Archived Topics

The wonderful new shopping center

Posted By: William Brainard <p020188b@pb.seflin.org>
Date: Friday, 23 March 2001, at 9:42 a.m.

Anyone remember when Willimantic Plaza opened? Wasn't it 1968? It was quite exciting because this new supermarket Shop Rite was there; they were progressive because they had an in-store bakery which Stop & Shop and A&P on Valley St. didn't. And the new and bigger Grants with its Bradford House restaurant? And if ones washer was on the fritz you could do laundry at Mrs. Wash, shop at Shop Rite and go to Bonanza... remember their rib-eye specials?? Or the char-broiled chopped steak? Ponderosa was there after Bonanza left but by then the old plaza was getting a little worn out. Anyone recall some of the other original stores in the plaza? Radio Shack was there and that saved us a trip to the Manchester Parkade. Those treats from the Shop Rite bakery-- "bow-ties" with the "butter makes it better" on the box...