Great American/Victory Markets

Margaretville Victory store, 1976. Courtesy John Margolies/Library of Congress.

 I remember Great American and Victory Markets from the old days. Wikipedia has no mention of when Leominster, MA-based Victory merged with Norwich-based Great American, which had stores from the Southern Tier, CNY, North Country, Adirondacks, Central Leatherstocking and Capital Regions, Mohawk and Hudson Valleys and close to the Catskills. Some had a distinct shape that can easily be recognised by those of a certain age group. Others still are open today or only just closed in recent memory while some are long gone. Hannaford and Big Y bought Victory locations in New England. Back in Upstate NY, at least one had been and another now is a Grand Union as well. More of them would be primarily in small towns. When they left, they would become rural food deserts (which can be worse than urban ones, being further away from anything comparable). Competition from P&C, Price Chopper and other chains meant Great Americans, like so many mom and pop operations (the latter day stores like Big M, Save a Lot, IGA and ShopRite are franchises [Victory acquired several ShopRite franchise stores in Albany and Warren Counties in late 1988, while ShopRite returned to the District in the 2010s with O&Os]), were becoming fewer by the day.  I will list as many as I can, but only put highways for areas that I know because it can take all day, even for smaller ones. There may be even more, but this is the gist of it. Many have been lost to obscurity (and I don't where they all are, yet our partners at Groceteria have a treasure trove, and I just can't catch up!).

Bridgeport (NY 31 & 298) - only one I ever went to as such; long since vacant

Fayetteville (NY 5) - also Victory; later Super Duper, now dance studio (still has distinct design)

Manlius (NY 173) - later Smiths, now Dollar Tree

Fort Plain (NY 80) - later Grand Union and Big M, now Save a Lot

Canajoharie (NY 5S) - now farm equipment business?

Sidney (BK5, recently closed)

Sidney (demolished, now Town Plaza)

Greene – Victory Market – South Chenango Street (became a Great American BK5; now closed)
Groton – Victory Market – 1980 Main Street (never a Great American)
Guilderland – Great American – 1235 Western Avenue (US 20) (formerly Shop Rite)
Hamilton – Victory Market – 11 Eaton Avenue (became a Great American)
Hartwick – Victory Market – Main & South Streets (became a Peter Pumpkin)
Hancock – Victory Market –East Front Street (became a Great American)
Hankins – Victory Market - (never a Great American)
Herkimer – Victory Market – 232 West Albany Street (NY 5) (became a Great American)
Herkimer - Great American - (NY 5S?) (formerly Loblaws)
Hinsman’s Corners – Victory Market – 1318 Upper front Street (never a Great American)
Homer – Victory Market – (never a Great American) (US 11)
Horseheads – Great American – Arnot Mall – 3300 Chambers Road (now Arnot Event Center)

Star Lake (NY 3)  - previously IGA; demolished; now Dollar General

Syracuse (Eastwood) (NY 290) - Victory Video; later James Flowers; now vacant

Norwich (flagship and 82 N Broad St [NY 12]) former now ALDI?; latter now Walgreens

Norwich (cold storage warehouse on E. Main St.; later Tops; now Grand Union)

Utica (then-NY 5/8/12 and Bleecker St)

Albany (near UAlbany)

Ellenville (US 209)

Lake George (US 9)

Mexico (NY 104)

Glens Falls (Upper Glen Rd) - previously ShopRite

Bainbridge (NY 7)

Unadilla (NY 7)

Margaretville (NY 30) - pictured; Victory, now the Catskill Mountain Christian Church School

Schoharie (NY 30)

Oneonta (NY 7 & 28)

New Berlin (NY 8 & 80)

Binghamton (Main St and S Washington St)

Prattsville (NY 23) - last surviving store with ties to the chain (not counting any unrelated stores outside Upstate NY due to generic nature of the name)

West Winfield (US 20 & NY 51) - now Dollar General

Oxford - now Dollar General

Watertown (NY 3) - now a mental health facility

Boonville (NY 12)

Cairo (NY 23) - now Hannaford

Adams Center (US 11)

Alexandria Bay (NY 12)

Apalachin (NY 17)

Camillus (W Genesee St) - Camillus Plaza; later Price Chopper and P&C; now Tops

Canastota (NY 13)

Barneveld (NY 365)

Camden (NY 13)

Catskill (NY 32)

Chadwicks (Main St [now Oneida St?])

New Paltz (NY 299)

Afton (NY 7)

Cooperstown (NY 28 & 80) - later P&C, now Grand Union

Delhi (NY 10)

Fonda (NY 30A)

Liberty (NY 52)

Lyons Falls (NY 12)

Sherburne (NY 12)

Richfield Springs (US 20)

Tully (US 11 & NY 80)

Ilion (NY 5S)

Whitesboro (NY 69) - previously Loblaws

East Greenbush (US 9 & 20)

Hudson (US 9)

Catskill (US 9W)

Colonie (Wolf Rd)

East Stroudsburg, PA (US 209) (only non-NY store)

Syracuse (south side) (US 11) Victory; previously Johnsons; now Dunk & Bright?

Westvale (NY 5) - Victory; previously Johnsons, later IGA

Jordan (9 Mechanic St) - later Big M and Tops; now Family Dollar

Syracuse (east side) (NY 5)

Syracuse (downtown)

Jamesville (NY 173)

van Buren/Seneca Knolls (NY 48) - now Big M flagship (may be confused with next one up the road)

Baldwinsville (NY 48) - later ValuWay

Baldwinsville (Downer St) - Tri-County Mall, long since demolished

Dryden (NY 13 & 38) - now Clarks ShurFine

Grand Gorge (NY 23 & 30)

Clinton (NY 12B)

deWitt (NY 5)

Chittenango (NY 5 & 13) - later Smiths, now Kinney Pharmacy

Syracuse (east side) - Victory; previously Acme

Syracuse (east side) (NY 5) - Victory only

Syracuse (east side) (NY 5) - Victory; previously Giant Food (not chains from Southern Tier/MD/PA) and Johnsons

Syracuse (north side) (NY 298) - Victory; previously Johnsons; later Big M; now Diamond (cornershop)

Syracuse (NY 92) - Victory; previously Red & White (brand still exists)

Syracuse (NY 92) - Victory; previously Market Basket (not New England chain)

Cazenovia (US 20) - first in region; later P&C, now Tops

Cincinnatus (NY 26) - later Peter Pumpkin

Cherry Valley (US 20) - previously Oneida Supermarkets (1968-?)

Clayville (NY 8)

Conklin (NY 7)

Cortland (NY 13) - Great American and Victory

Cortland (NY 41 & US 11?) - Victory only

Cortlandville (NY 281) - also both

Deposit - Elm & Monument Sts.

deRuyter (NY 13)

Eaton (NY 26)

Edmeston (NY 80)

Jeffersonville (NY 52)

Kingston (US 9W)

Whitney Point (US 11)

North Syracuse (US 11) - Victory; previously Market Basket

New Hartford (NY 5A) - Tehan Plaza; previously Loblaws, Chicago Markets and Tops; now Hannaford

Syracuse (north side) - later Wegmans, now Tops

Menands (NY 32) - previously ShopRite, later Price Chopper; now offices