Changes coming to a CT mall. See which businesses are moving in, including a food-court centerpiece

A centrally located Connecticut mall has been active with recent comings and goings, as have others across the state.

Among the most recent departures from the Meriden Mall are Spencer’s Gifts, Imperial Gaming and Collectibles, H&R Block, Nail Box and Studio Brow.

Meriden Mall General Manager David Roy confirmed that Spencer’s will close in about a month. The other businesses have already moved out.

Roy said the Nail Box, which was located near the Ruby Tuesday’s entrance on the first floor, had been a mall staple for years.

“I’ve known the owner of the Nail Box for a long time and it’s hard to see them go. It’s hard to see all of the businesses go. I wish them the best. It’s unfortunate to see them go,” Roy said.

Imperial Gaming is now located in Wallingford at 135 N. Plains Industrial Road.

As far as arrivals, Moz Pizza & Grinders has moved in to anchor the food court, Roy said.

Total Wireless by Verizon has opened in the last few days. Adventure Palace, which will feature bouncing houses, ball pits, slides, playscapes and party rooms, has begun its construction at the location of the former Best Buy; that move has been in the works since earlier this year.

The tentative opening for the entertainment complex is in the fall. Abuelo’s Exclusive Coffee is another business that is in the works but does not have an opening date yet. This space was previously Harry’s Eatery.

Action Palace is a 30,000-square-foot business that also will include virtual reality and other fun for children. The trend by major mall owners toward more restaurant and entertainment options is to attract visitors, who they believe also will end up shopping, experts say.

“They are anticipating opening in the fall,” Roy said, of Action Palace. “There are a lot of things coming in from overseas. They are doing some TLC work in the space to fix it up a little bit.”

Roy said Moz opened last week and said the food, including the New Haven-style pizza there, “is really good.” This is Moz’s second location; the other is in the Enfield Mall.

“It’s big having them move in,” Roy said. “It’s a breath of fresh air. We have some other food court ideas, but this is a great, positive step in the right direction. We have some other things in the works.”

Roy added that Yale New Haven Health Services has been continuing its work towards an eventual opening of an outpatient location at the site formerly occupied by Macy’s. Roy said the hospital is still planning to move in, a project that has been years in the making.

“I heard Yale should be ramping up at the former Macy’s location,” Roy said. “I’m not sure what the delay has been for, but they are still here, and they are still working.”

The Yale project was first reported in 2021. The 179,258-square-foot space was initially supposed to be completed by early 2024.

“The first phase of plans calls for three major services lines to offer advanced care to patients and families in collaboration with Yale Medicine through the Smilow Cancer Hospital, the Yale New Haven Heart and Vascular Center and the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital,” the 2021 statement said.

An update from Yale New Haven Health was provided to the Courant in a statement.

“The former Macy’s space in Meriden is still central to the Yale New Haven Health ambulatory strategy and a key part of our growth strategy. Clinical planning is currently underway,” a statement from Yale New Haven Health said.

Roy said Total Wireless is located near Boscov’s and opened last week. The wireless cellphone carrier will be where the Verizon store used to be.

Roy said the mall is always open to ideas with people from the public about potential businesses. Roy said a turnaround for the mall would require a commitment from all involved.

Change has been the trend at malls across the state as Connecticut residents develop new shopping habits, restaurant preferences and sporting and entertainment needs.

“It takes a commitment from everyone,” Roy said. “We need to be supportive of the businesses that come in. It’s got to be a community-oriented support, and we need everyone on our side. Come in and shop at our businesses and that would get some momentum going. We need everyone to support us.”