Enfield Square
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA former enclosed shopping mall in Enfield, Connecticut, that opened in 1971 and ultimately closed after a prolonged decline and failed redevelopment effort.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Enfield Square was an enclosed shopping mall in Enfield, Connecticut. Opened in 1971 by May Centers, the mall-development division of May Department Stores, it was designed as a regional retail destination and initially operated with three department-store anchors: G. Fox, JCPenney, and Steiger's. The property occupied approximately 788,000 square feet and contained all of its shops on a single level. At its height, the center accommodated dozens of stores and served Enfield and surrounding communities in northern Connecticut and nearby Massachusetts. The mall's tenant roster changed substantially as the American department-store sector consolidated. G. Fox became Filene's in 1993, while Steiger's left the property in 1994 after the chain ceased operations. Sears opened in the former Steiger's space in 1997. In 1998, after CenterMark Properties was acquired by the Westfield Group, the mall was transferred to Enfield Square LLC and marketed as Westfield Shoppingtown Enfield Square. JCPenney closed in 2000 as part of a nationwide retrenchment, and Filene's expanded into the vacant space. Target added a new northern anchor in 2001. The Filene's stores were converted to Macy's in 2006 following another corporate merger. Ownership and management shifted repeatedly. Westfield sold the property in 2006 to Australia's Centro Properties Group for a reported $80 million, with the property managed through Centro Watt, later associated with Brixmor Property Group. Madison Marquette assumed management in 2012, and KeyPoint Partners was selected in 2018. Financial distress became a defining feature of the mall's later history: after a loan default by the entity associated with Brixmor, JPMorgan Chase foreclosed on the property in February 2016. The property was sold through a Ten-X online auction in December 2018 for $10.85 million. The transaction was subsequently linked to an ownership group involving Namdar Realty Group, Mason Asset Management, and Hakimii Global, while Macy's retained ownership of its former store portion until selling it in 2020. By the mid-2010s, Enfield Square had lost most of its traditional department-store anchors. Macy's announced the closure of both mall locations in 2016, Sears announced its departure in December of that year, and Target became the principal remaining anchor. Party City moved into the center in 2017, but later closed during the company's 2025 liquidation. Other departures included Ruby Tuesday, Express, Cinemark, Bath & Body Works, and GameStop. A Cinemark theater closed in December 2023, Bath & Body Works relocated in early 2024, and GameStop left in early 2026. The property's physical condition also deteriorated. A major roof collapse affected the former Macy's building during the summer of 2022. In 2023, another roof breach was identified during a public-safety training exercise. Local officials warned that unresolved roof and sprinkler-system problems could make the building unsafe, including for Target and the Cinemark theater. The town undertook remediation work after repeated concerns about the landlord's response and placed a lien related to emergency work. For several years, Woodsonia Acquisitions LLC promoted a replacement project called Enfield Marketplace. The proposed mixed-use community hub would have replaced much of the existing mall with retail and restaurant space, hotels, and housing. Necessary zoning changes were approved in November 2025, and demolition was expected to begin in spring 2026, with Target intended to remain in a separate building. The redevelopment arrangement later fell through. In February 2026, the mall closed after a frozen sprinkler system burst, affecting fire alarms and contributing to ceiling damage in the former theater. Subsequent inspection found the unheated building unsafe. Although reopening and repairs were initially contemplated, those plans were abandoned around March 2026, leaving the enclosed mall permanently closed while Target remained separately open on the property.
History
Enfield Square began operating in 1971 in Enfield, Connecticut. It was developed by May Centers, the mall-building arm of May Department Stores, as a one-level enclosed shopping center with three original department-store anchors: G. Fox, JCPenney, and Steiger's. The center's approximately 788,000-square-foot footprint made it a significant regional retail property in the state. The first major changes came from the restructuring of department-store chains. G. Fox was converted to Filene's in 1993. Steiger's shut down in 1994 when the chain went out of business, and Sears subsequently opened in the vacated east-side anchor space in 1997. In 1996, CenterMark Properties was acquired by the Westfield Group. Two years later, the mall was transferred to Enfield Square LLC and received the Westfield Shoppingtown Enfield Square name. JCPenney left in 2000 after a nationwide program targeting underperforming stores. Filene's responded by expanding into the vacant space, moving its men's and home departments there in 2001. That same year Target opened a newly constructed northern anchor. In 2006, Filene's became Macy's following a corporate merger. Westfield sold the property that year to Centro Properties Group for a reported $80 million. Centro Watt, later associated with Brixmor Property Group, managed the asset, while Madison Marquette became manager in 2012. The center entered a period of pronounced financial and operational instability. In February 2016, JPMorgan Chase foreclosed after the ownership entity associated with Brixmor defaulted on a $240 million loan connected with renovation financing. Macy's had announced that January that both of its Enfield locations would close. Sears announced its own departure in December 2016, leaving Target as the only remaining anchor of major national scale. Ruby Tuesday closed during the year, while Party City moved into the mall in 2017. Express also announced a 2017 closure. KeyPoint Partners became the mall's management company in 2018. JPMorgan Chase sold the property through Ten-X in December of that year for $10.85 million. In January 2019, the reported buyers were a group involving Namdar Realty Group, Mason Asset Management, and Hakimii Global. Macy's continued to own the former Macy's portion at the west end until selling that interest to Enfield Square Realty in April 2020. In March 2021, the Target-occupied portion was transferred to 90 Enfield Square Holdings LLC, illustrating the increasingly fragmented ownership structure. Physical deterioration became central to the property's later history. During summer 2022, the roof over the former Macy's space collapsed. The Town of Enfield undertook remediation after repeated requests to the landlord were not resolved, and a lien was placed to cover approximately $44,000 in municipal work. In May 2023, a public-safety training exercise revealed another large roof breach. Officials subsequently warned tenants that failure to repair it could require the closure of the mall, Target, and Cinemark because the damage compromised the operation of the fire-sprinkler system and created an occupancy hazard. Tenant departures continued. Cinemark announced in November 2023 that its location would close in December. Bath & Body Works moved to Enfield Commons in January 2024. Party City permanently closed in February 2025 during the company's liquidation, and GameStop left in early January 2026. A proposed replacement project, Enfield Marketplace, was intended to demolish the existing mall and create a mixed-use community hub with retail and restaurants, hotels, and residential units. Woodsonia Acquisitions LLC promoted the plan for several years, and zoning changes were unanimously approved in November 2025. Demolition was expected in spring 2026, with Target planned to remain open in a standalone building. The redevelopment arrangement later failed. In February 2026, the enclosed mall closed after freezing conditions caused a sprinkler system to burst, malfunctioned fire alarms, and contributed to partial ceiling collapse in the former Cinemark space. A subsequent inspection found the building unsafe because it lacked adequate heating. Although repair and reopening plans were initially considered, they were abandoned around March 2026. Enfield Square consequently ceased operating as an enclosed mall, while the separately owned Target remained the only operating store on the broader property.
- 2026
Enclosed mall permanently closes
[1]The mall closes after frozen fire-protection equipment, alarm failures, ceiling damage, and an unsafe-building inspection; redevelopment plans subsequently fail.
- 2025
Enfield Marketplace zoning approved
[1]Zoning changes for the proposed mixed-use replacement project receive unanimous approval.
- 2023
Roof and sprinkler concerns escalate
[1]Officials identify a major roof breach and warn that fire-safety problems could make the center unsafe to occupy.
- 2022
Former Macy's roof collapses
[1]A roof collapse prompts municipal remediation and a lien for emergency work.
- 2020
Redevelopment subdivision approved
[1]The local planning and zoning commission approves a plan to divide the property into 13 parcels.
- 2018
KeyPoint Partners takes over management
[1]KeyPoint Partners is selected to manage the property.
- 2018
Property sold at auction
[1]JPMorgan Chase sells the property through Ten-X for $10.85 million.
- 2016
Foreclosure and anchor-store contraction
[1]Macy's announces closures, Sears later announces its departure, and JPMorgan Chase forecloses after a loan default.
- 2006
Filene's becomes Macy's and ownership changes
[1]The Filene's stores are rebranded as Macy's, while Westfield sells the property to Centro Properties Group.
- 2001
Target opens
[1]Target opens a new anchor building on the mall's north side.
Products and positioning
A traditional enclosed regional shopping mall serving Enfield and nearby communities, later repositioned as a value-oriented and convenience-led shopping center as department-store anchors and specialty tenants departed.
Shopping-center retail · 1971
Enclosed shopping mall
Enfield Square's core offering was a single-level enclosed shopping environment containing department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and consumer services. At approximately 788,000 square feet, it was designed as a regional center rather than a neighborhood strip center. Its merchandise mix historically covered apparel, beauty, home goods, electronics, gifts, food, and general merchandise. The enclosed mall ceased operating in 2026.
Discount department store · 2001
Target
Target opened a purpose-built northern anchor at Enfield Square in 2001. It became the property's only major remaining anchor after JCPenney, Macy's, and Sears departed. The Target-occupied parcel was separately transferred to 90 Enfield Square Holdings LLC in 2021 and was intended to continue operating independently of a future mall demolition and redevelopment plan.
Movie theater
Cinemark
Cinemark operated a movie-theater venue at Enfield Square as part of the mall's entertainment offering. The theater remained associated with the property during the period of roof and fire-safety problems but announced its closure in November 2023, with operations ending in December of that year.
Brand decisions
2026
Permanent closure of the enclosed mallOtherBackground
Freezing conditions, a burst sprinkler system, fire-alarm problems, ceiling damage, and inadequate heating led to an unsafe-building determination.
Action taken
The enclosed shopping mall was closed and previously discussed repair and reopening plans were abandoned.
Aftermath
The mall remained closed, while Target continued separately on the property.
2025
Enfield Marketplace redevelopment proposalStrategyBackground
The aging mall had lost most of its anchors and faced serious building-condition problems.
Action taken
Woodsonia Acquisitions LLC pursued a plan to demolish the mall and create a mixed-use community hub with retail, restaurants, hotels, and housing.
Aftermath
Zoning changes were approved, but the redevelopment arrangement later fell through and the mall closed instead.
2020
Parcel subdivision for redevelopmentStrategyBackground
Ownership pursued a redevelopment approach that required changing the property's parcel configuration.
Action taken
The planning and zoning commission approved resubdivision from eight parcels into 13 parcels.
Aftermath
The approval supported later plans to replace the mall with a mixed-use development, although those plans ultimately did not proceed.
2001
Target added as a new anchorProduct launchBackground
The mall needed to strengthen its anchor lineup after department-store changes and the departure of Steiger's.
Action taken
A new Target building was constructed on the north side of the property.
Aftermath
Target later became the sole major anchor remaining on the property.
1998
Adoption of Westfield Shoppingtown brandingStrategyBackground
Following Westfield's acquisition of CenterMark Properties, the property was reorganized under Enfield Square LLC.
Action taken
The mall was rebranded as Westfield Shoppingtown Enfield Square.
Aftermath
The name associated the center with Westfield's broader shopping-center portfolio until later ownership changes.
Sources2 sources
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