Brand New Mall is Putting SoNo On the Map

James Lopez

PrideTime Editor

On October 11, 2019, the long-awaited SoNo Collection finally unveiled it’s doors to the people of Fairfield County. It was a very anticipated day, as a new mall being placed in the heart of Norwalk was considered by many people to be an anomaly. Diego Zenteno, a senior at Brien McMahon High School, says, “I was honestly surprised at the news of a new mall being built in my hometown and now that it has finally opened, I can say that it has certainly lived up to the hype.” The new mall, anchored by Nordstrom and Bloomingdales, is 3 stories tall with 70+ stores, a bowling alley, and a top-level garden. 

In 2017, nationwide reports predicted that 25% of malls in the U.S. would close by 2020. With that being said, The SoNo Collection was in the spotlight for a while now, with people’s expectations being very high for what the new mall has to offer. SoNo is already a big attraction for people visiting or residing in Norwalk, with places like Calf Pasture Beach or SoNo historic district being main spots for people to hang around. After it’s opening on Friday, October 11th, many people who visited the shopping center had positive things to say despite the limited amount of stores that were available. Aldo Salazar, a senior at BMHS, explains “I had a good feeling about the mall from the outside of it, and an even better one on the inside. The stores are very nice, there is a lot of space for hanging out with friends, and I like how much art appreciation there is.”

 A huge aspect of the mall is how it strives to embrace art and culture. On the mall’s website, it is included that “The SoNo Collection features a vast array of local, national, and international artwork. Pique your curiosity by exploring art that transcends modern, traditional, and experiential sensibilities.” This may attract many people outside of Norwalk and/or even Fairfield County that are interested in arts and culture. 

The SoNo Collection further enriches SoNo and despite its opening during a time where malls are seeing a decline, it has shown a lot of potential for putting SoNo on the map.