]

It will truly be an end of an era if JC Penny vanishes.

[@brittany0hx]

Long Island audit should open the store there to sell his merchandise

[@fleabittenadventures]

Sure. Why not. Thanks for watching!

[@richardpiva3892]

Doesn’t look that overly busy.

[@fleabittenadventures]

I'm actually surprised. It looked busy to me, but I don't go to malls too often, except to film these videos.

[@LouMacri-is2bl]

This is not like the way it used to be. My niece works over there and she is not too crazy about her job anymore and I don’t blame her. I just don’t like the way malls are now a days and I don’t like the scumbags that come over to the Danbury mall and look for trouble and want to listen to rap music. I don’t like rap or Spanish music. I don’t like it when the rappers come over to the Danbury mall. This is not the same

[@LouMacri-is2bl]

I don’t like Norwalk ct either

[@dillengerleanardoloronzomarche]

iabosatly love thismall espeshyatchrismta stiem iloveit my faverte secondmalal onext owestfamr small in ct

[@fleabittenadventures]

Yeah, it's a nice one! If I lived closer, I would be there all the time!

[@marapeters9144]

Sort of dead

[@fleabittenadventures]

A little, but compared to a lot of other malls in the area this one is doing fairly well. Thanks for watching!

[@iiCounted-op5jx]

trust me IT'S NOT, it's just dead in this video, go on the weekends and it's packed lol

[@danielfarley1118]

It's Thursday afternoon most people are working and have a job think about that before you post a stupid video still love your videos but wait till about 6:00 any given night and especially on the weekends that mall is jamming I live in Connecticut

[@christiansmith4034]

looks pretty dead to me.....

[@iiCounted-op5jx]

only in this video though, on the weekends it's packed

[@fleabittenadventures]

Really? Compared to the other malls I've been to, this is one of the busier ones.

[@fleabittenadventures]

And this was a few weeks before Christmas. I would think this would be one of the busier times of the year.

[@youknowhowIPlay]

All families no pretty girls

[@achannel8142]

This mall is dying!

[@Impaul-r4]

Come here snd prove it

[@NTCT203]

The just open 2 floor target and round 1 amusement