Best Buy Planning To Open Store At Milford Shopping Plaza

MILFORD, CT — A new Best Buy store is set to move forward at Milford Crossing after the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a key request tied to the building’s exterior design during its meeting Tuesday.

The proposal centers on bringing the electronics retailer into the former Joann space at 1349 Boston Post Road, part of a shopping center that also includes Walmart and Barnes & Noble.

Best Buy currently has 10 remaining locations in Connecticut.

Representatives for the applicant said Best Buy has been searching for a new location in the area since closing its Orange store in 2023 and identified Milford as a top priority.

Related: Connecticut Left With 10 Best Buy Stores With Closure In Orange

During the meeting, a Best Buy development manager said the company views the Milford Crossing plaza as a strong retail destination and a good fit for a “medium format” store intended to serve the local community.

The board’s discussion focused largely on the appearance of the building’s facade, particularly the use of blue panels associated with the company’s branding. The applicant sought permission to exceed the typical allowance for how much of a building’s front can be devoted to such elements.

Attorneys for the project argued the request was justified in part because of the store’s location deep within the shopping center — roughly a quarter-mile from Boston Post Road — making visibility more challenging than for storefronts closer to the street.

Several board members acknowledged that the site’s layout and distance from the road created unique circumstances. Others noted that the store’s main sign itself complied with regulations and was smaller than previous signage at the location.

There was also discussion about whether the blue panels should be considered signage at all, or simply part of the building’s design. While opinions varied, members generally agreed the overall look was appropriate and would help identify the store within the plaza.

The board ultimately voted unanimously to approve the request, with conditions that the Best Buy sign and its logo remain the size presented and that no additional signage be added later.

Members also expressed support for filling the vacant space, citing the benefit of bringing a national retailer back to the area and increasing activity in the shopping center.