Introducing: Bedford Square!

Posted on March 30, 2017 | 14 Comments

Amis Trattoria has had a soft opening all week.

Anthropologie opens tomorrow.

After 2 years of construction — and right on schedule — Bedford Square has become a reality.

All along, alert “06880” reader Jennifer Johnson took photos.

Here are 3 views of the transformation, from YMCA to retail/restaurant/ residential complex.

And to think that it was only last century when the Y first talked about moving…

January 2012

March 2016

March 30, 2017 (Photos/Jennifer Johnson)

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14 responses to “Introducing: Bedford Square!”

  1. Jill Odice | March 30, 2017 at 5:27 pm |

    This does look nice! I was worried they would destroy that beautiful building.

  2. Elina Lublinsky | March 30, 2017 at 5:28 pm |

    It’s a beauty. All cleaned up and shiny.
    Excited to check it out tomorrow!

  3. R Marra | March 30, 2017 at 5:33 pm |

    Glad it happened. Dresses up that corner.

  4. Susan Iseman | March 30, 2017 at 5:40 pm |

    Thanks to David Waldman for not tearing down another structure in Westport. It adds so much to downtown. Now, all we need is a movie theater!

    • Dan Miller | March 30, 2017 at 5:51 pm |

      This would have been nice but I guess Anthropologie needed 40,000 sft for some odd reason to showcase furniture. West Elm and Design Within Reach just don’t cut it so we have 3 right near each other and still no movie theater.

  5. Krystof Bondar | March 30, 2017 at 6:44 pm |

    No difference , except the trees are gone .

    • David J. Loffredo | April 1, 2017 at 5:40 pm |

      I think that was the idea – historic preservation on the outside, complete transformation on the inside.

  6. Susan Lloyd | March 30, 2017 at 7:10 pm |

    I’m pretty sure it’s on the State registry of Historic Places. So tearing it down would have
    Been easy.

  7. BJ Magnes | March 30, 2017 at 7:14 pm |

    Beautiful! And preserved! Love that that both entrances are as we all remember them. I sat on those pillars many twilight evenings waiting for my parents to pick me up.

  8. Susan Lloyd | March 30, 2017 at 7:22 pm |

    Sorry Dan. I did not mean to sound cheeky. I meant to write “it would Not have been easy to tear down.”

  9. Jack Farrell | March 30, 2017 at 7:35 pm |

    I hope there are plans to preserve the mural up on the wall in WB&T, oops, Anthropologie.

  10. Bobbie Herman | March 30, 2017 at 7:40 pm |

    I hope they plant some trees.

  11. Sharon Paulsen | March 30, 2017 at 11:38 pm |

    Lovely renovation. The original essence of the Y was kept intact. Very good!

    Many good memories in that place.

    However, IMO, is too bad that the largest footprint of the space (based only on what I’ve read here on 06880) is occupied by a corporate chain.

    For me, that sort of kills it.

    Can one imagine, instead, in that space:
    a gallery, some local mom ‘n pops, unique fair-trade type clothing stores, and other “what not’s”, instead of a waste of space for one big “chain” retailer? (I know, I know …rent costs … such a shame).

    In any case, I think it’s an impressive renovation. I still remember taking jazz dance classes in that second floor room of the original building, overloooking the “Max’s and Fine Art’s Theatre” storefront row (early 1980’s).

    Ah well, perpetual sentimentality on my part … so, there it is.

    Thanks for sharing these updates, Dan!

  12. Linda Parker | May 22, 2017 at 11:02 pm |

    Hi Dan – thought I would forward you my email to my brother, Wilson Grabill