The Shoppes at Buckland Hills
A regional shopping mall in Manchester, Connecticut, anchored by department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and entertainment-oriented services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Shoppes at Buckland Hills is a regional shopping mall in Manchester, Connecticut, situated near Interstate 84 and the intersection with Interstate 291. The property is part of the broader Buckland Hills retail area, a large commercial district containing shopping, hospitality, restaurant, and service businesses. The mall’s enclosed main building covers approximately 1,082,708 square feet across two floors and has historically accommodated about 145 shops and eateries. The project originated in the early 1970s, when John Finguerra and business partner Richard Ripps began planning a regional mall for the Buckland area. Finguerra’s prior association with JCPenney and his familiarity with the local market helped inform the site selection. The elevated location overlooked a valley, had convenient highway access, and offered room for additional retail development along the surrounding transportation corridor. The mall opened in March 1990 under the name The Pavilions at Buckland Hills. Following its initial success and the growth of nearby commercial development, it was renamed Buckland Hills Mall and later received its current name after a major renovation and expansion completed in October 2003. The center has traditionally combined large department-store anchors with national and regional specialty retailers. Macy’s and JCPenney have been principal department-store tenants, while Barnes & Noble has served as a major bookselling and lifestyle anchor. Other retailers associated with the mall include Aeropostale, Charlotte Russe, Express, Forever 21, H&M, Build-A-Bear, Newbury Comics, and Windsor. The tenant mix has changed over time as department-store operators, apparel chains, sporting-goods retailers, and specialty stores have opened, relocated, or closed. The property’s anchor history reflects broader changes in American retail. Several spaces have changed identities through successive department-store and specialty-retail occupants. One former anchor was associated with Sage-Allen, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bob’s Stores, and Eastern Mountain Sports at different points. Another formerly housed Sears, which closed in January 2021. Dick’s Sporting Goods moved to a nearby shopping center in April 2021, after which its former space was remodeled for Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports. Bob’s Stores opened there in November 2022 but closed in September 2024; the associated Eastern Mountain Sports expansion was subsequently abandoned. The mall was sold to Namdar Realty Group in January 2025. As an operating retail property, it continues to function as a shopping destination serving Manchester and the surrounding Connecticut market, although its tenant roster and vacant anchor spaces reflect the continuing restructuring of the enclosed-mall sector.
History
Planning for what became The Shoppes at Buckland Hills began in 1972, when John Finguerra and Richard Ripps proposed a regional shopping mall in Manchester, Connecticut. Finguerra had worked for JCPenney, which operated a large catalog-business warehouse nearby. His knowledge of the company, the local economy, and the region’s retail potential contributed to the decision to pursue a major shopping center in the Buckland area. The selected site had several commercial advantages. It was elevated above a valley, located near major highways, and positioned along a corridor expected to attract further development. In particular, access from Interstate 84 and proximity to the Interstate 291 intersection provided the vehicle traffic needed for a regional mall. The surrounding area subsequently developed into a broad retail and commercial cluster that became associated with Buckland Hills. The mall opened in March 1990 as The Pavilions at Buckland Hills. Its opening helped establish the area as a significant shopping destination and encouraged additional businesses to locate nearby. The property was later renamed Buckland Hills Mall. Over time, it developed a conventional enclosed-mall format, combining department-store anchors with apparel, books, specialty merchandise, food, and service tenants. A major renovation and expansion was completed in October 2003. Following that work, the property adopted the name The Shoppes at Buckland Hills. The enlarged and renovated complex included approximately 1,082,708 square feet of enclosed retail space on two floors. The mall has been described as having roughly 145 shops and eateries, while the informal Buckland Hills retail area surrounding it encompasses a much larger collection of stores, hotels, restaurants, and related businesses. The center’s anchor portfolio has changed repeatedly. Macy’s occupies a prominent department-store role, with portions of its merchandise history linked to G. Fox and Filene’s. JCPenney opened at the mall in 1992. Barnes & Noble became another prominent anchor. Former anchor spaces have also been occupied by retailers including Sage-Allen, D&L, Steiger’s, Lord & Taylor, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bob’s Stores, Eastern Mountain Sports, and Sears, reflecting the changing structure of department-store and specialty retail in the United States. The mall’s later history has included a series of relocations and closures. Sears shut its store on January 24, 2021. Dick’s Sporting Goods moved to a nearby shopping center in April of that year. The former space was remodeled to accommodate Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports. Bob’s Stores opened on November 23, 2022, but closed in September 2024, and a planned expansion for Eastern Mountain Sports was abandoned. These changes left the property with a more fluid anchor configuration. Namdar Realty Group acquired the mall in January 2025. The property remains an active shopping center serving Manchester and nearby Connecticut communities. Its history illustrates the evolution of a highway-oriented regional mall from a late twentieth-century development into a modern retail property adapting to anchor turnover, changing tenant demand, and the broader pressures affecting enclosed shopping centers.
- 2025
Namdar Realty Group becomes owner
[1]Namdar Realty Group acquired the mall in January 2025.
- 2024
Bob's Stores closes
[1]Bob’s Stores closed its location in September 2024, and a related Eastern Mountain Sports expansion was abandoned.
- 2022
Bob's Stores opens in remodeled anchor space
[1]Bob’s Stores opened on November 23, 2022, in a remodeled former anchor location.
- 2021
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor store closed on January 24, 2021.
- 2021
Dick's Sporting Goods relocates
[1]Dick’s Sporting Goods moved to a nearby shopping center in April 2021.
- 2006
Newbury Comics opens its first Connecticut store at the mall
[1]Newbury Comics opened its first Connecticut location inside the shopping center.
- 2003
Renovation and expansion completed
[1]A multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion was completed in October 2003, after which the property adopted the name The Shoppes at Buckland Hills.
- 1992
JCPenney opens at the mall
[1]JCPenney opened as one of the property’s department-store anchors.
- 1990
Mall opens as The Pavilions at Buckland Hills
[1]The shopping center opened in March 1990 under its original name, The Pavilions at Buckland Hills.
- 1972
Regional mall planning begins
[1]John Finguerra and Richard Ripps began planning a regional shopping mall for the Buckland area of Manchester, Connecticut.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center serving Manchester and the wider central Connecticut market, with a mix of department stores, national specialty retailers, books, apparel, dining, and consumer services.
Department stores
Department-store retail
The mall’s department-store offer has included Macy’s and JCPenney, providing broad assortments of clothing, accessories, home goods, furniture, beauty products, and other general merchandise. Macy’s has occupied a prominent anchor role, while JCPenney opened at the property in 1992.
Books and specialty retail · 2006
Books and media
Barnes & Noble has served as a prominent mall retailer, offering books, magazines, gifts, games, and related cultural merchandise. Newbury Comics also opened a location in 2006, bringing music, comics, collectibles, and novelty products to the center.
Fashion retail
Apparel and accessories
The mall has hosted a broad fashion assortment through retailers such as Aeropostale, Charlotte Russe, Express, Forever 21, H&M, and Windsor. These stores have represented youth apparel, contemporary fashion, casual clothing, occasionwear, and accessories, although individual tenant status has changed over time.
Specialty retail
Specialty, children's, and gift retail
Specialty retailers such as Build-A-Bear, Newbury Comics, and other mall shops have complemented the larger anchors with children's products, gifts, collectibles, novelty merchandise, and experiential shopping.
Food and services
Dining and mall services
The property includes restaurants, eateries, and consumer services distributed through the mall, including food-court and other dining-oriented offerings. These services support the center’s role as a regional shopping and gathering destination.
Brand decisions
2025
Change ownership to Namdar Realty GroupM&ABackground
The shopping center changed ownership during a period of substantial anchor turnover and restructuring in enclosed retail properties.
Action taken
Namdar Realty Group purchased The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in January 2025.
Aftermath
Namdar Realty Group became the mall’s owner; further operating or redevelopment consequences are not established in the supplied sources.
2021
Reconfigure a former sporting-goods anchorOtherBackground
Dick’s Sporting Goods moved from the mall to a nearby shopping center in April 2021, leaving its former anchor space available for redevelopment.
Action taken
The space was remodeled to accommodate Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports.
Aftermath
Bob’s Stores opened in November 2022 but closed in September 2024, and the planned Eastern Mountain Sports expansion was abandoned.
2003
Expand and reposition the mallStrategyBackground
The original mall had operated under earlier names since its 1990 opening, while the surrounding Buckland Hills corridor continued to develop as a larger retail district.
Action taken
A multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion was completed in October 2003, and the property was renamed The Shoppes at Buckland Hills.
Aftermath
The project established the current identity and enlarged the mall’s role within the broader Buckland Hills commercial area.
Sources2 sources
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