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

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 Price Chopper and 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, Liverpool Plaza; later Manns Midstate/Big M/Carls/Fays/Thrifty Shopper/Palm Market; now vacant (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

Canandaigua - NY 21 & 332; honorable mention; not quite CNY, yet building kept intact long after it closed

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)

Flah & Co.

AI Flahs if it were around now. Courtesy Meta AI.

 Flah & Co. are the last department store chain I'll do this year since the web led me to it. I've heard of them over the years, even though they were largely before my time. I even had a box at my old house. Because Flah's were chiefly in Syracuse, then later in the Capital Region and the Hudson Valley to a lesser extent before being sold to B. Forman, with most of the latter stores having less to go on unless you can dig a little (you'd be surprised by what I can find, and it helps to know these areas statewide).

Syracuse (downtown) - 419 S Salina St; demolished for the Galleries, which opened in 1988*

Syracuse (Fairmount) - W Genesee St (then-NY 5), Fairmount Fair Mall; now plaza with several stores

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall; future District East*

Niskayuna - NY 5, Mohawk Mall; now Mohawk Commons*

Delmar - NY 443, Delaware Plaza; original Grand Union; later Revco, Dollar Tree and other stores

Albany (downtown) - NY 32; TBD

Albany (Guilderland/McKownville) - US 20 & CR 156, Stuyvesant Plaza; TBD

Albany (Colonie) - NY 5 & Wolf Rd; Colonie Center*

Kingston - Clinton Ave, Kingston Plaza; now MAC Fitness?*

Fishkill - US 9, Dutchess Mall; now Home Depot*

Middletown - NY 211; Orange Plaza; now Home Depot et al*

*later B. Forman & Co.

B. Forman & Co.

AI store, real logo. That's not Yiddish there! Courtesy Meta.

 As we close out the year and month, there's just one more from Rochester that I vaguely remember from growing up that was also in Syracuse, which was B. Forman & Co. It was primarily for ladies, and AI got it right with the entrance anyway, yet it went coed later on. Forman later merged with McCurdys, which we just did, even though the latter just entered my vocabulary. Forman worked their way down the Thruway corridor towards downstate until their downfall in the early '90s. They even bought Flahs, which obviously will be the next post, since it just keeps on going, you know (they were Monroe County themselves for a period). Forman were bigger than I thought, spanning a century. Hudson Valley locations are more obscure and closed well before I got there, despite being small towns.

Rochester (downtown) (1) - 255 E Main St (now NY 96) - address may not exist anymore as it dated back to the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and numbers have changed in living memory in some areas too, and the business is long gone (fire); previously Vienna Tailors; next door to original Sibleys

Rochester (downtown) (2) - S. Main & Cortland Sts; also too far back to tell 

Rochester (downtown) (3) - 42 N Clinton Ave; building long since demolished (I always go by it whenever I'm in town)

Rochester (downtown) (4) - NY 96; flagship; founder anchor of Midtown Plaza; reopened in 1994 in partnership with Bonwit Teller; now demolished

Pittsford - NY 31, Pittsford Plaza; now Barnes & Noble

Greece - Long Ridge Mall (now The Mall at Greece Ridge), NY 104

Brighton - NY 31; childrens store

Irondequoit (1) - Culver-Ridge Plaza; now Marshalls

Irondequoit (2) - Irondequoit Shopping Plaza; B. Forman II; now Stepping Stones?

Perinton/Fairport - NY 31, Perinton Square Mall; B. Forman II

Henrietta - NY 252 & 15A, Marketplace Mall

Syracuse (downtown) - 419 S Salina St; demolished for the Galleries, which opened in 1988*

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall; don't get me started on District East!*

Niskayuna - NY 5, Mohawk Mall; now Mohawk Commons*

Albany (Guilderland/McKownville) - US 20 & CR 156, Stuyvesant Plaza; TBD

Albany (Colonie) - NY 5 & Wolf Rd; Colonie Center*

Kingston - Clinton Ave, Kingston Plaza; now MAC Fitness?*

Fishkill - US 9, Dutchess Mall; now Home Depot*

Middletown - NY 211; Orange Plaza; now Home Depot et al*

Delmar - NY 443, Delaware Plaza; previously Grand Union (moved across car park to one I remember); later Revco, Dollar Tree et al*

Syracuse (north side) - Carousel Center (now Destiny USA)

*previously Flahs

AM&A's

AI AM&A's with long corridor. Courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.

 I've only recently heard of Erie County chain AM&A's since they were sold to the Bon-Ton thirty years ago, just as Chappells were in CNY and Hess's in Twin Tiers and Pennsylvania. WNY had AM&As to themselves from the Victorian era until the mid-'90s. Wikipedia lists all the locations, but I put them into one neat list and did the usual pattern. All were later the Bon-Ton except *.

Buffalo (downtown) (1) - NY 5, original flagship; acquired former Hudsons (predecessor of Marshall-Fields and Target) during the Great Depression; now Main Place Mall*

Buffalo (downtown) (2) - NY 5, second flagship; former J.N. Adam & Co.; later Taylors; now a hotel

Buffalo (Kenmore/near UBuffalo) - NY 5 & Kenmore Ave; now Tops?

Amherst (1) - University Plaza, NY 5; now Tops*

Amherst (2) - Northtown Plaza; formerly Hens & Kelly; supposed to become Station 12 (new to me; same script, different cast)*

Amherst (3) - Sheridan Plaza, NY 324 & Delaware Rd; now Tops

Hamburg - McKinley Mall, NY 179; TBD

West Seneca - Southgate Plaza, NY 277; now Jamestown Mattress?*

Tonawanda - Sheridan Plaza; US 62 & NY 324; now Savers and O'Reillys*

Lackawanna - L.B. Smith/Abbott Rd Plaza; now Valu Home Center*

Cheektowaga (1) - Airport Plaza, NY 277

Cheektowaga (2) - Thruway Plaza/Mall, NY 240; now Walmart*

Cheektowaga (3) - Walden Galleria; now Dave & Busters (moved from Eastern Hills) and others

Lockport - Lockport Mall, NY 78

Olean - Olean Center Mall, NY 16*

Wheatfield - Summit Park Mall; now The Summit

Clarence/Harris Hill/Williamsville - Eastern Hills Mall, NY 78; now Raymour & Flanigan

AI fantasy with real logo placed over botched one.

True Value in CNY

Quintessential small town Central California store in Lone Pine, CA

 True Value Hardware have entered administration being unable to compete with Lowes, Home Depot, Menards (covered earlier and not yet in the Northeast) and Runnings. Many franchises converted to Ace over the years, including in CNY in recent years. True Value were the epitome of the mom and pop hardware store, which isn't entirely dead outside small towns and suburbs. Another competitor Do It Best just bought True Value. DIB are available at Valu (no relation), as well as in Cazenovia, Elbridge,  Constantia, Chittenango, Baldwinsville, Liverpool (at Runnings ironically), Canastota and Tully, while DIB have had affiliates in East Syracuse (Doow Hardware in Oot Park/Fremont on N Burdick St Rd) and Fulton (NY 3, not Burkes on 2nd St). True Value in CNY remain in Manlius (NY 92) and Cazenovia (US 20) to name a few, as well as Taylor Rental (no hardware) on NY 5 in deWitt (not that Taylor!). The merger may possibly make any new True Value franchises unlikely and overlapping ones could even switch over to Ace themselves if one isn't around already. Here's what I can gather from memory or from new research of where one could get tools and such with personal service without the big box behemoth in the old days.

Syracuse (Eastwood) (1) - NY 290 & Marlborough Rd; later dollar store and Pomco; now United HealthCare

Syracuse (Eastwood) (2) - NY 290 between North Ave & Eastwood Rd; Nightingales; former Rite Aid; demolished for Walgreens in 2006

Syracuse (Eastwood) (3) - NY 290; Eastwood Plaza; Nightingales; half of former Sacred Melody; later Hooches, soon to be liquor store according to permit from city

Syracuse (west side) - Calleys City Hardware, 214 S Geddes St (now vacant; no longer listed on site)

Marcellus - South St Rd; Nightingale Mills (same family as Eastwood); now Ace

Syracuse (south side) - NY 173 & US 11; now Bobs Ace

Brewerton - US 11 & Bartell Rd; TBD

Mattydale - US 11; now J&J deSantis Plumbing

Syracuse (east side); Westcott St; Scharfs; TBD

Fursuit Pursuit

My attempt at a tuxie honeyness fursuit

 Furries are a misunderstood community, and I have been spending the past couple months learning about them. For me, it's more about finding a place to belong, only to find like anything, there's baggage there too. I also want to pack mine and go to a convention in the tri-state over the extended Halloween weekend (which is why I put the zip code for the location). I don't necessarily believe in labels, but I learned that only a portion of furries actually own a fursuit. With the economy these days, it's no wonder, and in my case, that goes double. However, I always have had that FOMO bit, and I tried finding places to buy something. Experienced furries say to buy from actual makers or DIY (not in the Home Depot sense). Many original designs have been nicked and sold on amazon, eBay (which also has a couple real things I want), and sites with ties to mainland China like AliExpress or (fill in the blank) Mascot. Etsy has both real and fake. Facebook Marketplace has most of their offerings out of state and pickup only. I wonder if the bin store would even have anything since they get amazon returns. If Switz's still existed, they would probably have some version of these or at least the materials for one to make them from scratch. These pseudo-suits and sites get slated and it's oftentimes fur-gins and younger ones that may make this rookie mistake. In fairness, they're lucky to afford even that. It's not an Armani from Harrods, mind. At least I'd have something for the holiday. Had less trouble finding a place to go on the night back in town this year if going two hundred miles away after fifteen years' time is a long shot. If comic-con events are in town, that would be the closest thing I would be able to do this, while a group are in the area. Even the co-op had a small drawing. I could go to cons in the boys' area, Albany and Allegheny (PA) Counties in future. I just want to have an original cat fursuit so I don't let the side down. If a miracle happens in time, I could just send the other things I ordered back and go all in for the do as well as a show or two. One seller on the app wound up having a dolly (kitty) in my price range that wasn't too effeminate, twee, cheap or exotic looking (a black cat, while my real one's a girl), since I settled on a husky dog character (safer than last years cliché with his "cousin"!). If you're also exploring, do your homework before getting carried away. I wound up with a doggo knockoff one of a fur who shall remain nameless (we even share a birthday), but I will dress him up SU style with a wig to boot since I would rather layer up a cheap fursuit with charity shop finds than tear into one since I'm not at that level at this stage and I wouldn't ruin anything like that. Say hello to Novek, which is an anagram of who this is a clone of and a Serbian word after coding the name in Cyrillic letters. Other people bought similar copies and made them their own, so this is my sona now.

Dedicated to the memory of Dragoneer, founder of FurAffinity. With apologies to Kevon.

Doggy incognito at the Dome!

What the knockoff doggy looks like

"Novek" has the hoodie sorted.so far.

Such a happy good boy who needs hugs!

Still getting used to this. Give us a kiss!

Chase-Pitkin

What Chase-Pitkin would look like now (Meta AI)

    Chase-Pitkin were a home improvement chain that traces their roots back to 1857 in the Victorian era, and were sold to Wegmans in 1973, who expanded it to 14 locations. Stiff competition from Lowes and the Home Depot closed the chain in 2006, which also befell HQ/Hechinger, Grossmans (which absorbed Mr 2nds), Builders Square, and many mom and pop hardware stores (mainly True Value franchises). I mainly have CNY updates (shock, horror!).

deWitt/Fayetteville - NY 5 & 92; Wegmans Plaza; previously Fays, Ames, and Service Merchandise; later Value City and American Signature furniture store; now Hobby Lobby

North Syracuse - W Taft Rd, now Blink Fitness and Dollar Tree

Liverpool - NY 31, later Best Buy; now Value City Furniture

Brockport - NY 19; now TJ Maxx

Syracuse - Onondaga Blvd., now Blink Fitness

Perinton - NY 31; TBD

Newark - NY 31; TBD

Fairport - NY 31 & 250; now Georgetown Wine & Spirits

Pittsford - NY 31; TBD

Greece - NY 104; TBD

Henrietta - NY 252; TBD

Penfield - NY 441 & 250; now Lisas Liquor Barn

Amherst - Alberta Dr; now Wegmans proper

Cheektowaga - Walden Ave; now Burlington

Rochester (N Winton/E Side) - NY 96; original store; address and building no longer exist

Rochester (blocks from above) - E Highland Dr; former Bilt-Rite; now Midtown Athletic Club

ChatGPT OpenAI version with classic design

Great American/Victory Markets

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

 I remember Great American and Victory Markets from the old days. Wikipedia has no official mention that the Leominster, MA-based Victory was not connected with Norwich-based Victory Markets and Great American, which had stores from the Southern Tier, CNY, North Country, Adirondacks, Central Leatherstocking and Capital Regions, Mohawk and Hudson Valleys and close to the Catskills. Some had a distinct shape that can easily be recognised by those of a certain age group. Others still are open today or only just closed in recent memory while some are long gone. Hannaford and Big Y bought Victory (Leominster) locations in New England. Back in Upstate NY, at least one Victory (NY) or Great American had been and another now is a Grand Union as well. More of them would be primarily in small towns. When they left, they would become rural food deserts (which can be worse than urban ones, being further away from anything comparable). Competition from P&C, Price Chopper, Tops and other chains meant Great Americans, like so many mom and pop operations (the latter day stores like Big M, Save a Lot, IGA and ShopRite are franchises [Victory acquired several ShopRite franchise stores in Albany and Warren Counties in late 1988, while ShopRite returned to the District in the 2010s with O&Os, but were sold in 2023 to Price Chopper/Market 32]), were becoming fewer by the day.  I will list as many as I can, but only put highways for areas that I know because it can take all day, even for smaller ones. There may be even more, but this is the gist of it. Many have been lost to obscurity (and I don't where they all are, yet our partners at Groceteria have a treasure trove, and I just can't catch up!). Victory even owned Carl's Drugs from 1988 until 1991 when it was sold to Fay's. Great American replaced many Loblaws east of I-390 and Lake Ontario to the MA/VT/CT state lines when the Canadian giant left the US in the late '70s. Even a few Grand Unions were taken over by Great American by that point. This may be as complete as it gets, but more always comes up. An Australian company once owned Victory. Other Victory Market chains in California, Alabama, Pennsylvania (Alleghany County); Florida, NY (which had to be renamed Big V, later a ShopRite franchise and property company, because this Victory opened nearby and went to court), and Michigan were also unrelated (that'll go in the other post now). This is exhaustive, so it will change periodically. Even in my own area, current status of most locations are unknown unless indicated due to apparent age of stores.

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

Fayetteville (NY 5) - just Victory; later Super Duper, now dance studio (still has distinct design) and vacant restaurant (formerly Kirbys; pictured below)

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

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

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

Port Jervis (US 6 & 209) - now Price Chopper

Port Leyden (NY 12)

Sidney (1) (BK5, recently closed)

Sidney (2) (demolished; now Town Plaza)

Greene – Victory Market – South Chenango Street (Victory that later became a Great American BK5; now closed)

Groton – Victory Market – 1980 Main Street (Victory; never a Great American) (NY 38)

Guilderland – Great American – 1235 Western Avenue (US 20) (formerly ShopRite) - now diBellas Subs and Uncommon Grounds in University Plaza

Hamilton – Victory Market – 11 Eaton St (Victory that became Great American); now Waynes Market

Hartwick – Victory Market – Main (NY 205) & South Streets (became a Peter Pumpkin)

Hancock – Victory Market –95 East Front Street (NY 97) (became a Great American; now Marinos Outdoor World)

Hankins (NY 97) – Victory Market; never a Great American

Herkimer (1) – Victory Market – 232 West Albany Street (NY 5 & 28) (became a Great American) - later Herb Phillipsons; now Harbor Freight Tools

Herkimer (2) - Great American - (NY 28) - formerly Loblaws and P&C; now Hannaford

Hinsmans Corners (Binghamton) – Victory Market – 1318 Upper Front Street (US 11) - never a Great American; now Lowes

Homer – Victory Market – (never a Great American) (US 11)

Horseheads – Great American – 3300 Chambers Road (now Arnot Event Center)

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

Syracuse (Eastwood) (NY 290) - Victory Video; later James Flowers; now vacant (information on this division is even rarer, so for another day)

Oriskany Falls (NY 12B & 26)

Owego (Bodle Hill Rd) - likely demolished

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

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

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

North Utica (NY 5) - previously Chicago Markets, outgoing Big Lots

Walton (204 Delaware St/NY 10) - now Big M

Fulton (NY 481) - later Fays and Eckerd; now doctors office

Rotterdam (Altamont Ave) - previously ShopRite; probably demolished

Gloversville (NY 30A) - previously Chicago Markets and Loblaws

Glenville (NY 50 & Glen Ridge Rd) - Mayfair Shopping Ctr; previously Grand Union and ShopRite; closed 1992

Gouverneur (1) (US 11 & NY 58) - Victory only

Gouverneur (2) (US 11 & Rawley St) - Great American and Loblaws

Morris (NY 23 & 514)

Monticello (NY 42)

Milford (NY 7)

Mt Upton (CR 37)

Stamford (NY 10 & 23)

Ellenville (US 209) - later ShopRite?

Potsdam (1) (NY 56) - Great American; now Price Chopper

Potsdam (2) (NY 11B) - Victory; later Big M; now IGA

Lake George (US 9)

Mexico (NY 104) - later Big M; now Tops?

Glens Falls (Upper Glen Rd) - previously ShopRite

Bainbridge (NY 7) - now vacant (on an album sleeve from indie band Empty Country)

Cobleskill (NY 7) - closed in 2002

Middleburgh (NY 30) - initial plans to open as Great American in 2015 changed and eventually opened as Valley Market instead, which is sister to surviving Prattsville store in the region

Unadilla (NY 7)

Red Creek (NY 104A)

Locke (NY 38 & 90)

Moravia (NY 38 & 38A)

Malone (US 11 & NY 30) - previously Loblaws

Painted Post (1) (NY 17C) - Village Square Shopping Center; previously A&P, now Valu Home Center

Painted Post (2) (NY 415)

Corning (1) (NY 415/W Pulteney St) - previously Loblaws, later Salvation Army Thrift Store and Byrne Dairy; now vacant

Corning (2) (Conhocton St)

Ithaca (Adams & 2nd Sts) - previously Loblaws; likely demolished

Massena (NY 37) - TBD

Sayre, PA (US 15) - later P&C, now Tops

Waverly (NY 17C) - previously Grand Union

South Waverly, PA (CR 1070) - Valley Plaza; previously Grand Union; now CVS?

Erwin (NY 414)

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

Schoharie (NY 30)

Oneonta (NY 7 & 28) - Southside Mall, later OfficeMax; now Michaels (inside shown on an '80s Instagram account)

New Berlin (NY 8 & 80)

Worcester (NY 7)

Binghamton (Main & S Washington Sts)

Prattsville (NY 23) - last surviving GA store with ties to the chain (not counting any unrelated stores outside Upstate NY [specifically west of Twin Tiers/mid-Finger Lakes] due to generic nature of name)

West Winfield (1) (NY 51) - now Dollar General

West Winfield (2) (US 20 & NY 51) - TBD

Oxford - now Dollar General

Watertown (1) (NY 3) - Nichols Plaza; previously A&P; outgoing Big Lots

Watertown (2) (NY 12) - previously Loblaws; now a mental health facility

Marathon (US 11 & NY 221) - later Peter Pumpkin

Boonville (NY 12) - now vacant

Cairo (NY 23) - now Hannaford

Adams Center (US 11) - later store; now Adams Center Market

Alexandria Bay (NY 12) - now Price Chopper?

Millerton (US 44) - previously Grand Union and Trottas

Apalachin (NY 17)

Amsterdam (NY 30) - previously Chicago Markets/Bag 'n Save and Loblaws

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

Canastota (NY 13)

Barneveld (NY 365)

Camden (NY 13)

Catskill (NY 32)

Chadwicks (Main St [now Oneida St?])

New Paltz (NY 299)

Afton (NY 7)

Cooperstown (1) (NY 28 & 80) - later P&C, now Grand Union

Cooperstown (2) (NY 28) - Ar-De's Great American until 2010; now Price Chopper

Delhi (NY 10)

Sherrill (NY 5) - later P&C and Tops; now Grand Union

Fonda (NY 30A) - now Cumberland Farms

Laurens (NY 205)

Liberty (1) (NY 52)

Liberty (2) (S Main St) - later Liberty Market and Ideal Food Market; now Lemonade Kosher Supermarket

Lyons Falls (NY 12)

Sherburne (NY 12) - now Big M

Richfield Springs (1) (US 20 & NY 28) - both chains; now Price Chopper

Richfield Springs (2) (CR 22) - just Victory; TBD

Tully (US 11 & NY 80) - now Nightingales Tully Lakes Hardware

Ilion (NY 5S)

Whitesboro (1) (NY 69) - Great American; previously Loblaws; now storage center

Whitesboro (2) (Main St) - Victory; now audiologists office

East Greenbush (US 9 & 20)

Hudson (US 9)

Little Falls (NY 5 & 169) - previously Loblaws; later Big M

Catskill (US 9W)

Colonie (Wolf Rd) - previously ShopRite; later Bed, Bath and Beyond; now vacant

East Stroudsburg, PA (US 209) - formerly Genettis (last non-NY store)

Westvale (NY 5) - Victory; previously Johnsons, later IGA; now dry cleaners?

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

Elmira (1) (Lake St) - Diven Plaza, now demolished

Elmira (2) (William St) - previously Loblaws; later ValueWay; now Save-a-Lot

Elmira (3) (Erie St) - now vacant

Big Flats/Horseheads (CR 35 & 43 off I-86/NY 17) - Arnot Mall; previously Loblaws; absorbed by expansion

Syracuse (east side) (NY 5) - likely demolished by the '80s

Syracuse (south side) - (S Salina & Tallman Sts.) (Victory now building site; Great American now demolished)

Jamesville (NY 173); likely kitty corner across from Apulia Rd near Jamesville Rd/North St; now various businesses including Sunoco

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

Baldwinsville (NY 48) - later ValueWay; long gone

Baldwinsville (Downer St) - Tri-County Mall; long since demolished; now over-60s flats

Dryden (NY 13 & 38) - later Great American, Eckerd, and Rite Aid; now demolished (pictured below)

Grand Gorge (NY 23 & 30)

Clinton (NY 12B)

deWitt (NY 5) - levelled by the '80s

Smyrna (NY 80)

Ogdensburg - Park Plaza; previously Loblaws; now demolished

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

Syracuse (east side) - Victory; previously Acme

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

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

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

Syracuse (NY 92) (1) - Victory; previously Red & White (brand still exists)

Syracuse (NY 92) (2)  - Victory; previously Market Basket (not New England chain)

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

Cincinnatus (NY 26) - later Peter Pumpkin (spinoff chain)

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

Oneida (NY 5 & 46/Wilson St) - Ames Plaza (then); now Oneida Indian Nation headquarters

Clayville (NY 8)

Saugerties (US 9W)

Schenevus (NY 7)

Endwell (800 Hooper Rd./CR 33), Park Manor Plaza; previously Grand Union [until 1995] and Giant; now Raleigh Baseball Institute (bigger Giant turned Weis opened across plaza)

Roscoe (off NY 17) - now IGA

Oswego (NY 104) - later Green Planet Grocery, now demolished

Rome (NY 46) - previously Loblaws; now Market 32

Conklin (NY 7)

Cortland (1) (NY 13 & Main St) - Great American and Victory; now CVS?

Cortland (2) (NY 41 & US 11?) - Victory only; later P&C; now Dollar General

Cortlandville (NY 281) - also both

Deposit - Elm & Monument Sts.

deRuyter (NY 13) - now Big M?

Phoenicia (NY 28)

Eaton (NY 26)

Edmeston (NY 80)

Jeffersonville (NY 52)

Kingston (US 9W) - Kings Plaza; later Weis?; now Marshalls

Whitney Point (US 11)

McGraw (NY 41)

North Syracuse (US 11) - Victory; previously Market Basket (not New England chain)

New Hartford (1) (NY 5) - TBD (address provided changed)

New Hartford (2) (NY 5A) - Tehan Plaza; now Hannaford; previously Chicago Markets and Tops

Syracuse (north side) - 1st North & Pond Sts; later Wegmans, now Tops

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

Great American AI rendering with close enough later logo

Fayetteville today with replica logo (neither AI nor borrowed) 

AI of Dryden store with '70s car

AI of Fayetteville store with Kirbys and 2010s Jeep

Christmas Tree Shops

Macomb County location in Michigan

 Christmas Tree Shops were a unique kind of discount chain, but not a festive one per se. Like several others, I heard of it in the Capital Region. I found some of my CDs there. People from CNY would take road trips there. Then, they finally came here in a plaza that now has little to go on (that will get its own post another day).  Harmon Face Values spun off with their generic health and beauty products, and had a location in Dutchess County. Christmas Tree Shops were once owned by Bed, Bath and Beyond, but now both have gone bankrupt and have closed their doors because people shop online and the economy is touch and go; same old story. If that wasn't the case, this would be just another run-of-the-mill list of where to open more, since they could have gone to Cayuga, Tompkins and Oneida Counties, but it's now too late for that. Instead, other chains can get past CTS locations, but I can only come up with ideas for the ones that I know, of course. Oh, Christmas Tree Shops, how lovely were thy branches!

Albany (Colonie) - Colonie Center, NY 5 & Wolf Road

North Syracuse - Northern Lights, US 11; former Builders Square; now Raymour & Flanigan Clearance Center (local furniture chain own the plaza, hoping to get new tenants)

Henrietta - NY 252 (Rochester)

Watertown - Salmon Run Mall, NY 3 & CR 100

Loblaws in CNY

 

Composite of Eastwood store made from Peters IGA

As the last article pointed out, people of a certain age in and from this area may not realise something is still there or not, whether or not they moved house, travel, or stay in the know. Loblaws looms large. While it's still a large chain in Canada to this day, it had competition on this side of the seaway until it left US soil by 1977. There was a low-res scan on Facebook of an advert from the paper, but one can't make out the locations, yet Groceteria has the immediate Syracuse area, as well as other major cities in the US that had Loblaws (including border cities Buffalo and Detroit). I've only been to No Frills, Wholesale Club and Shoppers Drug Mart on the boys' turf, so one of these days, I'll have to get to a Loblaws proper. All of this was before my time, which is why it's pensioners who know it domestically and deem it defunct if they haven't gotten the memo (even ex-pat Paul Anka would know it's alive and well today). Here's a list of CNY locations (can't do this for all of them):

US 11 & Bear Rd (North Syracuse)

NY 173 (South Side; later Price Chopper)

NY 5 (x and Fayetteville)

NY 290 (East Syracuse and Eastwood; now Family Dollar)

NY 104 (Oswego; now Thrifty Shopper)

Genesee St (Auburn)

South Ave (South Side; now Price Rite)

Bleecker St (Utica; also now Price Rite)

Western Lights (later old Price Chopper?)

NY 48 (van Buren; later IGA; now flagship Seneca Knolls Big M)

NY 46 & 365A? (Oneida)

W Genesee St (Fairmount)

Transit St (Lockport)

NY 12 (Watertown; later Great American, now a mental health facility) (closest one now is in Eastern Ontario)

NY 30A (Gloversville)

Butternut & Park Sts (north side)

US 11 (Mattydale and/or Pitcher Hill)

N Main St (Cortland)

NY 290 & Grant Blvd - Now Walgreens/former P&C-A&P-Rite Aid-True Value (Eastwood)

Westcott St (East Side; later Big M?)

615 E Adams St (East Side; demolished for I-81)

Fay's Drugs: 65 Years On

Composite of Eastwood (1991-97) store (no real photo)

 Fay's Drugs were a chain based right in CNY. They never even had a 40th Anniversary. It started in Fairmount in 1958 and grew from there. They bought the founders relatives' rival chain Carls Drugs in 1991. Fays Cornerdrug were a line of smaller locations in tight communities, especially small towns, that were once indies bought up by the chain, such as Key Drugs in Rochester. In 1996, JCPenneys Thrift Drug bought Eckerd, then Fays, and as mergers and acquisitions can take up to a year or so to materialise, Fays were no more by the fall of 1997. Here's a list of stores, mainly in their home territory, and what they are now (it will never be a complete list 'cos it's just too much).

Syracuse (Eastwood) - NY 290; originally Loblaws, Peters IGA and Foodland, then Carls; was Fays from 1991-97, Eckerd from 1997-2010, Rite Aid from 2010-19, vacant from 2019-22 and is now Family Dollar (montage pictured)

Syracuse (Lyncourt) - Shop City; Eckerd moved to part of former Ames after ceiling collapse, old store later Valu Home Center; now Factory Direct Furniture Outlet

Cazenovia - US 20; now Walgreens

Syracuse (north side) - Lodi & Butternut Sts; later Dollar Tree; soon to be Westside Family Pharmacy

Syracuse (east side) (1) - Nottingham Rd & E Colvin St, Skytop Plaza; originally Drumlins Pharmacy (Fays affiliate); later Fays Cornerdrug; now Walgreens

Syracuse (east side) (2) - Irving & Madison Aves; Madison Irving Medical Center; Fays Cornerdrug (likely due to being a smaller store inside a doctors office complex); absorbed by various practices/businesses after 1997 sale to JCPenney/Eckerd

Hannibal - NY 3; plaza with Tops (former IGA and Valero); now Walgreens

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown; now closed and set for demolition pending court approval for District East; may have been CVS/pharmacy after 1975 prior to '80s (did have Walgreens and Carls before that)

Fayetteville/deWitt (Wegmans Plaza) - NY 5 & 92 - demolished in 1994 for current Wegmans

Fayetteville (Mall) - NY 5 & N Burdick St; previously Carls; demolished by 2001 for Towne Center

Fayetteville - N Burdick St; now Walgreens

East Syracuse - Kirkville Rd; originally Church Leader Drug; now Walgreens

Syracuse (south side) - NY 175 & 80; Turnpike Centre; later Dollar Tree; now vacant

Syracuse (west side) - S Geddes St; later Save-a-Lot, now Wilson Dental

Poughkeepsie - US 9, Poughkeepsie Plaza; TBD (was on the way out when I moved in up the road)

Fairmount - W Genesee St; former flagship/original store; now Dollar Tree

Camillus - Camillus Plaza; later Rite Aid; now vacant

Gloversville - N Main St; now Dollar General

Elmira - TBD

Albany - New Scotland Ave; Fays Cornerdrug; later For Petes Sake charity shop? (run by St Peters Hospital across the street); TBD

Springfield, MA - previously Genovese (which Eckerd later acquired in the tri-state in 1998 and rebranded in 2003); some were later CVS/pharmacy

Hartford County, CT - same as above; what didn't become CVS otherwise closed

Cohoes - NY 470?; TBD

Albany (Delaware Area) - NY 443 & US 9W; later Save-a-Lot, now vacant

Albany (Uptown) - NY 5, Westgate Shopping Center; later Rite Aid; now vacant

Utica - Genesee St; later Rite Aid, now vacant

Pittsford - NY 31; later Walgreens, now vacant

Cortlandville - NY 281

Waterloo - US 20 & NY 5; now AutoZone?

Cortland (1) - NY 222; later Dollar Foods, now vacant

Cortland (2) - NY 13, Riverside Mall; now vacant

North Syracuse (1) - Pyramid Mall, E Taft Rd; TBD/later the DMV?

Baldwinsville (between NY 690, 31 & 48) - Tri-County Mall; Downer St; replaced by original Eckerd in 1997; later Rite Aid; now vacant (Rite Aid are now set to close, and in this region, Walgreens acquired their prescriptions except for the former north side store in Syracuse)

Auburn (1) - Seminary St, TBD (billboard survives)

Auburn (2) - NY 5

Auburn (3) - Genesee St

Greece - NY 18, Parkway Commons Plaza; previously Key Drugs; now Bingo World?

Binghamton - US 11; Northgate Plaza

Herkimer - NY 5

Endwell - Hooper Rd

Vestal - NY 17C

Painted Post - NY 17C

Horseheads - NY 14

Athens, PA - PA 199

Towanda/Wysox Township, PA - US 6

Dunmore, PA - PA 347; later Dunmore Drug Store and Medicap Pharmacy; now closed

Amsterdam - NY 5 & 67

Ilion - NY 5; Ilion Mall

Greenville/Spartansburg, SC - previously Crafts Drugs; later Rite Aid (even opened that far south)

Charleston, SC - previously Berkeleys; later Rite Aid (decades before they bought old stores here)

Sayre, PA - PA 199

Nedrow - US 11, Green Hills Plaza; now Planet Fitness

Saugerties/Vails Gate - NY 32 & 94, Simmons Plaza; later Eckerd and Rite Aid, now Walgreens 

North Syracuse (2) - US 11 & W Taft Rd, Sweetheart Corners; previously CVS, later Rite Aid (standalone); now vacant

New Paltz - NY 299; now Walgreens

Middletown (1) - NY 211; TBD (closed when Eckerd opened in nearby Scotchtown)

Middletown (2) - NY 17M; now Market Fresh

Wilkes-Barre, PA - S Main St; later Eckerd, now closed

Luzerne, PA - PA 309; TBD

Perinton/Fairport - NY 31; Perinton Square Mall; previously Key Drugs; now Rite Aid

Rochester (1) - Southview Commons; previously Key Drugs; now restaurants and medical offices

Irondequoit (1) - Stutson Bridge Plaza; previously Key Drugs; now various businesses

Rochester (2) - E Ridge Rd; Ridge Seneca Plaza; previously Key Drugs; now Family Dollar

Rochester (3) - Dewstone Plaza; previously Key Drugs (would have been small; thus likely another Fays Cornerdrug); now various businesses

Rochester (4) - Lake & Driving Park Aves; previously Key Drugs

North Chili - NY 33; Fays Cornerdrug; previously Key Drugs

Chili Center - Fays Cornerdrug; previously Key Drugs

Williamson - NY 104 & 21; Fays Cornerdrug; previously Key Drugs; later Rite Aid; now vacant

Ontario - NY 104 & 350; Fays Cornerdrug; previously Petersons Drugs; later Eckerd and Rite Aid; now vacant

Irondequoit (2) - E Ridge Rd; Georgetown Plaza; previously Key Drugs; demolished

Gates (2) - NY 204; Westgate Plaza; previously Key Drugs; now demolished

Scranton (1) - Luzerne St; later Eckerd and Rite Aid; now vacant

Scranton (2) - Keyser Oak Shopping Ctr; now Gerritys Corner Drug Store

Clarks Summit - US 6

Old Forge, PA - S Main St; TBD

Eynon, PA - US 6

Ithaca - NY 13, 34 & 96

Cobleskill - Main St; TBD

New Hartford (Washington Mills) - Kellogg Mall, CR 24 & NY 8; later Rite Aid

Edwardsville, PA - US 11; Mark Plaza; now vacant

Fairport - NY 31F; previously Key Drugs

Victor - NY 96; Eastview Mall; previously Key Drugs

Mattydale - US 11; then kmart Plaza; later Dollar Tree, now vacant

Cicero - US 11, Marketplace Mall; demolished by 2000s (now various businesses)

Baldwinsville (Moyers Corners) - NY 31 & CR 57, Kimbrook Plaza; later Rite Aid, now Planet Fitness

Baldwinsville (village) - NY 31 & 370; now Dollar Tree (new store built; confirmed by chain as former Eckerd)

Manlius - NY 173, TBD (perhaps Dollar Tree, which may be in former Smiths)

Canastota - NY 5 & 13; now Dollar General

Oneida - NY 5 & 46 (not sure, but it is a small town)

Syracuse (Westvale) - NY 5; now Family Dollar

Syracuse (Onondaga Blvd) - now Goodwill

Oswego - NY 104; now demolished

Fulton - NY 481; now Taco Bell (old store demolished and restaurant built on site, of course)

Watertown - NY 3, Stateway Plaza (also had a liquor store); now vacant

Liverpool (Galeville) - Liverpool Plaza, Old Liverpool Rd & Electronics Pkwy; later Thrifty Shopper and Palm Market; TBD (likely more of a flagship in later years as headquarters were up the road on Henry Clay Blvd, which was later the regional office for Rite Aid until fall 2024 following their final bankruptcy)

Liverpool (Bayberry) - CR 57; Seneca Mall; later Eckerd, now vacant

Niskayuna - NY 5 & Ballstown Rd; Mohawk Mall; now Mohawk Commons

North Syracuse (Sugarwood Corners) - Buckley & Bear Rds, Sugarwood Center; now various businesses

Moscow, PA - PA 435 & 690; Fays Cornerdrug; later Eckerd and the Medicine Shoppe; now Pivot Physical Therapy

Tonawanda - US 62; Fays Cornerdrug; previously Jet Drugs; later Rite Aid; now vacant

Massena - NY 37 & 420; Fays Cornerdrug; now Walgreens (since Kinney Drugs are from St Lawrence County, it's obvious in this small North Country town that the old store was demolished and there was a typo on the outdated but needed source page)

Wellsboro, PA - PA 287; Fays Cornerdrug; later Shabby Rue; now vacant

Amherst - NY 263; Fays Cornerdrug; now Lucky Dragon Food Market

Buffalo - Elmwood Ave & North St; Fays Cornerdrug; previously van Slyke Pharmacy, now Elmwood Market

Valu Home Centers: 55 Years On

Hornell store

 Valu Home Centers are a DIY and another WNY chain just as easily found in CNY (maybe WNY should get its own tag since the T-word does). They're not as large as the big box, and have the convenience of the smaller hardware stores. Even they could open up some more. Not to be confused with True Value Hardware, even though both are now part of Do It Best.

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

New Hartford - New Hartford Shopping Center, former Herb Phillipsons

Auburn - NY 5; former Real Deals

Fulton - NY 481; former kmart, River Glen Plaza

Oswego - NY 104, former Big Lots

Canastota - NY 5 & 13 and CR 25; former Family Dollar

Herkimer - former kmart

Colonie - former Barnes & Noble

Schenectady - NY 5 & 7; former ALDI/Grand Union

Troy - US 4; former Price Chopper, Lansingburgh

Former locations:

Syracuse - Shop City Plaza; previously Ames; now Factory Direct Furniture Outlet

Cortland - NY 222; former Tops

Owego - NY 17C

North Hornell - Seneca St

Rite Aid in CNY

Glenolden, PA store (edited due to different laws there)

 Since Rite Aid sold a number of stores to Walgreens in 2019, they have had fewer locations in CNY (there are still six left in Onondaga County alone) and virtually none in the North Country. They've closed some in other parts of the nation, but could still make a comeback over here, while their competitor closed several of the stores they took over since, some in recent weeks. A few of them Rite Aid should get back as many are where there is no close alternative for people without private transport. Also fill in vacancies that the others won't. Rite Aid also left downtown Albany, but we covered that (see second list). However, Rite Aid are under administration, so they and their competitors are closing stores left and right at this time.

Syracuse (west side) - W Onondaga St (former store and Walgreens)

Canastota - NY 5 & 13 (former store and Walgreens)

Manlius - NY 92 (former Kinney Drugs)

North Syracuse - US 11 (former store and Walgreens in village, although located roughly between Sweetheart Corners and former Cicero stores)

Pulaski - US 11 & NY 13 (former store and Walgreens)

Auburn - Genesee St (same as above, although both chains are still on NY 5)

Rochester (19th Ward) - Thurston Rd. & Brooks Ave. (former store and Walgreens; near airport, UR and Wegmans HQ; non-CNY)

Past locations:

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights; later Freddys? (defunct rival chain from Rochester); later Party City? (both chains in the same sinking boat in 2025)

Syracuse (Eastwood) (1) - NY 290 between Grant Blvd and North Ave; now Walgreens (built 2006)

Syracuse (Eastwood) (2) - NY 290 and Homecroft Rd; former Loblaws/Peters IGA/Carls/Fays/Eckerd; now Family Dollar (see earlier post)

East Syracuse (1) - Kirkville Rd; former Church Leader Drug/Fays/Eckerd; now Walgreens

East Syracuse (2) - NY 290; now Family Dollar

Syracuse (downtown) (1) - S Salina St; original store (Rite Aid acquired local chain Daws Drugs in early '60s, bringing them to CNY); later Record Town and Dollar Wise; now vacant

Syracuse (downtown) (2) - S Salina & E Fayette Sts; 1979-2019; former Woolworths; now DGX

Syracuse (downtown) (3) - S Warren & E Fayette Sts; Discount Center (likely regular store before 1979 when other store opened a block away); demolished, now corner park

Syracuse (Valley) - NY 80 & 173 - former Eckerd; now DG Market

Syracuse (south side) - US 11; later Walgreens; now vacant

Syracuse/Nedrow  - US 11; former Eckerd; now Walgreens (almost Fays with a drive-thru until 1997 acquisition by JCPenney)

Hannibal - NY 3; former Fays/Eckerd; now Walgreens

Fulton - NY 3; now Walgreens

Oswego - NY 104 & 481; former Fays/Eckerd; now demolished

Cortland - US 11 & NY 41; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Utica - Genesee St; former Carls?/Fays/Eckerd; now vacant

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall; former CVS?/Fays/Eckerd; now vacant pending demolition for District East

Manlius (1) (village) - NY 92; former Harveys Leader Drug/Eckerd; now Unplugged Gaming

Manlius (2) (Buellville) - NY 92; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Fayetteville - N Burdick St; former Fays/Eckerd; now Walgreens

Cazenovia - US 20; former Fays/Eckerd; now Walgreens

Canastota - NY 5 & 13; later Walgreens; now closed

Chittenango - NY 5; now Walgreens (closing in 2025)

Cicero (1) - US 11 & Caughdenoy Rd; now Walgreens

Cicero (2) - NY 31 & Thompson Rd; becoming Ace Hardware

Auburn - US 20 & NY 38A; now VA Health Clinic

Albany (Colonie) - NY 5 & CR 156; later Goodwill; now Ace Hardware (honorable non-CNY mention)

Baldwinsville (1) - Downer St; now Powerhouse Gym

Baldwinsville (2) (Moyers Corners) - NY 31 & CR 57; former Fays/Eckerd, Kimbrook Plaza, now Planet Fitness

Liverpool (Bayberry) (1) - CR 57; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Liverpool (Bayberry) (2) - CR 57; the Shops at Seneca Mall; former Eckerd, now U-Haul

Liverpool (Galeville) - Old Liverpool Rd; former Eckerd; now Family Dollar

Liverpool/North Syracuse - Bear & Buckley Rds; former Eckerd; now Dollar General

Mattydale - US 11; former Eckerd; later Walgreens; now closed

North Syracuse (1) - US 11; now Syracuse Lash & Beauty

North Syracuse (2) - US 11; now vacant

Central Square - NY 49; now closed

Watertown - NY 3; former Fays/Eckerd; now closed

Norwich (1) - NY 12 & E Main St; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Norwich (2) - NY 12; now Dollar Tree

Norwich (3) - NY 12; now Aarons Rental Purchase

Syracuse (Tipp Hill) (1) - NY 5; now Walgreens

Syracuse (Tipp Hill) (2) - W Fayette St; now Modular Comfort Systems

Syracuse (east side) (1) - Westcott St; now convenience store

Syracuse (east side) (2) - NY 92; former site of historic home; later Walgreens; now vacant

Syracuse (Fairmount) (1) - W Genesee St; Fairmount Fair Mall; demolished by late '80s, now plaza

Syracuse (Fairmount) (2) - W Genesee St; former flagship Fays/Eckerd; now Dollar Tree

Syracuse (north side) (1) - Grant Blvd & Butternut St; now AutoZone

Syracuse (north side) (2) - Butternut & N McBride Sts; now Family Dollar (Rite Aid moved across street)

Syracuse (north side) (3) - Butternut & Lodi Sts (briefly); former Eckerd (unnecessary after acquisition with existing store right there); now Dollar General

Syracuse (Skunk City) - Onondaga Blvd & Avery Ave; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Syracuse (near west side) - W Onondaga St; later Walgreens; now vacant

Syracuse (east side) (3) - E Colvin St & Nottingham Rd; Skytop Plaza; former Drumlins Pharmacy/Fays/Eckerd; now Walgreens

St Lawrence County - US 11 et al; now Walgreens

Sears in CNY and Beyond

Typical mall Sears in happier times. Forgot where exactly, however.

 Sears once ruled the retail landscape, but have also taken a downturn thanks to Walmart and amazon in that order. They had several locations in CNY and beyond that are all but gone. Few if any are left. Vacant unless otherwise indicated.

Syracuse (south side) - US 11; closed in 1974; will become semiconductor workforce training hub through ON-RAMP state programme in the wake of neighbour JMA and Micron opening in Clay

Fayetteville - NY 5, Fayetteville Mall; 1974-95; replaced by P&C at Towne Center, now Tops

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall; 1995-2018; don't ask!

Cicero - Penn Can Mall; closed by 1988; now Drivers Village

Clay - NY 31, Great Northern Mall, closed after thirty years

Fairmount - Fairmount Fair, closed 1987; replaced by numerous retailers since such as Marshalls Homegoods and Old Navy

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20, Fingerlakes Mall

New Hartford - NY 5 & 5A, Sangertown Square, now Boscovs

Henrietta - NY 252, Marketplace Mall

Cortland (1) - NY 13, Riverside Plaza, Sears Hometown Outlet

Cortland (2) - NY 281; Cortlandville Mall

Cortland (3) - Downtown; US 11 and NY 41 & 222

Syracuse (north side) - Destiny USA, Sears Outlet (spun off from Sears); various

Westvale - NY 5, Westvale Plaza, Sears Hardware; now Thrifty Shopper

Liverpool - CR 57, Sears Hardware; now American Red Cross

Watertown (1) - NY 3, Salmon Run Mall

Watertown (2) - NY 12?, Downtown

Ithaca (Lansing) - NY 34, The Shops at Ithaca Mall, now Cayuga Health (along with former Bon-Ton)

Camillus - Camillus Mall, 1987-2001; now Lowes

Colonie - NY 5, Colonie Center; now Whole Foods and Floor & Décor (Capital Region)

Albany - NY 32?, Downtown

Bye, BI-LO

Former Lancaster, SC location

 While a handful of states away down the coast from New York, something like the closure of BI-LO last year in the South is never a good sign for the industry. This is not the same chain that was sister to P&C and Quality in Northeast Pennsylvania and are still in business (Quality [not Krogers QFC] and Franklin County's Big Bear [OH Capital Region, not GA Capital Region] are the only two Penn Traffic divisions that went the way of A&P and Safeways Dominicks). This BI-LO and Tops were formerly owned by Dutch company Ahold until both spun off and became independent, BI-LO Holdings becoming Southeastern Grocers. While Tops survived bankruptcy and merged with Price Chopper, BI-LO could not this time. Many locations were sold to Food Lion, who were owned by Belgian based Delhaize who merged with their Benelux rival (now-sister chain Hannaford used to be in the mid-Atlantic themselves until 2000 when it became one, having moved down the eastern seaboard after buying Wilsons. Some stores went to Lowes [not the DIY one], likely because of state and FTC regulations). In 2023, Southeastern subsidiaries Winn-Dixie and Harveys were sold to ALDI. Some will keep their name, while some smaller ones will just become the same ALDIs you can find almost anywhere in the country or some of Europe

I've never set foot south of Virginia myself, so I just can't do this the same way as usual, so it'll be more generalised this time. Former BI-LOs could be sold to Food Lion (many have so far), Lidl (ALDIs chief rival in the old country), Lowes, Ingles, Publix, Piggly Wiggly, Harris Teeter (whose owner Kroger cancelled a merger with Albertsons), Whole Foods/amazon Fresh/Go and Kroger if not converted to former sister chains Winn-Dixie or Harveys (despite the pending sale). My Google feed told me one location was picked up by a developer, but no further information was available. At least someone got it, as it's frustrating to see a property with potential sit empty for too long, but these states probably don't have as much red tape as we do up north to say the least (you know how it is).

Family Dollar

Fargo, ND location (just needed a typical location on Creative Commons)

 Family Dollar may seem too easy being in most of the country, but even they could use a few new locations in Central New York alone, even after merging with Dollar Tree a few years ago.  A few of these would be rural as opposed to in town within miles of each other. It can't be near a Dollar Tree anymore if they're considering selling Family Dollar (see later post) and the former on the north side of Syracuse closed (which used to be Fays, while Family Dollar just down the street was the old Rite Aid). Family Dollar have been closing locations across the country, yet can open some more here in CNY.

Hyde Park - former Grand Union/Amish Market, US 9**

Elbridge - NY 5*

Canastota - NY 5 & 13 and CR 25*

Manlius - former Kinney Pharmacy, NY 92

Oswego - former Peebles/Gordmans, NY 104

Cicero - former Green Planet Grocery, NY 31

Camillus - former Chappells/the Bon-Ton (vacant section), Camillus Commons

Albany - former Save-a-Lot/Fays, NY 443 & 9W**

Bridgeport - former Kinney Pharmacy or Victory/Great American, NY 31 & 298

Alaska, Hawaii, Washington State and Oregon - various/TBD**

*Past store

**Non-CNY

Former locations

Syracuse (Onondaga Hill) - NY 175 & Grolier Hill; previously Big M; Big O, and Hill Top Market

Syracuse (south side) - NY 175; now Dollar General (first Family Dollar I can remember)

Syracuse (Lyncourt) - Shop City Plaza; previously McCrorys?; now Hair Land

Canastota - see previous list

Elbridge - see previous list

Mattydale - US 11 & E Molloy Rd; now Dollar General

Liverpool - Electronics Pkwy & Old Liverpool Rd; Liverpool Plaza; now Ace Hardware

Rochester (downtown) - W Main St**

Floor & Décor

Fantasy location at Northern Lights Plaza, North Syracuse

 Once again, there's a commercial for another chain we don't have in this state yet.  This time, it's Floor & Décor.  The closest location is the Capital Region.  Time to get creative and bring them to other regions at long last:

North Syracuse - former Media Play/Burlington Coat Factory, Northern Light Plaza, US 11 (pictured)

Syracuse - former JCPenney, Destiny USA

deWitt - former Bed, Bath & Beyond; Marshalls Homegoods Plaza, NY 5

Williamsville - former Best Buy, NY 78

New Hartford - former Macys, Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A

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

Henrietta - former Sears, Marketplace Mall, NY 252

Cortland - former flea market, Riverside Plaza, NY 13

Liverpool - former Price Chopper, CR 57

Fulton - former kmart, River Glen Plaza, NY 481

Watertown - former Sears or Christmas Tree Shops, Salmon Run Mall, NY 3 & CR 100

Ithaca - former Tops; South Meadow Plaza, NY 13/34/96

Oswego - former Gordmans/Peebles, NY 104

Thrifty Shopper

Former Chappells/Fallas/AJ Wright/CW Price

Outlet at Shop City Plaza in Syracuse

 Thrifty Shopper is the charity shop chain based in my area, and their footprint has expanded beyond Central New York around the I-81/NY 12/79/34/5/(US) 20/414/104/3/12 corridor, covering a third of Upstate, going from the North Country, to the Mohawk Valley, to Southern Tier/Twin Tiers, to the Finger Lakes, and back. There are still a few spots left to fill. The two Oneida County stores don't have the Rescue Mission logo on the front, likely to avoid confusion with unrelated Rescue Missions in main cities Rome and Utica (New Hartford). All but a couple national competitors remain in the whole region (the Cicero store on NY 31 used to be a St Vincent de Pauls). There are no stores yet in Madison County, while there used to be a donation center at the Walmart in Oneida (the Auburn and Camillus ones still have theirs). Thrifty Shopper will never be seen outside 315 (3fifteen is the name of two boutique locations on SU Hill and in Camillus) or 607, yet they are a monopoly of sorts, mostly keeping out the national chains, outnumbering two of them combined in Onondaga County alone, as well as indies run by churches or smaller registered charities and NGOs. Here are where they could go next:

Canastota - former Family Dollar, NY 5 & CR 25

Elbridge - former Family Dollar, NY 5

Fulton - former kmart, River Glen Plaza, NY 481

Oneida - former Rite Aid, NY 5 & 46 (since it's hard to replace chemists, might as well have a go)

Chittenango - former Rite Aid/Walgreens, NY 5 (same as above, despite the disparity out  that way) 

Former locations (some were taken from an old donation bag displayed at the 3fifteen in Marshall Square Mall on Marshall St on the Hill. Only Auburn has been in the same place, unless that moved as well since it's not that small a town. The old Big M in East Syracuse was listed as a drop-off site long before Wegmans up the street and around the county took over until 2023, and that Big M became a Thrifty Shopper itself by the end of the millennium):

Syracuse (Lyncourt) - Thrifty Shopper Outlet, Shop City Plaza; previously Chappells, AJ Wright, CW Price and Fallas; now Black Friday Bins (pictured)

Syracuse (Eastwood) - Eastwood Plaza, NY 290; closed 1999; later Café Kubal and Sacred Melody (until June 2023; now Eastwood Home and Caffé Cosí)

Cicero - US 11; now various businesses

Liverpool (Galeville) - Electronics Pkwy & Old Liverpool Rd; previously Carls and Fays, later Palm Market; TBD. May have been another location in plaza decades before.

Watertown - Stateway Plaza, NY 3; TBD

Fairmount (2010s) - W Genesee St; TBD

Westvale - NY 5, not the same as current location (former Sears Hardware)

North Syracuse - US 11, Northern Lights Plaza

East Syracuse - NY 290, Fremont (probably plaza that now has Dollar General and barber shop)

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown (likely before 1975 when plaza converted to mall)

Liverpool (Bayberry) - CR 57, Hiawatha Plaza; not the same as current location (former Herb Phillipsons)

Manlius - NY 173?

Syracuse (south side) - US 11, Valley Plaza

Syracuse (east side) - Nottingham Plaza

Fairmount - Fairmount Fair