Hartford Shopping and Districts

(Hartford, Connecticut - CT, USA)

If you are planning to spend some time in Hartford, then you will be pleased to learn that the opportunities for shopping and general retail therapy are huge, particularly if you are prepared to head to the suburbs of this relatively small state capital.

Downtown Hartford has seen much change over the past decade or so, following the demolition of the Civic Center Mall in 2004 and the creation of a more modern retail and entertainment space around the XL Center, comprising street-level stores and the tall Hartford 21 residential tower.

On the eastern side of central Hartford is the Park Plaza Shopping Center, which stands next to Pope Park and just off exit 46 of Interstate I-84. This strip mall opened in the late 1960s and is rather run down these days, although may be of interest for its Home Depot store and Save supermarket. Considerably more impressive are the out-of-town malls, such as Westfarms and the Shoppes at Buckland Hills, amongst others.

Where to Shop

For some serious shopping, come rain or sunshine, head to the southwest of downtown Hartford, along Interstate I-84. In just over ten minutes you will reach the enormous Westfarms Mall, which boasts in the region of 150 stores and ranks amongst the largest of all the indoor malls currently operating in Connecticut today.

The Westfarms Mall stands in between West Hartford and New Britain, where it opened in the mid-1970s and has enjoyed various renovations and expansions over the following decades. Spread over the two floors are stores such as Apple, Free People, JC Penney, Lord and Taylor, Louis Vuitton, Macy's, Michael Kors, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn, Tiffany and Co. and True Religion Brand Jeans.

Another giant shopping mall of note that is within easy reach of Hartford is the Shoppes at Buckland Hills, which has stood on the northeastern side of the capital since opening for business in 1990. This mall is roughly 15 minutes away from the city center and located on the Buckland Hills Drive, being reached via Interstate I-84 and called home by close to 140 different shops and eateries. These include familiar names such as Barnes and Noble, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Champs Sports, Dick's Sporting Goods, Famous Footwear, Forever 21, GNC, H & M, JC Penney, Justice, Macy's, Michaels Jewelers, RadioShack, Sears and Swarovski, along with many others.

Further retail opportunities both in and around the city can be found at Blue Back Square, the Prospect Shopping Plaza (by the Kennedy Memorial Park), the Pennywise Shopping Center and the West Hartford Center. Slightly further afield are the Shops at Somerset Square in neighboring Glastonbury (roughly 20 minutes to the southeast) and within downtown Manchester (around 15 minutes to the east), as well as the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk, sited in South Windsor (some 20 minutes to the northeast).