Read’s Artspace

The former Read’s department store building, once the shopping mecca for Bridgeport and surrounding communities, stood vacant for many years and became a sad symbol of urban decline.

Today, however, this once neglected building has been newly refurbished and transformed into 63 artist’s live/work lofts, with a gallery, community arts space and first floor retail space.

The adaptive re-use of this historic building won an honorable mention in the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2005 Connecticut Preservation Awards for its positive impact on downtown Bridgeport.

The project provides low cost housing and work space for artists, many of whom have been displaced from other Connecticut cities. The new residents have already begun hosting events, and are collaborating to form a much-needed arts council for the city.