94 Park St.
1957 photo courtesy of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society.
The holidays are a perfect time to remember the quintessential small town store, Bob’s Sports, which occupied 91 Park Street for decades. Bob’s Sports opened in New Canaan in 1951, taking over the former home of Harry Groher. The property was modified to include a black top driveway that could accommodate twenty cars. The original store sold sporting goods and “country wear” for the whole family. Robert E. Mallozzi hosted an open house for his new patrons on September 5th, cementing the store’s place in the community with its merchandise and genial sales staff.
Robert Mallozzi was an avid golfer and all around sportsman. He was the former assistant golf pro at the High Ridge Golf Club in Stamford, managed a semi professional baseball club, and was one of the founders of the Darien Little League. Mallozzi’s brother, Leo, was the former golf pro at Wee Burn Country Club and held national golf titles.
Mallozzi constructed a new building (seen in the foreground of the photo) in 1955. The former Groher home was used for storage and for featuring special equipment. The new building boasted 5100 square feet of retail space and opened for business on March 22, 1956. Robert Mallozzi ran an ad in the New Canaan Advertiser that declared he was “proud as punch with the result and want[ed] to show off to you” and show off he did! The new sections of the store were dedicated to equestrian interests, hunting and fishing, and a new student outfitting area.
In October 1959, a second floor was added to the building, which was designed by architect Edward Wallace of Darien and built by the Lyons Construction Company of Norwalk. The second floor was eighty-five by sixty feet. The renovation allowed for a dedicated “Boy Scout Cabin” and an enlarged student and men’s sportswear area. The new building (along with the original Stamford location) made Bob’s Sports the largest sporting goods operation in New England. Mallozzi was the proud recipient of the Sports Goods Dealership Award in 1961. Mallozzi clearly understood the importance of customer service and chose a department head for each area based on their own expertise, an invaluable resource for his customers. In December 1963, a new parking lot on the corner of Cherry Street and Park Street was built that could accommodate thirty-five cars. The property was formerly owned by The New Canaan Country School.
In 1964, the building got its final addition. This new space added six thousand square feet and cost $65,000. Construction on the building began on July 23, 1964 and Bob’s Sports was reopened for business in the fall of 1964. The parking lot was now only accessible from Cherry Street, where CVS and New Canaan Cycle are today. The second entrance to the parking lot from Park Street was converted into the alley between Starbucks Coffee and New Canaan Toy Store. The new building addition was a “California Style exterior”and the entrance from the Cherry Street parking lot was meant to invoke a Swiss Chalet. According to a Stamford Advocate article dated November 20, 1987, George Hawes, a long time customer, described that Mallozzi didn’t extend the storefront toward the street because he wanted to save a 150 year old Maple tree. Hawes remarks that Mallozzi understood the importance of building a relationship with people in the community and considered his customers’ input. Eventually the reins of the business were passed to Robert III, the former First Selectman of New Canaan, who ran the business with his uncle, Edward Mallozzi. Bob’s Sports closed in 2012 after the death of Edward. The business changed its name to S&B Embroidery and focused on team apparel. S&B Embroidery later became New Canaan Sports.
The property that was once home to Bob’s Sports is now made up of a collection of smaller businesses including the New Canaan Toy Store, CVS Pharmacy, and New Canaan Bicycles. The New Canaan Toy Store relocated from its Elm Street location in 2015 and CVS Pharmacy opened on September 26, 1991.
“New Canaan Now & Then” is presented in partnership with the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society.
I have fond memories of shopping at Bob’s from sporting goods to clothing. The go to store in NC. Sadly missed.
Thank you for this wonderful article. I learned a few things about my Grandfather here that I wasn’t aware of! The tree anecdote is indeed a true story and one I’m always proud of. He loved being part of the New Canaan retail community and was loyally dedicated to helping the town grow and thrive from both a retail and civic standpoint —-as were all the men in my family. New Canaan holds a special place in all our hearts.
Bob’s Sports and the Mallozzi families were (and still are) fixtures of the New Canaan business community. In its heyday, that was a remarkable store. Every inch of space inside had a unique purpose….. from the hunting lodge inside to the left, to the ski shop down the middle, to the fishing and tackle dept to the right, followed by shoes and boots, football and baseball gear, hockey and lacrosse, then the open staircase to the lower level clothing department – it was fantastic. A modern day 80,000sf Cabela’s store has nothing on Bob’s Sports in its day! But what really stood out was the staff …. they knew many customers by name and always had a smile and a story to share. Great memories.
Bob’s Sports was New Canaan. I can vividly remember many shopping trips there in my youth. My sister Darcy was an employee there in the early seventies. A small Town shopping experience with an enormous variety in every department. Visiting Bob’s was always a wonderful time.
I bought,or should I say, my parents bought virtually the first spoting equipment I ever owed; hockey skates, skis and poles, lacrosse sticks foot balls ect.
I loved going to yhe store, cica 1957 or so. It initiated my love of sports. At 71 I’m still at it.
I currently live in south Florida; have been here over 20 years. But I brought with me a wonderful multi-colored raincoat that I bought at Bob’s Sports when I lived in Connecticut. It is still gorgeous and functions beautifully in the Florida rain!
That’s so great to hear, Barbara! We love these kinds of stories!
I have very fond memories of working in New Canaan for Bob, in 1979-1980. I loved the atmosphere and also the perks of working in the Ladies’ Dept. My wardrobe consisted of many items from Bob’s Sports inventory! I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of Bob. He was such a nice, gentle man and boss. My belated condolences to your family!
Fondly,
Holly Hoover Dwyer
I worked at Bob’s Sports in 1990. I started in the Ski Shop, then over to shoes and Sporting Goods. Eventually, I found myself stringing Tennis Racket’s. I always enjoyed working around the Holidays. Bob and Ed made things very festive and we would personally gift wrap for customers. It was always a family feeling that, unfortunately we don’t find much of today.
Jim Corrigan
@Jim: Great memory to share, thank you Jim!