Westfarms Mall
Westfarms is a major enclosed shopping mall serving the Greater Hartford area from the West Hartford–Farmington town line in Connecticut.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Westfarms is an enclosed regional shopping mall located on the West Hartford–Farmington town line in Connecticut, United States. The property sits along Route 71 near the junctions of Interstate 84 and Route 9, placing it within reach of much of the Greater Hartford market and adjacent to several open-air retail plazas. With approximately 1,267,000 square feet of gross leasable area, it is one of Connecticut’s largest shopping centers and is identified as the state’s third-largest mall by that measure. The mall opened in 1974 under the development of Taubman Centers, a Michigan-based shopping-center developer. Its original department-store anchors were G. Fox & Co., JCPenney, and Sage-Allen, reflecting the department-store-led format that characterized large American enclosed malls in the period. Westfarms expanded in 1982 with a new retail wing that added Lord & Taylor, broadening its upscale department-store mix and increasing the property’s regional draw. The center underwent a major repositioning during the 1990s. G. Fox’s parentage changed when the Hartford retailer was acquired by Filene’s in 1992; the Westfarms store adopted the Filene’s name in January 1993. Sage-Allen entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1992 and closed its Westfarms location the following year. In response to changing competition, including the opening of Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester, Taubman initiated a reported $100 million renovation and expansion program beginning in 1995. The work remodeled the Filene’s and Lord & Taylor stores, converted the former Sage-Allen premises into a Filene’s Men’s & Home operation, added a four-level parking garage, and created a new retail wing between JCPenney and Lord & Taylor. The late-1990s expansion culminated in the opening of Nordstrom on September 6, 1997. The store was Nordstrom’s first location in New England and, for many years, its only Connecticut location. This addition strengthened Westfarms’s position as an upscale regional destination rather than a purely convenience-oriented local mall. The property later experienced further brand transitions: the Filene’s store became Macy’s on September 9, 2006, and the mall received another substantial remodeling program in 2008–2009. Westfarms has also adapted to changes in the department-store sector. Lord & Taylor announced in 2020 that its stores would close amid the economic disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The former Lord & Taylor space was subsequently occupied by Jordan’s Furniture, which opened at Westfarms in 2023. Unlike many enclosed malls, Westfarms does not rely on a single centralized food court. Instead, quick-service restaurants and other food offerings are distributed in storefront locations across parts of the mall. The property remains an active regional shopping destination with department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and service-oriented tenants. It is owned and managed by Simon Property Group, following Simon’s acquisition of Taubman Centers. Its long operating history, successive expansions, and anchor replacements illustrate the evolution of the American regional mall from a 1970s department-store center into a diversified mixed-retail destination.
History
Westfarms opened in 1974 on the West Hartford–Farmington town line in Connecticut. The mall was developed by Taubman Centers and was designed as a large regional shopping destination anchored by G. Fox & Co., JCPenney, and Sage-Allen. Its location along Route 71, near Interstate 84 and Route 9, gave it access to the Greater Hartford area and helped establish it as a significant suburban retail center. The first major enlargement occurred in 1982, when Westfarms added a new retail wing anchored by Lord & Taylor. The expansion strengthened the mall’s department-store profile and increased its appeal to shoppers seeking a broader and more upscale merchandise mix. The competitive environment changed in the early 1990s with the arrival and growth of other regional shopping destinations. At the same time, Westfarms experienced important tenant changes. G. Fox was acquired by Filene’s in 1992, and the Westfarms store was converted to the Filene’s name in January 1993. Sage-Allen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1992 and closed its Westfarms location in 1993. Taubman responded to the competitive pressure, including that from Buckland Hills Mall in nearby Manchester, with a major renovation and expansion program that began in 1995. The project was reported to cost approximately $100 million. Its first phase remodeled the Filene’s and Lord & Taylor stores and reused the former Sage-Allen area for a Filene’s Men’s & Home store. A second phase added a four-level parking garage in 1996. The final phase created a new retail wing between JCPenney and Lord & Taylor, together with additional parking garages. Nordstrom opened in the new wing on September 6, 1997. It was the retailer’s first New England store and remained its only Connecticut location until a second store opened at The SoNo Collection in Norwalk in 2019. The mall’s anchor portfolio changed again in the 2000s. On September 9, 2006, the Filene’s store became Macy’s. Westfarms then underwent another remodeling program in 2008 and 2009, updating the property after the large 1990s expansion. The center’s format remained distinct from many enclosed malls because it did not contain a single common-area food court. Instead, several wings incorporated quick-service restaurants in individual storefronts. The decline of traditional department stores produced another major transition. In August 2020, Lord & Taylor announced that all of its stores would close, a decision associated with the severe economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The former Lord & Taylor premises later became home to Jordan’s Furniture, which opened there in 2023. This change broadened the space’s role from department-store retail to home furnishings and experiential shopping. Westfarms currently has approximately 1,267,000 square feet of gross leasable area and remains one of Connecticut’s largest shopping malls. The mall is owned and managed by Simon Property Group, which acquired Taubman Centers. Its history reflects the evolution of American regional malls: an original department-store format, periodic physical expansions, consolidation and replacement of anchor tenants, and continued adaptation toward a broader mix of specialty retail, dining, home goods, and services.
- 2023
Jordan’s Furniture opens
[1]Jordan’s Furniture opens in the former Lord & Taylor location.
- 2020
Lord & Taylor closes
[1]The Lord & Taylor location closes following the retailer’s decision to shut all stores during the COVID-19-era economic crisis.
- 2009
Remodeling program concludes
[1]Westfarms completes a remodeling undertaken during 2008 and 2009.
- 2006
Macy’s replaces Filene’s
[1]The Filene’s store is converted to Macy’s on September 9.
- 1997
Nordstrom opens
[1]A new wing and additional parking facilities are completed, and Nordstrom opens on September 6 as the first Nordstrom store in New England.
- 1996
New parking infrastructure
[1]A four-level parking garage is completed as part of the expansion program.
- 1995
Major renovation and expansion begins
[1]Taubman starts a large renovation and expansion intended to strengthen Westfarms against regional competition.
- 1993
G. Fox becomes Filene’s
[1]The former G. Fox store is rebranded as Filene’s, and Sage-Allen closes permanently.
- 1992
Anchor-store disruption begins
[1]Filene’s acquires G. Fox, while Sage-Allen files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- 1982
First major expansion
[1]A new retail wing is added, including a Lord & Taylor department store.
Products and positioning
A large regional enclosed shopping mall positioned as an upscale, department-store-anchored destination for the Greater Hartford area and surrounding Connecticut communities.
Department stores · 1974
Department-store retail
Westfarms has historically been organized around large department-store anchors. Its anchor history includes G. Fox & Co., Sage-Allen, Lord & Taylor, Filene’s, Macy’s, JCPenney, and Nordstrom. These stores supplied broad assortments of apparel, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and other general retail goods.
Specialty stores · 1974
Specialty retail
The mall’s retail wings accommodate specialty shops across apparel, accessories, beauty, lifestyle, services, and other consumer categories. The specialty-retail component complements the department stores and helps Westfarms function as a regional destination rather than a single-anchor shopping center.
Home furnishings · 2023
Jordan’s Furniture
Jordan’s Furniture occupies the former Lord & Taylor space and opened at Westfarms in 2023. Its presence represents the conversion of a traditional department-store anchor into a home-furnishings and experiential retail use.
Food and beverage · 1974
Dining and quick-service restaurants
Westfarms offers food and beverage options through individual storefront restaurants and quick-service locations distributed in parts of the mall. Unlike many enclosed malls, it does not have one centralized common-area food court.
Brand decisions
2020
Lord & Taylor space is repositionedStrategyBackground
Lord & Taylor announced the closure of all its stores during the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Action taken
The Westfarms Lord & Taylor store closed, and the former department-store premises were later assigned to Jordan’s Furniture.
Aftermath
Jordan’s Furniture opened in the space in 2023, shifting the anchor use toward home furnishings.
2006
Filene’s is converted to Macy’sGeneration changeBackground
The change followed broader consolidation and rebranding within the department-store sector.
Action taken
The Westfarms Filene’s location was converted to Macy’s on September 9, 2006.
Aftermath
Macy’s became the successor department-store brand in the former Filene’s space.
1997
Nordstrom opens at WestfarmsProduct launchBackground
The expansion created a new wing between JCPenney and Lord & Taylor, providing space for an additional high-end department-store anchor.
Action taken
Nordstrom opened at Westfarms on September 6, 1997.
Aftermath
The store became the first Nordstrom in New England and Westfarms’s principal addition from the 1990s expansion.
1995
Westfarms launches a major competitive repositioningStrategyBackground
Facing competition from the newer Buckland Hills Mall and changes among its department-store tenants, Taubman pursued a large renovation and expansion program.
Action taken
The program remodeled existing anchors, repurposed the former Sage-Allen space, expanded parking, and created a new retail wing that would include Nordstrom.
Aftermath
The work strengthened Westfarms’s regional and upscale positioning and added Nordstrom, the retailer’s first New England location.
Recent events
BoxLunch opens its first Connecticut store[3]
Reported:
BoxLunch opened its first Connecticut-market store at Westfarms, on the Farmington-West Hartford line.
Westfarms announces BRIO Tuscan Grille reopening[4]
Reported:
Westfarms announced that BRIO Tuscan Grille, which had closed in April, was scheduled to reopen at the shopping center on December 7.
Westfarms announces planned Warby Parker store[4]
Reported:
Westfarms announced that eyewear brand Warby Parker planned to open a store on the shopping center's upper level in Center Court in 2021.
Sources4 sources
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