Downtown Storrs has almost run out of empty storefronts. Steven Ferrigno, executive director of the Mansfield Downtown Partnership, told The Chronicle that once the current round of new businesses opens, Condo 1 will be fully leased. Condo 1 covers most of the commercial space to the left of and behind Betsy Paterson Square, plus the Price Chopper and UPS area. He said Condo 2 is close to full as well. He called that "a remarkable change from just a few years ago."
With so few vacancies, most of this fall's new arrivals are taking over spaces other businesses are leaving. A former bank became an apparel shop. A former bookstore is being turned into a brewery and classroom. A wrap shop is moving so a national chain can take its old unit. Since each move depends on the one before it, the order matters more than any single date if you want to know when a new place will actually open.
The Gansett Wraps Move Starts the Chain
The clearest example is a three-step move between Royce Circle and Wilbur Cross Way. As of early October, here's the order:
- Gansett Wraps moves first. It is relocating from 12 Royce Circle to a larger space at 33 Wilbur Cross Way, Suites 104A and 104B, the former Tang Noodle Bar. Ferrigno described the renovation as nearly complete, and the move is expected later this fall.
- Chipotle takes the old Gansett space. The Connecticut Scoop reported that Chipotle filed a permit application on May 11 to convert the unit at 12 Royce Circle. Ferrigno said he understands Chipotle is aiming to open around the end of 2026 or early 2027.
- The Wilbur Cross Way block fills in. Dog House Subs opened in the same building on April 7, in a separate unit, Suite 102B. It serves hot and cold sandwiches and salads. Hours reported at its opening were Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Chipotle can't start its build-out until Gansett moves out, so its year-end target depends on Gansett finishing first. Gansett will also stay open the whole time, which means the downtown keeps a wrap shop while gaining a second restaurant.
One Address, Two New Businesses
The same pattern shows up at 1 Royce Circle, which holds two large spaces that both changed hands this year.
The first is the former Webster Bank branch, empty since 2020. It reopened September 24 as Homefield Apparel, next door to the Ballard Institute. Homefield has been a UConn apparel partner since 2021, but until now its products were sold online or in small quantities at the UConn Bookstore. The Storrs shop is only the company's third store. The other two are at Indiana and Oklahoma.
The merchandise is UConn-specific. Shirts feature the 1959 "Sad Jonathan" logo, the UConn Dairy Bar, and the long-banned "Husky Slide." Football helmets, signed basketballs, trophies and team photos on loan from the Husky Heritage Sports Museum hang on the walls, and visitors can sit in chairs used at several Final Four games. A women's line made with Gold Hinge is sold only in Homefield's stores. Manager Michelle Bromley said one quarter-zip fleece from that line sold out in two days. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, and they may change on game days.
The second space is the former Barnes & Noble, which UConn had leased to the bookstore since 2016. As that lease neared its end, the university decided to pair the space with UConn Brewing Innovation, a program in which students take classes on the craft beer industry. Urban Lodge Brewing, which already runs locations in Manchester and Hartford, will use the space for classes in the morning and as a bar and restaurant in the afternoon and evening. The program currently serves 60 students a semester, and several hundred more are on a waiting list.
The most recent public update, dated August 26, says construction has started. When the project was announced in January, the target was fall 2026. As of early October, there's no confirmed opening date. Ferrigno told The Chronicle he expected an update "in the next couple of weeks."
Where Everything Stands in Early October
Most of the businesses on this list are moving into spaces that another business used before them.
| Business | Address | Previously | Status as of early October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homefield Apparel | 1 Royce Circle, #102 | Webster Bank | Open since Sept. 24 |
| Dog House Subs | 33 Wilbur Cross Way, Suite 102B | New tenant in building | Open since April 7 |
| Guac N Grill | 1244 Storrs Road | Chang's Garden | Open |
| Focus Lounge | 9 Dog Lane, Suite B107 | Not reported | Open |
| Gansett Wraps | 33 Wilbur Cross Way, Suites 104A&B | Tang Noodle Bar | Renovation nearly complete, expected later this fall |
| Yemerica Coffee | 106 Royce Circle | Brooklyn Dumpling Shop and adjacent space | Under construction, planned for later this year |
| Monmouth Cards | 9 Dog Lane, Suites 109–110 | Vacant retail next to Jefferson Fry Co. | Under construction, no date announced |
| Urban Lodge Brewing | 1 Royce Circle | Barnes & Noble | Under construction, no confirmed date |
| Chipotle | 12 Royce Circle | Gansett Wraps | Permit filed May 11, aiming for late 2026 or early 2027 |
A few details that the table leaves out. Guac N Grill serves halal Mexican food, and The Daily Campus listed it among downtown's newer places to eat in its August 28 dining guide. Its website lists hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Yemerica Coffee will combine traditional Yemeni and American coffee. Monmouth Cards will buy, sell and trade sports cards, Pokémon and other trading card games, and it plans to host in-store events. Ferrigno said it will fill the last open retail space on Dog Lane. Ferrigno also mentioned Action Packed, which moved into a larger space earlier this year and has been expanding its arcade. The Downtown Storrs online directory still lists Gansett at its old address, so call ahead before going to either location.
October's Calendar Without the Festival
Downtown's biggest fall day didn't happen this year. The 23rd Annual Celebrate Mansfield Festival was set for September 26. The Mansfield Downtown Partnership moved it indoors to E. O. Smith High School because of rain, and then the school lost power during setup. The Partnership canceled the event for safety reasons and has pointed everyone to the 24th festival in 2027.
Without that one big day, October is made up of smaller events spread through the month. Many are on the same blocks where the storefronts are changing:
- Friday, Oct. 9: Kids' Night Out at the Mansfield Community Center, 5 to 8 p.m. It's free and includes supervised activities and pizza.
- Saturday, Oct. 10: Art on the Square at Betsy Paterson Square, noon to 5 p.m., with local artists selling original work. The Storrs Farmers Market runs 3 to 5 p.m. at Town Hall, and its outdoor season continues on Saturdays through October. Mansfield Hollow also hosts a free Spooky Season Stroller Meet-Up at 10:30 a.m. No registration is needed, but weather can cancel it.
- Oct. 15 to 25: Connecticut Repertory Theatre stages "Twelfth Night" at the Nafe Katter Theatre. Opening night is Oct. 16.
- Sunday, Oct. 18: "Hocus Pocus Live!!!" at Jorgensen, with shows at 1 and 4 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21: Camerata RCO chamber music at Jorgensen, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 23: "Coco in Concert Live to Film" at Jorgensen, 7 p.m. Ticket holders can join free pre-show activities at 6 p.m. The same night at 7 p.m., the Mansfield Historical Society presents "Rochambeau's Army in Connecticut 1780–1782" at the Mansfield Public Library.
- Saturday, Oct. 24: The Downtown Boo Bash runs 3 to 5 p.m. and is free to attend, though its listing still says more details are coming. That morning, Mansfield Hollow holds its second stroller meet-up at 10:30.
- Thursday, Oct. 29: RUBBERBAND Dance Company performs "Ever So Slightly Redux" at Jorgensen at 7:30 p.m. The Jorgensen Gallery's Bill Parker exhibition holds its opening reception at 6 p.m. The show runs Oct. 26 through Dec. 11.
The Mansfield Historical Society museum has extended its season through Oct. 31. It's open Saturdays and Sundays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Early November brings one more downtown event. The Ballard Institute, Homefield's next-door neighbor, opens "Larry Reed: Cinematic Shadows" on Friday, Nov. 6. Refreshments start at 5 p.m., a free curator-led tour follows at 5:30, and a Fall Puppet Forum begins at 6:30. The forum requires advance registration.
What Comes Next
As Ferrigno told The Chronicle, "As more businesses open and the downtown becomes increasingly active, it creates more energy, more foot traffic and more opportunities for businesses around them." Gansett's move is the next step to watch, because it frees the space Chipotle needs to begin construction.
If you own in Mansfield and want to know how changes like these affect what buyers see when they look at your home, Pam Moriarty Real Estate can walk you through it. We'll keep it local and specific, and we'll speak candidly. Schedule a free consultation.
