New Look, New Stores at West Farms Shopping Center

With the anticipated opening of Nordstrom Rack in the West Farms Shopping Center, the plaza is undergoing a kind of renaissance.

Until Nordstrom Rack signed on at the center, at 1600 Southeast Road by Westfarms mall, the old Linens N Things space sat vacant and the plaza had not been improved for years.

“It all got started when we were out there marketing,” explained Geoffrey Glazer, Vice President of Acquisitions and Developments of Kimco Realty, which manages the center. “We had a vacant Linens box in the rear and it was really key to find an anchor tenant to pull people back to the center. It’s a great location, but we needed to have a stronger retailer in the main spot to have a strong pull on customers and other tenants.”

Now Kimco has nearly finished a months-long process of working with the Farmington Town Plan and Zoning Commision and renovating the buildings’ façade, adding new brick veneer, deep-hued awnings and subdued lighting.

The group has also signed several desirable tenants.

“Nordstrom Rack opens this spring and Children’s Place in the middle of next year,” Glazer said.

Petco caps the shopping center next to Nordstrom Rack and China Pan; Aspen Dental and Roffer Eyeware fill the smaller spaces. TJ Maxx and Sports Authority fill the larger spaces.

That leaves the now-vacant Borders space but Kimco is already “in talks with some serious players,” Glazer said.

Changes are coming to the annex in front of the center, where Dunkin Donuts and Pizza World used to be, too. Construction is underway to prepare for a Panera, which will fill both spaces. The other half of that plaza will remain filled by Vitamin World.

Glazer said the changes are very exciting for the company and for local consumers. Town Planner Jeffrey Ollendorf also spoke positively of the changes.

“Kimco seems to have their act together in terms of being able to reach out into the retailing community and bring in some heavy hitters,” Ollendorf said.