Ace Hardware

Fratellones Ace Hardware in New Hope, MN (Twin Cities area). Courtesy Chad Davis.

 Ace Hardware may seem just as easy as their big box competitors, but even they have some pockets in CNY they could still fill. They're likely to take over franchises from rival co-op True Value after they were sold to Do It Best where those two overlap, but not where Ace already have an affiliate. Ace have gotten several former True Value stores in CNY alone in recent years, and opened a few more. The one in Liverpool Plaza, the center my late father over saw in later days, had that personal service that the big chains mostly lack, given that all Ace stores are separately and locally owned and operated. I had a coupon and bought a few things, even though I didn't get all his DIY knowhow (he went to "the other place" mostly). I did get my lawn mower fixed there by David, which Goliath doesn't do, if you like. Here are where Ace should have a base (see what I did there?!):

Syracuse (Lyncourt) - Shop City Plaza; former Ames/Eckerd/Rite Aid

Syracuse (Westvale) - Westvale Plaza, NY 5; former P&C/Tops (Sears Hardware used to be up the block in current Thrifty Shopper, so this would bring DIY back to this part of town)

Canastota - NY 5 & 13 and CR 25; former Family Dollar or former Rite Aid/Walgreens

Chittenango - NY 5; former Rite Aid/Walgreens

Utica - Genesee St; former Carls/Fays/Eckerd/Rite Aid or Rite Aid only (across from Market 32)

New Hartford - Kellogg Mall, Washington Mills, CR 26; former Fays/Eckerd/Rite Aid and/or New Hartford Shopping Center; former Tuesday Morning or Herb Phillipsons

Cortland - Riverside Plaza, NY 13; former flea market or NY 222; former Valu Home Center

Gloversville - N Main St; former Rite Aid (Noble are in Johnstown)

Mattress Firm: 40 Years On

Future deWitt store on this Erie Blvd E

Future store in Rome on that Erie Blvd E

    With Metro Mattress, Resnicks, and Sleepys all put to bed, if you like, Mattress Firm are the next chain that are late to the party in CNY, since they're in WNY in Cheektowaga for a start. The first chain based in Liverpool had just gone out of business, so the one from Houston are perfect for the empty stores, as well as others around the region. We'll sleep on it. This makes the Sleepys post obsolete.

deWitt - NY 5 (pictured above)*

Liverpool - CR 57, Bayberry Plaza (pictured below)*

Lakeland - John Glenn Blvd & Farrell Rd*

Cicero - US 11*

Fulton - NY 481 & CR 57, former kmart; River Glen Plaza

Oswego - NY 104, former Big Lots

Watertown - NY 3, former Sears or Christmas Tree Shops; Salmon Run Mall

Cortland - NY 13, former flea market; Riverside Mall

Rome - NY 46 & 49, former rue21; Freedom Plaza (pictured above)

New Hartford - former Herb Phillipsons; New Hartford Shopping Center

Binghamton - US 11, former Grand Union/Giant/Weis

Big Flats - CR 35, former Sears; Arnot Mall

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96, former Hobby Lobby

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20, former JCPenney; Fingerlakes Mall

Colonie - Wolf Rd, former Barnes & Noble

Canastota - NY 5 & 13 and CR 25, former Family Dollar or Rite Aid/Walgreens

*former Metro Mattress

Logo used to edit on the phone and free use with just text

Can't really be in Shop City with Factory Direct next door

Mattress Firm in Bayberry Plaza in Liverpool

3fifteen Expansion

Future and past location in Liverpool Plaza

 3fifteen have two locations on SU and Elm Hills, the latter being in Camillus, yet the Rescue Mission have announced two more, with their return to Eastwood Plaza after a three decade absence as described just earlier, and now a fourth location in the upcoming Mission Landing by their headquarters in the Mission District that just started building, making it the flagship by default by the end of next year, close to where there had been a Thrifty Shopper before that has since closed, much like Eastwood. Yet maybe it could happen again in Liverpool in my late dads plaza. Thrifty Shopper had been in the former site of Big M, Carls and Fays until 2020 when it moved to the former Herb Phillipsons up CR 57 in Bayberry for more space. 3fifteen is more of a boutique that needs less room. The short-lived Palm Market left after several months due to lack of interest. A 3fifteen there would be closer to the Rescue Missions warehouse on Henry Clay Blvd, which becomes Electronics Pkwy past Vine Street and W Taft Road. Some people miss Thrifty Shopper on Old Liverpool Road, let's just say. However, another NGO/ registered charity's donation bin would have to be removed from the car park, not just because there are those who dump junk at those (dad hated it when that happened in the back, as those skips aren't free). I already made a list of past and future locations for Thrifty Shopper, yet this is it for 3fifteen since that's more of a niche by comparison which holds it own. Liverpool would have to be distinct from the rest so it's not as cookie cutter, if you like, or just history repeating itself. The confirmed new store is being done from scratch as opposed to an old store front being done up, which I like to first before having to start a new building site or even demolishing an old one unless it's beyond repair and/or unfeasible.