Groundbreaking ceremony planned to demolish Norwichtown Mall

Norwich – The transformation of the old Norwichtown Mall into the Norwichtown Commons shopping center will begin May 24 with a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of demolition and reconstruction of the mall building.

Winstanley Enterprises LLC of Concord, Mass. purchased the nearly vacant mall last July for $15.75 million and received approvals in August to demolish the section from the Dress Barn store to the former Caldor big-box space at the opposite end.

The company plans to replace the traditional interior corridor mall with several stores and restaurants of varying sizes, each with its own entrance to the front. An outdoor restaurant seating area also is planned.

Adam Winstanley, president of Winstanley Enterprises, and partner Edward Sylvera of Surrey Equities LLC, will preside at the ground-breaking ceremony May 24 at 10 a.m. at Norwichtown Commons, 44 Town St.

The event, hosted by the Norwich Community Development Corp., is open to the public.

c.bessette@theday.com