The Shops at Evergreen Walk, South Windsor’s blossoming outdoor shopping mall, was recently purchased by the Barings Corporation for 98.3 million. In recent years, the mall has become a popular destination for residents, from seniors in the local convalescent homes to teenagers and families.
Stores like Apple, Lululemon, Gap, and J Crew have made the location a shopping haven, while Burton’s, Ben and Jerry’s, and Shake Shack have made it a fun culinary experience. The extended area beyond Evergreen Way contains shops like Whole Foods, Chipotle, Starbucks, and Costco. On the Shops at Evergreen Walk website, they defined themselves not as a mall, but as a “lifestyle center.”
The Shops have truly become a staple of South Windsor, with concerts and engaging events like the Christmas Tree Lighting, which attracted around 1,000 people with its old-fashioned carolers, live music, and horse-drawn carriage parade.
“I think that Evergreen Walk is a great place to go with family and friends,” South Windsor High School senior Kaitlyn Roy said. “It has a lot of variety with stuff you can do or buy, and it’s nice that everything is all really close to each other.”
Previously, the complex had been under the ownership of PGIM, or Prudential Global Investment Management. But in late December, Barings and Brand paid a significant amount of money, 98.3 million dollars, to take ownership of the properties. On the Barings website, they write that they work with, “markets and asset classes where we see opportunities to generate alpha through fundamental research, active management and access to our network.”
This is yet another change in the multitude of new developments at Evergreen. Some businesses have found it hard to keep up with the rapid modifications to the Plaza, with popular store Stonewall Kitchen closing on January 11, 2026.
“We were so sad to hear about Stonewall Kitchen closing,” South Windsor resident Cheryl Wojnilo said. “It was one of the original stores and we had such great memories shopping there over the years. It was a great store to go for breakfast treats, jellies and gift baskets. It will truly be missed.”
Even in the midst of change, Evergreen remains one the most popular, if not the most popular, locations in South Windsor.
“I think Evergreen Walk is the perfect place to hang out with friends and family,” SWHS freshman Sruthi Reddy Jonnala said.
The center has ultimately never been more popular, with the newfound focus on ‘lifestyle’ and personal health and wellness. Hopefully, the new management will continue to advance the Shops, but also preserve the charm and focus on the people of South Windsor.
