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Doggy's holding on to that money! |
Please help.
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7 Brew building site in Melbourne, FL in 2022 (I'll get my own snap shortly) |
7 Brew Coffee are a growing chain of drive-thru coffee takeaways, with new locations in North Syracuse and Rome, with Auburn and other area on the way, but there are some they may not have considered yet. They build from scratch and they take no time at all to pop up, so if an old property is sat and no longer of any use, it can just be demolished to make way for 7 Brew, which is easier for people in cars, even though I stumbled upon the Rome one at short notice, which had led me to write this one. May not be the easiest for those of us who don't drive or get on with technology (over-60s).
deWitt or Syracuse (east side) - NY 5
Clay or Liverpool - NY 31 or CR 57 (given Micron)
Cortland - NY 281 or 13 (local chain Coffeemania are also drive-thru only)
Ithaca - NY 13/34/96 (former Burger King)
Auburn - NY 5 (former Eckerd/Rite Aid; confirmed)
Camillus or Fairmount - W Genesee St
Oswego - NY 104
Fulton - NY 3 or 481
Oneida - NY 5
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ChatGPT OpenAI express version of 7 Brew Coffee |
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Notsky the dog furry in Pamplona mode on a Valentine (Open AI) |
North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights Plaza; former Hofmann Hot Haus/Salt City Dogs (unrelated business) (pictured below)
Syracuse (east side) - Salt Springs Rd & deMong Dr; former leMoyne Firehouse at Barbs Bistro after Kubal had backed out (confirmed for the start of the upcoming fall semester)
Syracuse (north side) - 1 Walsh Circle (off NY 370), Regional Transportation Centre; former Dunkin'
Liverpool - CR 57, Glenn Crossing Plaza; one of two former restaurants TBD
East Syracuse - NY 298 & Weighlock Dr; former Starbucks and Jimmy Johns (between Carrier Circle, Northern Blvd and Collamer across from Kinne St off Thruway exit 35)
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Fantasy location in North Syracuse |
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Original Valentine with Notsky and added logo |
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Revised Ghibli Valentine with added logo and edits |
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Fantasy location in Sangertown Square in New Hartford |
New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A; former Hess's/Kaufmanns/Macys, although smaller bin store is in the former Sears/current Boscovs wing (pictured)
Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall, NY 5 & US 20; former Rex
Watertown - Salmon Run Mall, NY 3; former Christmas Tree Shops
Albany - Colonie Centre, NY 5; same as Watertown
Greece - Greece Ridge Mall, NY 104, former Sibleys/Kaufmanns/Macys
Williamsville - NY 78; former Best Buy
Binghamton - US 11; former Giant/Weis Markets
Ithaca - NY 13/34/96; former Hobby Lobby
Big Flats - Arnot Mall, off NY 17/I-86; former Sears
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Kitty and doggy are ready for the big night! |
Now in my tenth year of finding a prom in my area (even in 2020 when even the kids were out of luck, and I'm doing this for those who were deprived in 2020-21 as well as those of us of every vintage who are looking to either make up or redo like it's a test we had to take in order to earn it). While I was able to find something I could go to with just one days notice, I'm still determined to get this done, especially since Singers Karaoke Club have now decided that they won't have it this year after all because of other events being planned, even after last years revival following a long, long pause. A pride prom in Rome not just for young people has raised money, and it's on a Saturday this time, which is free if you live right in the area, but not if you have to pay more money getting there than being there, even if it's less than some events back home or starting from scratch. Going even further from town is out of the question for me and many others, even if they can drive. I wrote the list offline first before copying it here. I just wish this could be done in my backyard when they are held in one-horse towns as much as the big cities. Can't even get concerts to come here every time anymore (that's more for the sister blog). I also found where to have it in other Upstate metros, but it'd be more sporadic because I wouldn't know them all combined as well as my own backyard, of course, which is why I stay there. I went to Rome since I could absorb that cost, as that was my only option for the time being thus far, but I ruled out another prom in the Mohawk Valley, being held a hotel in New Hartford in July on a Tuesday, which is rare. The town (Utica) is small, but not that small (even if you do have your own way around). Because of poor bus scheduling in Rome, I don't want to make the same mistake twice in Utica and New Hartford, even though there'd be better chance of a bus turning up, I will stay close to home for these events in future because I had to be picked up and lodged a complaint to one bus company.
I haven't ruled out holding adult prom in Syracuse, even if it's not in the springtime or this year, although I found a more exclusive event at short notice similar to a couple I went to several years ago. That place closed months after not long before COVID and is still vacant, yet I would buy it and use it as a small event space to let, but until then, here are the numerous options in and around the city I can come up with. Price, parking, ADA compliance and bus lines all are factored in to each venue.
Someone else in my area said that they're planning on having one this Labour Day Weekend (5 or 6 September), so that saves having to go two counties away again just for that. They'll most likely book one of the larger spots downtown. Might be a different lot than the other two this year, but one must keep an open mind. Just hope tickets are reasonably priced. A charity ball in Jefferson County charged $25 for singles, which would be doable here. Comes before the start of school and homecoming season in the Northeast. Other places are considering, but this is the only one half-confirmed thus far in Syracuse, so that saves me the trouble of navigating (as everyone says these days) this on my own.
Downtown/Armoury Square
Palladian Hall; N Salina St (former OnBank/M&T Bank)
Maxwells, Hanover Square; E Genesee St (formerly Elbow Room)
The Rail Line; S Clinton St
Sky Armoury; S Salina & Clinton Sts
Marriott Syracuse Downtown (has several regular proms and may be too expensive); E Onondaga, Harrison & N Warren Sts, formerly Hotel Syracuse
OnCentre (same, even though it's taxpayer property); US 11
Landmark Theatre (has hosted a few of these in the corridor and lobby); S Salina St; formerly Loews State (from studio system era under MGM); unavailable during the summer because of renovations and when there are residencies.
Liverpool
Randolph House Hotel, Electronics Pkwy & 7th North St off I-90 (Traditions of Wyndham franchise; formerly Ramada [sister chain]/Sheraton/Holiday Inn. No regular proms this year. Have gone for CD Record Fair and Easter buffet)
Cicero
Carnegie Conference Centre, E Circle Dr; Drivers Village (former Penn-Can Mall in old Denbys wing near clock tower; also no run-of-the-diploma-mill proms in 2025)
Mattydale
VFW Post 3146; Truck NY 298 & leMoyne Ave (went for late Lent chippy)
Maplewood Bar & Grill, US 11 (former Zebbs); Mattydale Plaza (former kmart plaza; formerly at Holiday Inn & Suites in Liverpool; opening this fall)
East Syracuse
The Guest House; NY 290 & Worth St (smaller venue; former LDA of CNY near Wegmans)
American Legion Post 359; NY 290 (Halloween parties and fundraisers held there)
Onondaga Hill
SRC Arena, OCC, NY 173 & 175
Camillus (in name only)/Onondaga
TK Tavern; Howlett Hill Rd, Taunton (original location off NY 5 had Salt City Collective prom twice)
Tipp Hill
Emerald Cocktail Kitchen (suggested to them and they will consider); W Fayette St
Ukrainian National Home (SCC prom moved there after old TK closed from a fire); W Wilbur Ave
Eastwood
Palace Theatre; NY 290 (has no lift to get upstairs at this time unfortunately being older and smaller)
American Legion Post #1276; NY 290 (former Friendlys; not sure if they even do this at new location)
Brewerton
Brewerton Centre for the Arts; US 11 (hosted one two years ago, yet may be too far for some people)
Syracuse (east side)
Harveys Garden (floofs had back room, yet prom could be held upstairs); E Water St
Syracuse (west side)
Singers (last resort during the day if booked as a private event since nights are ruled out)
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A car wash in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Deutschland. Courtesy Günther Hentschel. |
It seems like lately, new car washes open up left and right. Of course, they need to be cleaned, yet they seem to be an easier business to open than others with a bit less red tape. Nowadays, they are larger than ever, able to accommodate dozens of customers. Delta Sonic alone get queues several yards long. They are also the only way to get Tim Hortons in CNY. Other competitors have replaced former chains such as Babies 'R Us, Cams Pizzeria/Hardees/Hortons/ Dougs/TJs Fish Fry, an older car wash, a phone store, and other businesses. I miss the kind of full service car wash where you could have the attendant take your car through while you wait and then they clean the inside out after (this is called detail). Those must still exist. Car washes aren't nationalised, if you like. They're regional or indie. Also, get undercarriage because it prevents rust if you don't have rust already (one of my pet hates about motor cars, along with bumper stickers, dents, scratches, and bin bags in windows if you're too cheap to get them fixed).
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Notsky the blue husky furry is asking for your donations! |
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Cortland store last year |
Auburn - US 20 & NY 38A; now FlynnStoned
Cortland - N Main St/US 11 & NY 41
Liverpool - Morgan & Buckley Rds; later Zara Fashions (no relation to the chain); now closed
Amherst - Eggert Rd
Lackawanna - Ridge Rd
Jamestown - NY 60 & 394
Dunkirk - Central Ave; now Dollar General
Elmira - College Ave
Lancaster - NY 21
Lockport - NY 31
Niagara Falls (1) - US 62 (Niagara Falls Blvd)
Niagara Falls (2) - US 62 West (Pine Ave)
North Chili - NY 33
Orchard Park - NY 277
Rome - N James St
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If a bowling alley were in downtown Syracuse today |
Solvay - Milton Ave, Solvay Recreation Alleys; one of the oldest in the area and country; recently closed due to the owners death
Syracuse (Eastwood) (1) - NY 290, Eastwood Plaza; later a dance studio; now Yesteryear Antiques & Collectibles
Syracuse (Eastwood) (2) - NY 290 & now 598; Eastwood Sport Center; now Kinney Pharmacy; parking lot now Dunkin' and Papa Johns (previously ToGos)*
Syracuse (east side) (1) - NY 5 & 635; later Tilted Kilt; now KPot*
Syracuse (east side) (2) - NY 5; now Express Bottle Return
Syracuse (west side) - NY 5; now ALDI*
Auburn (1) - Pulaski St, Falcons Lanes
Auburn (2) - NY 5 & US 20, Starlite Lanes (as of April 2025)
Skaneateles - US 20, Cedar House Bowling Lanes; being rebuilt
North Syracuse - US 11, Bowling Green Lanes
Liverpool - Old Liverpool Rd, Lakeview Bowling Center
Central Square - NY 49, Green Acres Lanes
East Syracuse - Bowl-Mor Lanes, Highland Ave
New Hartford - NY 5 & 5A, Pinz; Sangertown Square; a different animal and further out, but also worth mentioning
*Demolished
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If Service Merchandise were open now. Courtesy Meta AI. |
deWitt/Fayetteville - Wegmans Plaza, NY 5 & 92; demolished for current Wegmans in 1994 and/or later Chase-Pitkin, American Signature Furniture, and Value City Furniture; now Hobby Lobby
Cicero - Marketplace Plaza/Mall, US 11 & E Circle Dr; demolished by 2002 for current plaza
Huntington
Massapequa - Sunrise Mall
Montgomery - NY 208; now Staples
Lawrence
Nanuet
Woodhaven
Lake Grove
Albany - Northway Mall, NY 5 (most likely; demolished by 2004; now Target et al)
Schenectady - NY 5
Wilton - Saratoga Mall, NY 50 & CR 102
Yorktown Heights - Jefferson Valley Mall, US 6 & NY 6N; now H&M
Henrietta - NY 252
Irondequoit - US/NY 104
Greece - US/NY 104
Kenmore - NY 384
Plattsburgh - Champlain Centre, CR 26
Fishkill - Dutchess Mall, US 9; closed 1995; now vacant
Kingston - US 9W
Poughkeepsie - South Hills Mall, US 9
New Hartford - NY 5A
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Small and pokey CVS in Glastonbury, CT from none other than Mike Mozart |
CVS/pharmacy have been struggling to regain relevance, much like their two main competitors. They've launched a new tactic by launching a dozen new locations that are just pharmacies and not much else. In CNY, they haven't had the best history and are sporadic in the region. In contrast, there have been stores without pharmacies (even Rite Aid had one in downtown Syracuse a block from a regular store [ex-Woolworth/now-DGX] and CVS/sans pharmacy [ex-kmart] in the old days). What CVS could do is have these truncated pharmacies in certain spots. One would be on SU Hill, where they have one last non-Rx location, which stuns newcomers to the area, who would have to go to Target or Manlius if they wish to have their scripts stay with CVS. Walgreens turned a former bank at Moyers Corners in Baldwinsville into a smaller store instead of converting the old Fays turned Rite Aid to cut costs, which is now Planet Fitness, so maybe CVS could do the same thing, and there'd even be a drive-thru at the ready that can be converted for pharmacy use. These mini-pharmacies could open where there isn't one nearby, which would help seniors and others without transport since the mail and even Amazon aren't always reliable. On Syracuses near west side, CVS briefly took over an indie, which was small by current standards for a regular store, yet Walgreens closed a few blocks away, leaving another local place to fill the vacuum. On the east side, Fays Cornerdrug were in the Madison Irving medical building at the foot of the hill, which I think had a pharmacy and just a few things, yet we covered them earlier already, since they also bought out mom and pop stores, mostly in small towns.
They say less is more, and it'll be a little more challenging to come up with austere express locations for CVS since I tried for the usual, but events of the past several years have made growth difficult. They just can't be near Target or other pharmacy chains, of course. Maybe this could work. Just think smaller.
Syracuse (east side) - former Marine Midland/Key Bank; E Adams St
Syracuse (downtown) - former Sibleys/RKO Keith; S Salina St
Syracuse (north side) - Destiny USA; one of various hallway vacancies
Syracuse (south side) - former Acme/Carls/Fays/Dollar Tree; Turnpike Centre; NY 173 & 80
Canastota - former Family Dollar; NY 5 & 13 and CR 25 (since they won't open a full-fledged store in the former Rite Aid/Walgreens across the street)
Liverpool - former Café 407; Tulip St (no pharmacy in village since indie on CR 57 closed in the '90s)
Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall; NY 5 & US 20 (past location, with or without pharmacy)
deWitt - former Party City (part); Marshalls Homegoods Plaza; NY 5 (full-fledged store was in Shoppingtown until late '70s when replaced by Fays)
Westvale - former Tops/P&C (part); Westvale Plaza; NY 5 (Target up W Genesee St in Fairmount, yet no pharmacy in plaza since Fays closed in 1997 and store became Family Dollar)
Brewerton - US 11 (vacant property listed on Facebook Marketplace)
Mattydale - former Eckerd/Rite Aid/Walgreens; US 11 & Malden Rd (even though it could be a full-sized store; this part of town has been weak in retail in recent years, but more on that another day)
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Classic red mansard roof design in Saratoga County in the Capital Region, 2014. |
Pizza Hut aren't as big as they once were. So many have closed over the past few decades in CNY alone. I have to dig through my mental archive again for this one. They remain in East Syracuse, Liverpool, Cicero, Auburn, and an express location in Niagara Falls, ONT (the boys' side) for that matter. Here's where they "panned" out (to think Craig Robinson, who used to do the adverts, did one with Shaq for the General, since the NBA icon has a Papa Johns franchise and specialty pizza to boot):
Syracuse (Eastwood) (1) - Shop City Plaza, Swansea Dr & Lea La; later Antonios and a barbecue (Salt City BBQ?); now City Laundromat; was truncated in late '90s before closing
Syracuse (Eastwood) (2) - NY 290; later Papa Johns; now Liberty Tax*
Fayetteville - Highbridge St; now Twin Trees*
deWitt - NY 5; demolished; now Calibre Collision
Mattydale - US 11; now X-Crispy Chicken
Oneida - NY 5; now vacant
Syracuse (Fairmount) - W Genesee St; later Pudgies; now Stellas Diner
Chittenango - NY 5 & 13; now Chittenango Pizza
Cortland - NY 13; now Hydes Diner
Syracuse (south side/Valley) - US 11, Valley Plaza*
Nedrow - US 11; now vacant
Baldwinsville - Downer St, River Mall; becoming TJs Cannabis (never thought I'd be putting that on)
*Pizza Hut Delivery
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Forgot that I had taken this one myself. Glad that I did now that it's gone. Valley store, March 2010. |
The closure of the Dollar Tree on Syracuses south side prompted not only this post, but the last one on Acme, which was there generations earlier, according to Syracuse.com. To boot, I was fortunate to have preserved the store on camera, just I have several others because you never know these days. The fact that it's not in the best part of town only makes it worse, and the sister store up the hill left a year or two earlier. Inflation ended "Everything's $1.00" forever, just like five and dime went away before that. It's also why smaller competitors with the same price point became fewer by the day, and now you just have to run it as a chain with low prices, but that's just not enough anymore. Here's where they fell:
deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall; we'll leave it there (take Doris Days advice); moved to former Seamans Furniture/Record Theatre up the road
Syracuse (north side) (1) - Butternut & Lodi Sts; previously Fays
Syracuse (north side) (2) - US 11; previously Big M/Wilson Farms/Dullys; now Dollar General
Syracuse (south side/Valley) - NY 173 & 80; Turnpike Centre; previously Acme/Carls/Fays (pictured)
Oswego - NY 104; TBD
Mattydale - US 11, Mattydale Plaza; previously Fays (next to kmart)
Clay - NY 31 & 481; Marketfair North Plaza; Only One (subsidiary later absorbed by main chain; moved to COR Plaza in Liverpool down the road; later Tuesday Morning?)
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ACME alive and well in Fairfield County (some people still don't even think it's a real company!) |
The recent closure of a Dollar Tree across town pointed out that it was an Acme a lifetime ago. I have heard that they were in CNY, but have left before I was born to where people here or who have left assume they don't exist anymore if they don't keep up or get around. Owner Albertsons ended their proposed merger with Kroger and a legal case is pending at this writing. Acme is also associated with Warner Bros. cartoons that we grew up with (Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner mostly) due to the generic nature of the name. This is not the same Acme that is in the Midwest. As for this Acme, the tri-state have the closest stores today, which reach all the way to the mid-Atlantic. Now here are where they were Upstate in simpler times, even right next to competitors like Victory or Grand Union in the same plaza (which was normal in those days). Additional thanks to Groceteria for the usual deep dig.
Syracuse (Valley/south side) (1) - NY 173 & 80; Turnpike Centre; later Carls/Fays/Dollar Tree
Syracuse (Valley/south side) (2) - US 11; Valley Plaza; later Chicago Markets, A&P, Tops and P&C (last two twice)
Syracuse (east side) (1) - Nottingham Plaza, Nottingham & Tecumseh Rds; later Fays? (even with Drumlins down the road); now Kinney Pharmacy (half of original plaza long since demolished). Was also down the block and became Victory (the plot thickens!).
Syracuse (east side) (2) - E Fayette St; long gone
Syracuse (east side) (3) - W Raynor St; now Fallon Lecture Hall at SU
Syracuse (east side) (4) - Westcott St; lost to the ages
Syracuse (south side) - South Ave; also not preserved by posterity since
Syracuse (Eastwood) - Shop City Plaza; later Green Hills Farms; now Black Friday Deals? (TBD)
Syracuse (west side) (1) - S Geddes St; now Sabatinos Pizza, Deli & Grocery (cornershop)
Syracuse (west side) (2) - W Onondaga St; now Helio Health
Syracuse (north side) - US 11/N Salina St; long gone due to redevelopment of Little Italy since then
Syracuse (Fairmount) - NY 173 & W Genesee St; Fairmount Fair Mall/Plaza; later Caldor and Walmart; now Target (both previous buildings long since demolished, of course)
deWitt (1) - NY 5; kmart Plaza (now Erie Canal Centre); later OfficeMax; now Michaels
deWitt (2)- NY 5; Shoppingtown Mall; demolished by 1975 when mall was enclosed; you know the rest (let's give it one)
Liverpool (village) - 1st St; later P&C and Big M; store long gone
Liverpool (Galeville) - Old Liverpool Rd & Electronics Pkwy; later Manns Midstate/Big M/Carls/Fays/Thrifty Shopper; now Palm Market (I know this one a bit more)
Mattydale - US 11; now Dees Diner
Syracuse (Lyncourt) - NY 298; now Quality Countertops
East Syracuse - Kirkville Rd & Kinne St; later Smiths; now Dollar Tree
Fayetteville - NY 257; now Ace Hardware
North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd; Northern Lights Plaza; various businesses been and gone; plaza now owned by Raymour & Flanigan, which should attract more tenants, despite the economy
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Eastwood location taken at short notice from the car |
Syracuse (downtown) - Marriott Syracuse Downtown (née Hotel Syracuse), S Warren St; previously Hardees; now vacant
Syracuse (east side/SU Hill) - Marshall Square Mall, Marshall St & University Ave; former uni bookshop and bar; now Salt City Coffee (that will get its own post shortly)
Syracuse (Eastwood) - NY 290, Eastwood Plaza; closed for rebrand, becoming Caffé Così this summer according to building site permit posted in the window; former Thrifty Shopper; roastery formerly located in part of Sacred Melody (half that closed in early '00s that is also vacant, but also has a permit for liquor store/former Hooches Furniture/Carls?/True Value Hardware) (pictured above and below)
Syracuse (near northside) - N Townsend St & Hawley Ave; on-again, off again flagship; roastery only right now (between NY 290 & 5 and I-690)
Manlius - NY 92 & 257; former Bank of America; soon to be Utica suburb Yorkville-based bakery Holland Farms' first location outside Oneida County; drive-up ATM remains
Auburn - Genesee St; only non-Syracuse area location to date; only open for two months' time, likely due to unfamiliarity of name in Cayuga County and economy overall (simplistic but valid reason)
North Syracuse - US 11 & W Taft Rd, Sweetheart Corners; previously Tim Hortons and former site of Sweetheart Market; soon to become Zaman Coffee House, a Turkish style indie.
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Fantasy future location, but not sure where to put it. |
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Caffé Così in former Eastwood location (OpenAI) |
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Zara in Los Angeles County. Mike Mozart made the trip for us so we don't have to! |
Someone on Facebook suggested Spanish chain Zara for Destiny USA. Makes sense since it's the sort you'd find there, and sister sites Walden Galleria in Cheektowaga (Buffalo) and Crossgates Mall in Guilderland (Albany) have the only Upstate ones right now, and downstate is a given. A rival from that country opened several years ago back in CNY. While this isn't my sort of place, I may be able to work this in quickly since it's so-called fast fashion and I get carried away doing these posts, you know.
Syracuse - Destiny USA; former Forever 21/Bonwit Teller, Nordstrom Rack, Bon-Ton or Victorias Secret Pink Store (there are also other hallway vacancies, but those are always hard to keep up with)
New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A; former Hess's/Kaufmanns/Macys
Johnson City - Oakdale Commons; CR 56, 65 & 85 off NY 17/I-86; former Burlington?
Greece - Greece Ridge Mall, NY 104; former Sibleys/Kaufmanns/Macys
Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Galleria, US 9; former Montgomery Ward
Big Flats - Arnot Mall; former McCurdys/Iszards/The Bon-Ton
Watertown - Salmon Run Mall, NY 3 & CR 100; former Dicks Sporting Goods
Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall, NY 5 & US 20; former Rex or JCPenney
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Main St (NY 96A & 414) in Ovid in happier times. Very special courtesy Jo Zimny. CC-by-NC-ND 2.0. |
21 January is a day no one in the small Finger Lakes village of Ovid shall forget when an electrical fire broke out in a flat upstairs from Big M on Main St (once an IGA, according to one local resident), taking out four other local businesses and several other apartments. I wanted to use my AI skills that I've picked up this past year and try to come up with new versions of all five of these mom and pop establishments, which also included Uptown Diner (which needed more attempts than the others combined), Eva's Laundry, Italian Kitchen and Seneca Coffee House. Most of these buildings seem to date back to the Victorian and Edwardian eras, although some like this can go as far back as Regency. There are priceless memories attached to these places, of course, and not even I.M. Pei himself could truly replace these if he were still alive. It's still early days right now, but rebuilding is on the agenda once the debris is cleared and the weather is cooperative for a building site. Another restaurant that had been around much longer closed several years ago on the outskirts of town, but the two from Main St probably either don't want to be away from the rest of the commercial district, or because of events from years past which we won't get into here. There had been another fire a decade earlier, however.
Seniors are provided a bus twice a week to go to Walmart and Tops to go shopping for the time being, since many don't drive anymore or won't go all the way to Waterloo or Wegmans in Geneva themselves (you're on your own there or if you're younger). Of course, small business gets taken for granted and you just never know. It can be months if not years before all these are back in new homes. If buildings like the ones lost could be designed, then new apartments could also go on top, given the housing crisis. Several ways to donate are available to show your support. We'll have to check on Ovid down the road to see how they come on like other places big and small that suffered disaster in recent memory.
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'50s dinerette which may be too small, even for Ovid |
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This may be a bit more possible than a standalone. |
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Switched to Grok on X and got a more outlying result. |
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Retro Uptown Diner that won't work in winter! |
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The little local launderette. Don't know if Eva is. |
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The local coffee shop, or at least the roastery. |
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Big M, in a design that should fit on the block. |
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Italian Kitchen, my kind of restaurant! |
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A more possible scenario for todays small town. |
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Another Big M cornershop with Craiyon |
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Might be more fitting for Big M |
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Needed to create the outside of Evas Laundry |
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The real Big M in the early '90s (unknown) |
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New apartment building (harder to make) |
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Upstairs flats above storefront (too simplistic) |
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Ovid Arms, but I got two pastoral mock Tudor cottages |
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Ovid Arms, but a bit too posh and townie |
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These are also too upscale for a rural community |
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Upper Providence Township store near Philadelphia and Patti laBelle. Courtesy Montgomery County Planning Commission. |
There is buzz about Wegmans opening their newest store in Cranberry Township in Butler County north of Pittsburgh, over by the UPMC Mario Lemieux facility (retired French Canadian Pittsburgh Penguins centre). Going the other way half as far within Alleghany County is the borough of West Mifflin, where Century III, once one of the biggest malls in the country, had been, which I heard of through a car dealership nearby. Steel and Steelers (that's as far as I go with teams!) country is dominated by Giant Eagle, Martins and Shop 'n Save, and I might like to go that way for an event in the summer. Wegmans are infamously stingey when it comes to opening new stores and only do no more than three a year, forgoing Upstate NY in recent years. They closed their store in a former JCPenney in Natick Mall outside Boston because it just didn't work, but instead, Wegmans will replace a mall. The land has been largely undeveloped since the mall closed several years ago after tenant after tenant left since the late '90s, including JCPenney, locally based Kaufmanns before the Macys merger, and a short-lived Wards. While it's normal for most areas to have a few Wegmans each, newer markets usually have less than a handful compared to legacy ones. Mixed reactions on Facebook would go from knowing the chain from out of state to it being new to them. The chains footprint in Pennsylvania would be concentrated on opposite sides of the state and Centre County. Altoona, Johnstown, York and Hanover would be overlooked. Back to West Mifflin, the new Wegmans would have to compete right across the road from Giant Eagle and Walmart. Located on PA 51 & 885. Washington Mall in South Strabane Township in Washington County would work too, since there's almost nothing left there either, while people in other parts of the northeast hold out for their own store, which one may take for granted until you have to move away (they rarely close any today). It may take until a third century before more areas ever get a Wegmans because of how picky they are, avoiding overkill and carefully planning. They're even looking at close to home, but that's for another day.
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Marion, OH store; February 2022. |
I may have done Big Lots! before, but now they're on the way out, and even if they're sold, the current economic climate doesn't hold well for them. The last post on Trader Joes led to this since some Big Lots! locations could be sold to them if it'll work. DFW-based rivals Tuesday Morning have already gone out of business. Rhode Islands Ocean State Job Lot would make sense in some of these, and they have confirmed that they shall buy several locations in the Northeast including Bayberry. Ollies Bargain Outlet will get many other locations, but they already have a strong presence in CNY alone.
Auburn - NY 5; former kmart*
Buffalo - S Ogden St; South Ogden Plaza
Cortland - NY 281; former Real Deals
deWitt - NY 5; former Price Chopper; now Spectrum
Elmira - Lake St*
Kingston - US 9W*
Liverpool - CR 57; former Price Chopper, The Shops at Seneca Mall; becoming Ocean State Job Lot*
Mattydale - US 11; former Tops/P&C*
Middletown - NY 211; Walkill Plaza
Oswego - NY 104*
Plattsburgh - NY 3; former Big Lots
Poughkeepsie - Burnett Blvd; former Caldor
Syracuse - Onondaga Blvd; former Fays; now Goodwill
Utica - NY 5; former Chicago Markets/Great American*
Watertown - NY 3*
*Outgoing
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Fairfield County location, once again from Mike Mozart (who better?!). |
Let's take a break from department stores. Trader Joes may seem too easy, but even in Upstate NY, they certainly have plenty of room to grow. I first went in Chicago, then Rochester, and it finally came to deWitt, even though I don't go as much anymore. There are only five others Upstate and several in the Tri-State. The Capital Region has two (the only area in NY outside the city with more than one so far), and may get a third, despite recent events I won't get into here. Aldi North own the chain, which separated form Aldi South decades ago, who run the US and UK divisions, and are split in Germany and Europe. I may use former or outgoing Big Lots locations unless they're too close to competitors or where there's not a lot of money (you know how it is), although that will lead to another post for later, being a different animal. Trader Joes also don't need that much space.
Auburn - NY 5 & US 20; Fingerlakes Crossing or NY 5; outgoing Big Lots
Binghamton - US 11; former Weis/Giant/Grand Union
Cortlandville - NY 281; former kmart
Elmira - Lake St; outgoing Big Lots
Glenmont - NY 32 & Fuera Bush Rd, Glenmont Plaza (TBC)
Kingston - US 9W; outgoing Big Lots
Liverpool - NY 31; former Price Chopper, COR Plaza
Middletown - NY 211; former Big Lots, Walkill Plaza
Oswego - NY 104; outgoing Big Lots
Plattsburgh - NY 3; former Big Lots
Poughkeepsie - US 9; former Natures Harvest; South Square Plaza
Schenectady - NY 5 & 7; former Grand Union/ALDI
Utica - NY 5; former Chicago Markets/Great American/outgoing Big Lots
West Nyack - NY 59, former ShopRite or Stop & Shop
Watertown - NY 3; outgoing Big Lots
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Peabody, MA store, Northway Mall, 1980s. Courtesy Salem State Archives. |
Jordan Marsh & Company were once New Englands largest department store, but may have only had no more than two locations in New York, as there is no paper trail of them being anywhere else in the state, which made this post a challenge, so I have to fill the vacuum with a few from out of state. They were yet another one from the past that I'd heard of when going shopping with Grandma in the Capital District, and I even had a box of theirs at my old place (I must have binned that too). They even made it to Florida, even though that had separate management. While Macys took over Jordan Marsh along with several other chains like Bambergers, Abraham & Strauss and Sterns, the Hudson Valley store went another way, even though the former G. Fox and Filene's didn't become Macys until 2006.
Albany (Guilderland) - Crossgates Mall, US 20; now Macys
Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Galleria, US 9; later Sears; now vacant
Boston (downtown) - Downtown Crossing; flagship; now Macys
Peabody, MA - Northway Mall, MA 114 & 128; later Macys; now Nordstrom (pictured)
Natick, MA - Natick Mall; later JCPenney and Wegmans; now vacant (covered earlier)
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Manchester, NH store at Pondview Terrace. Courtesy John Blower. CC by NC ND 2.0. |
Boston-based Filene's were another chain I got to know in Albany County. Trailblazing subsidiary Filene's Basement were their closeout chain (then-rival Macys had Macys Closeout), but like Sears Outlet from the parent chain, it would be spun off into a separate company before going out of business themselves. Because Kaufmanns were already west of the Capital Region, Filenes proper were never in CNY, WNY, or Twin Tiers. The bulk of the main chain became Macys, although there is an exception or two, while the other one is more ambiguous since I only knew the one in my area down cellar from the onetime sister chain. Filenes Basement survives today as an e-tailer, but it's just not the same, of course. As for the original Filenes, I just have Upstate, a few downstate and one non-NY store to save time.
Albany (Guilderland) - Crossgates Mall, US 20; now Macys
Kingston - Hudson Valley Mall, US 9W; later Macys; now vacant
Manchester, NH - Pondview Terrace (pictured)
Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Galleria, US 9; first store became Steinbach; later DSW and Dicks; now Best Buy and Target. Second store previously G. Fox; now Macys
Queens (Fresh Meadows) - Filenes Basement; TBDSyracuse - Carousel Center (now Destiny USA); Filenes Basement; now Finish Line?
Walkill - Galleria at Crystal Run; now Macys
West Nyack - Palisades Center, NY 303 & 59; now Macys
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Macys in Sangertown Square Mall, New Hartford |
CNY
Syracuse (downtown) - S Salina St (small early store); various
Cicero - Macys Closeout; Penn-Can Mall; now Drivers Village
deWitt - Shoppingtown Mall, NY 5; previously Addis & Deys, Sibleys and Kaufmanns; you-know-what will be covered later
Clay - Great Northern Mall, NY 31; previously Sibleys and Kaufmanns; now Dunk & Bright
New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A; previously Hess's and Kaufmanns; now vacant (pictured above)
Rochester
Irondequoit - Irondequoit Mall; previously Sibleys and Kaufmanns; now vacant (pictured below)
Henrietta - Marketplace Mall, NY 15 & 252; previously Sibleys and Kaufmanns; now vacant
Greece - The Mall at Greece Ridge, NY 104; previously Sibleys and Kaufmanns; only Upstate store scheduled to close
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Irondequoit Mall outside Rochester, 2013. CC by 2.0. |
Buffalo
Hamburg - McKinley Mall, NY 179; previously Sibleys and Kaufmanns; Macys Home Store was previously L.L. Berger and Kaufmanns Home Store; both stores now vacant or TBD
Wheatfield - Summit Park Mall (later The Summit; now the NISE Center); Macys Closeout; previously Hens & Kelly; now vacant
Harris Hill/Clarence - Eastern Hills Mall, NY 78; previously Hengerers, Sibleys and Kaufmanns; later Niagara Emporium; now under development (may get a separate post)
Hudson Valley/Capital Region/Downstate (due to the inherent long history and vast size of the chain and tri-state, only a mere selection will be listed here)
Rotterdam - Rotterdam Square Mall (now Viaport), NY 337; previously Hess's and Filenes; now NYS Taxation call center
Kingston - Hudson Valley Mall, US 9W; previously Hess's and Filenes; TBD
White Plains - Galleria at White Plains, NY 119; previously Abraham & Strauss and Sterns; now vacant
New York - 6th Ave and 13th & 14th Sts; first area store; long gone (original store in Haverhill, MA)