Closings Continue At Crystal Mall In Waterford

WATERFORD, CT — Tenants continue to leave the Crystal Mall in Waterford as the shopping center's occupancy rate dips lower and its future remains hazy.

Wok Express temporarily closed earlier this summer and intended to reopen in August. However, as of the end of September, the restaurant has yet to reopen, according to The Connecticut Scoop.

Claire's, an accessories and jewelry shop, has also closed its mall location as the retailer is shuttering stores across the country.

Related: Embattled National Retailer's Future In Jeopardy At Crystal Mall

The store's last day in business was Aug. 27. Claire's, a longtime go-to location for piercings and teen accessories, operated more than 2,750 stores in 17 countries throughout North America and Europe.

But the chain is struggling with a big debt accumulation and a shift in consumer habits to online shopping. At least three locations in Connecticut are closing.

Talbots was another closure at the mall over the summer, with its last day being June 30.

The last remaining anchor store at the Crystal Mall, JCPenney, closed last year.

In February, Forever 21 and FYE said they would close. T-Mobile closed its location in the mall in January and is now in the nearby Waterford Commons.

Other recent closures at the mall include Ice Imports, Bounce World, and Zales Jewelry.

The mall was sold at auction last year along with the former Sears anchor store space.

Namdar Realty Group, which owns the mall, has said the property could be redeveloped. A Namdar representative did not return a request seeking comment.

Located at 850 Hartford Turnpike in Waterford, the mall was built in 1984 with additional construction in 1987. The two-story, 535,494-square-foot building sits on 82 acres.