FloofAid

Edited poster for FloofAid (fake future website)

    Coming after the founding of Furacuse comes the arrival of FloofAid (FurAid, a rescue centre for real cats and dogs, was taken, even though many furry conventions support those), the worlds first registered charity for helping the less fur-tunate afford tickets and travel to cons across the country, including to Furacuse, which will raise money for FloofAid, which seems ironic, having a con to benefit having people get to other cons, but also fursuits, since life these days is expensive enough, let alone floof. Cons are usually non-profit and thus an organisation or two registered with the IRS is the way to go, yet I don't know the first thing about this myself, and I just don't want to become the Willie Nelson or Bob Geldof of furries. I'd have to find others to run this with in order to get clearance.

    For now, you can contribute to my usual outlets at Ko-Fi (see earlier post), GoFundMe, PayPal, Venmo (@Sposato120, the only place I can accept cryptocurrency, which I'm not wholly familiar with myself, but can convert to real cash there), and CashApp ($Sposato2024). This is not another scam. It comes from me not being able to get to Eufuria, FurPoc, Furrydelphia, Fluffalo, Anthro New England, Anthrocon, or any con for that matter. I just want to pay it forward and help others who deserve it just as much, from young kids to those on disability like myself to others in a bad place that want to be a part of the fandom. While it is a luxury like fine jewellery, it's just not as grandiose per se. Even buying materials to make your own fursuit can cost just as much as having someone else do a commission or getting a premade. FloofAid can even help with that. You'd be surprised how many call themselves furries, but have little to show for it. Even those just starting out their own lives are just getting by.

    While AI is looked down in the community, I have made it my medium for designing. While Canidae are dominant, I put in three dollies and even threw in a Dutchie (rainbow dragon) and I'm not sure what that is (grey floof). I got them from the CNY Pride parade when using ChatGPT to create this from previous images. I didn't want just canines and felines because that's too easy. I even have a couple of hyenas, as well as deer, rabbits, birds and bears in the local group (we've only discussed the furcon).

    Once both NGOs are officially established, I will look into events such as Dougs Fish Fry or adult prom, to opening a Savers that has FloofAid as the local partner in Syracuse, despite Thrifty Shoppers regional dominance over two other national chains combined. Fursuits occasionally appear at Goodwill or other charity shops in random parts of the country, and we'll accept ones that are unsellable for even dirt low prices. We could provide a tax receipt, despite only one out of ten donors even bothering to itemise because it's barely takes off of most peoples taxes. Paul Newman didn't believe in write-offs and the estate continues that policy. Maybe Newmans Own or Warren Buffett could send a few bob over! Also, if you live outside CNY or can't come by, you could ship the fursuit Ground Advantage, but it might not be Savers' policy, yet the diehards will come looking for us to get some rock bottom deals.

    When Furacuse gets going, maybe FloofAid will too, but for now, you can contribute this way.

Furacuse

Furacuse poster made with ChatGPT

    As much as I would love to go on a trip to a furry convention in another town, it remains unattainable for many in the fandom, with the economy right now. Even Eufuria in Albany is out of my league this year. I learned that Fluffalo in Buffalo is actually held this year in a fishing club in Hamburg several miles down US 20 (it's a sizeable, yet low budget rental space, even for there), but it's in October, a couple weeks before Furpocalypse in Stamford, CT in the Tri-State, one of the largest in the Northeast, along with Anthrocon in Pittsburgh. I think Syracuse has the capacity for a furcon itself, and it has been discussed in the local Telegram group. RetroGameCon is also that time of year at the OnCenter in downtown Syracuse, which does have some furries, so it could be done. There are a few hotels nearby, and more in the suburbs, given the State Fair and eventually Micron. The location between the North Country, eastern Ontario, northeastern Pennsylvania, Twin Tiers, and the two existing cons on both sides of Upstate would bring in the people to at least break even, although we want to make a profit, yet we can't compete with Alleghany County being a smaller area with less infrastructure and resources.

    If downtown won't work, then there is Randolph House Hotel in Liverpool, which had been Sheraton, Holiday, and Ramada Inns before coming full circle under the latters sister franchise. It's right off the Thruway, has large event rooms and can have blocks booked, with all the floof under one roof. It'd be a bit of a hike from the bus, especially for those new to the area stunned by Centros paltry frequency, unless it's improved by the time this is established (that's for a whole other post). At least there'd be a few competitors nearby for overflow. The plaza could have a shuttle, but there are some things I won't get into here at this time. I think the CD Record Fair will remain at its current home at St Georges Macedonian Orthodox Church on NY 173 in Onondaga, even though I would never clash with that. There's no one time to do it, but I wouldn't when it's too cold for a start like in the boys' area.

    The dates provided are just an example, so nothing is there this year. Anything of this magnitude requires months of planning and thousands of dollars of sponsorship and investment. Even Furrydelphia had to start somewhere. I just wish more things could be in my area, which is how this blog came to be in the first place, and even this is something that is late to arrive in CNY. Had less trouble with IKEA.

    Since most cons are non-profit, this will raise money for a sister project called FloofAid, which will be the next post. It'll be a registered charity to help those in the fandom with less get to other cons as well as their own fursuits. I know that defeats the purpose of Furacuse, but it would be smaller than ones in the major metros, yet FloofAid will get the less fur-tunate the floof of their dreams, and even to this if they live too far from Syracuse or any con at all. Not even the biggest chain is on every corner.

GoFundMe

Doggy's holding on to that money!

 Please help.

7 Brew Coffee

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, so it'd be classic David & Goliath in a small town, you know)

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

ChatGPT OpenAI express version of 7 Brew Coffee

Salt City Coffee

Notsky the dog furry in Pamplona mode on a Valentine (Open AI)

 Salt City Coffee are one of the largest local coffee chains in town, giving even Café Kubal a run for their money, with four locations (near west side flagship, downtown bar, SU Hill, and Fayetteville) and a fifth on the way, which the other chain decided against, and an existing location that they sold to Salt City Coffee after a rift with next door neighbor 3fifteen and its owner the Rescue Mission, if not the Willowbank Company, the landlord of Marshall Square Mall, which they run in partnership with SU. Salt City Coffee could open a few more stores without selling out and staying true to their name, since CNY or any given area these days has no shortage of local coffee shops to compete with the big chains.

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)

Fantasy location in North Syracuse

Original Valentine with Notsky and added logo

Revised Ghibli Valentine with added logo and edits

Mystery Bins

Fantasy location in Sangertown Square in New Hartford

 It seems bin stores with Amazon and chain store surplus are growing, and a new chain has come to New York. The downstate location at Palisades Centre is the flagship, so I based the post there, and half of the old JCPenney at Destiny USA in Syracuse back Upstate is the first one here. Now we can just connect the dots. Just starting with ones I know since I haven't done this kind of post in a period due to lack of new material.

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

Where to Hold Adult Prom in Syracuse

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 (has hosted some proms before, but not in a period)

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; went for festive do last year)

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 [previously Maplewood Inn & Suites and Days Inn]; opening by this fall)

East Syracuse

American Legion Post 359; NY 290 (Halloween parties and fundraisers held there; other venue I wanted is closing)

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)

Car washes

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).

Ko-FI

Notsky the blue husky furry is asking for your donations!

    Like most people these days, I'm struggling to get by. I am now on Ko-Fi if you can give what you can. I know this should be with the widgets on the side if you're reading this on the desktop, and I set up a similar one years before based on someone elses, but I needed to point this out and even up the number of posts I've made to date. The crowdfunding sites have done next to nothing for me. Anything helps. Thank you for the help. It doesn't directly support running this blog, yet I will eventually need a new laptop because mine will lose support in six months' time because it's on Windows 10 and is too old to be upgraded, and I can only get another used one that may be no better. I may only be able to donate any of my old laptops to my NGO ISP in LA and get a tax receipt if I qualify if not get an affordable and compatible one there, but other priorities have been grating at me this past year, and it's hard to establish yourself at a later age (she won't say which one, mind). I don't get to do half as much as I used to between the events of recent years in the world and in my own life. I can't be like Ralph Kramden chasing every get rich quick scheme because it doesn't usually work. I will land on my feet like my kitties always do. Seeing all these properties just sit there for years shows that none of us are exempt from the economy. At least help me until I can find my own way and the country does too.

 

Family Video today

Cortland store last year

    After going by the former Family Video in Auburn yesterday and looking at a now outdated post here from almost a decade ago on which I only added tags for reference, I felt it was time to look into what has happened to the last of the video chains as far as this state goes, although all but a handful were in Western New York, with a few in CNY, the Finger Lakes (Rochester counts as there and WNY) or Twin Tiers. All vacant or TBD unless indicated.

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

Bowling in CNY

If a bowling alley were in downtown Syracuse today

 While sports isn't something I typically cover, one thing I've noticed over the years is that bowling alleys in Syracuse are fewer by the day. It's not as big anymore. I managed to write a list of locations of where they used to be, but I can't remember the names of most of them. It'd be too easy to get a free image of the inside of any bowling alley, and I can't find one of the outside of any open or closed. I used to have a photo of one of these, but it was ruined and later disappeared. Another one across town, I can still picture the Jerry Lewis MDA gumball machine from the mid-'80s. NBC 3 used to be the local affiliate for a national bowling show on Saturdays. In recent memory, a tournament was held at the OnCenter (Onondaga County convention center). So much for Homer Simpsons perfect 300 game. Here's where they used to strike before winding up in the gutter (that was bad).

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

Service Merchandise

If Service Merchandise were open now. Courtesy Meta AI.

 I've been meaning to write about Service Merchandise for several months, but I needed to find more locations since I only know the two that were in my area. They were a chain of catalogue showrooms, and my generation can remember the print edition, competing with Sears, JCPenney and Spiegel, before the internet (Amazon in particular) made it obsolete by 2002. There were subsidiaries like Mr How (previously HomeOwners), The Lingerie Store, The Toy Store, and Zims Jewellers, all of which I have only just learned about or just didn't notice in the old days. Due to having to deal with the here and now, and how long ago this all was, despite being from living memory, most downstate locations are more vague, and Upstate ones are less so if I know the area enough, but I will update as I know more and can commit to finding out where they all are and what is there today. Any input is always appreciated. TBD unless indicated (which is why I can't cover every chain, and even a wild guess can be disproven).

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

CVS lite

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)

DHgate

 

Maybe this dolly is on DHGate like the other place.

Try your luck and win big! Download the DHgate app and spin to win your $100 coupon. https://dhgate.allapp.link/d/2Run9G

Pizza Hut in CNY

Classic red mansard roof design in Saratoga County in the Capital Region, 2014.

Tyler A. McNeil, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 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

Former Dollar Tree locations in CNY

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?)

Acme in CNY

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

Café Kubal

Eastwood location taken at short notice from the car

 Café Kubal in Syracuse are a local coffee chain now in their fourth decade. However, several locations have closed since then. Competition from both national chains and other indies alike, as well as the economy have been a challenge to Kubals business like anyones. The SU Hill store once had a deal with 3fifteen next door where you fill a bag with donations and you'd get a ticket for a free coffee, but they had fallen out in court, and that location is now local rival Salt City Coffee, while Kubal moved just a few blocks away to Golisano Childrens Hospital at SUNY Upstate, making it limited to visitors, staff and patients (not so much the kids, mind). The current downtown location is in the old Dey Brothers building and is now the de facto flagship, whilst the Creekside Commons one is just across Armory Square within walking distance. The near northside location is now just the roastery, which the Eastwood one once was, and will become something else later this year. The North Syracuse location on US 11 and W Taft Road at Sweetheart Corners was a onetime Tim Hortons. New locations are planned for the future as this is just as common with the big chains. The former leMoyne firehouse was scheduled to become Kubal, but decided to become Salt City Coffee itself instead. May be too late for the other uni hill as their bridges may otherwise be burned as far as a regular location, and there are already a handful of other options on or close to campus now. No need for me to come up with new spots myself, since that's too easy, and of course, it's not my job anyway (I usually do this because that's my trademark, even though I can't really encourage someone elses). Also want to keep Kubal small. Here are where Café Kubal once were brewing:

Syracuse (downtown) - Marriott Syracuse Downtown (née Hotel Syracuse), S Warren St; previously Hardees; now vacant or just used by the hotel

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; sign on wall is now blank in real life, unfortunately)

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, and it's a small town that I know enough)

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.

Fantasy future location, but not sure where to put it.

Caffé Così in former Eastwood location (OpenAI)

Zara

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

Rebuilding Ovid

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.

'50s dinerette which may be too small, even for Ovid

This may be a bit more possible than a standalone.

Switched to Grok on X and got a more outlying result.

Retro Uptown Diner that won't work in winter!

The little local launderette. Don't know if Eva is.

The local coffee shop, or at least the roastery.

Big M, in a design that should fit on the block.

Italian Kitchen, my kind of restaurant!

A more possible scenario for todays small town.

Another Big M cornershop with Craiyon

Might be more fitting for Big M

Needed to create the outside of Evas Laundry

The real Big M in the early '90s (unknown)

New apartment building (harder to make)

Upstairs flats above storefront (too simplistic)

Ovid Arms, but I got two pastoral mock Tudor cottages

Ovid Arms, but a bit too posh and townie

These are also too upscale for a rural community

Wegmans in West Mifflin

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.

Big Lots! Part 2

Marion, OH store; February 2022.

JBTHEMILKER, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 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

Trader Joe's

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

Jordan Marsh

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)

Filene's and Filene's Basement

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; TBD

Rotterdam - Rotterdam Square Mall (now Viaport), NY 337; previously Hess's; later Macys; now NYS Taxation call center

Syracuse - 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