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. The name FurryCuse may also have been suggested.

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

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).

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

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

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)

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

Hengerer's

A Hengerer-on: AI store with double fixed logo.

 W.M. Hengerer Co. were yet another in WNYs long line of lost luxury department store chains that couldn't catch up by the latter half of the 20th century. From cookery classes to restaurants, they were more than a store, ahead of their time and once claiming to be the biggest between downstate and Cook County (several tried to be in those days). Sibleys took over in 1987, only for them to go as well a couple years later. Wikipedia only mentions the downtown Hengerer's and one suburban store. The Department Store Museum managed to get the "Heng" of it (even they can't always find everything).

Buffalo (downtown) (1) - 259 Main St; original store; long gone (dates back to Victorian era)

Buffalo (downtown) (2) - 268 Main St; now The Salty Dog Barbershop and Crowley Web ad agency

Buffalo (downtown) (3) - 469 Main St; now laFayette Court

Amherst - NY 5 & Eggert Rd; now offices

Tonawanda - Pool Plaza, NY 324 & Delaware Rd; now Planet Fitness?

West Seneca - Seneca Mall (now The Shops at Seneca Mall), NY 240; likely Sibleys for a couple years before it moved to Cheektowaga for another brief stint (see earlier post); mall demolished

Clarence/Harris Hill - Eastern Hills Mall, NY 78; later Sibleys, Kaufmanns, Macys and Niagara Emporium; mall under redevelopment

L.L. Berger

AI store with real logo (couldn't fix another fake one)

 On a roll with WNY chains, and L.L. Berger are the latest. They were on the posh end, and had covered the area from the Edwardian era until the early '90s. Some things Wikipedia just can't do. Finally decided to launch a WNY tag because of the recent focus there.

Buffalo (downtown) (1) - 500 Main St; original store; now Buffalo Cigars

Buffalo (downtown) (2) - 514 Main St; now The Belasario

Cheektowaga (1) - Thruway Plaza (later Mall)

Cheektowaga (2) - Walden Galleria

Tonawanda - Sheridan Plaza, US 62

West Seneca - Seneca Mall (now The Shops at West Seneca), CR 137 & 91; old mall demolished

Amherst - Northtown Plaza, US 62 & NY 333; Station 12

Lockport - Lockport Mall, NY 78

Clarence - Transitowne Plaza, NY 5 & 78

Buffalo - 510 Elmwood Ave, now Mythos Restaurant

Hamburg - McKinley Mall, NY 179; later Kaufmanns Home Store and likely Macys outpost; now vacant

Mid-Hudson Memories

Gnax the red fox; his species are Marists mascot

 From 1997 to 2000, I lived in Dutchess County while away at school. While I won't go into the personal aspects of that too much here, it had to be done. This year would be the 25th anniversary of when I graduated from there, but a Smiths reunion is more likely now than one with my former colleagues (one person from that time knows what I mean). I even wrote to one recently, but that ship has sailed. There is an annual do with those of every vintage up to that time, but I don't know.

    As for what to put here, I finally got to go to ShopRite after only knowing it from then-UPN 9 and WB 11 (more on them on our sister blog). Grand Union provided some familiarity, yet I only went to Price Chopper rarely since that was one of many chains in town that we had back home. I discovered Stop & Shop, which was then sister to Tops, the latter bought some of the others stores that overlapped with Hannaford after the Ahold Delhaize merger. I went to Walgreens for the first time since they did not return to CNY until 2006. There was a dollar store called Just-a-Buck, which we covered years earlier. Rhino Records, which spun off of the label after it was sold to Time Warner, had locations in Poughkeepsie and New Paltz close to college campuses. After Caldor left CNY after two years' time, I had just as long before the whole chain closed. I can't recall if I ever went to Adams Fairacre Farms, the premier local chain in the Hudson Valley.  There were Poughkeepsie Galleria (Destiny USAs sister mall), South Hills Mall and Hudson Valley Mall. My stablemates and I would shop in Ulster and Dutchess Counties and had the minibus. I would take the chartered coach or railway home to visit.
    There was an indie video store across US 9 from where I was and they would sometimes have what I wanted. Even a couple delis were close by. Discovered Chinese buffet down the road. Saw Revco get absorbed by CVS and the last leg of Fays as Eckerd opened. Went to IGA and for the last time A&P. Got ice creams at Dairy Queen (not near home then) or Holy Cow in Red Hook (better off there). Only heard of G. Fox in recent years, and Filenes had been back for some time once I got to the mall. The furry fox I used for this post is in the one for G. Fox and also represents the mascot for Marist College, one of the three private schools in town, and an alum turned staff member of that place worked nights where I lived to boot. It'd be too easy to put a photo of a business or even landscape of the river itself.

   Despite the area being a bedroom community, I only got to take the MetroNorth Hudson Line twice to New York City since it wasn't that simple in those days, and it's not an everyday thing for everyone there; some not going down river for months or even years at a time. I only went once before with my family and three times this century to date, twice to see Paul McCartney, but that's for "Another Day"!
    Mid-Hudson Memories was going to be the name used for a segment on a short-lived user feature on the site for the Poughkeepsie Journal site after a rare visit in 2010 to see Yes at Mid-Hudson Civic Center (on the music blog), but I had to get on to the life I had in that day, and the feature became dated and obscure anyway. I just know I was still running riot with retail when I was in town. It has come on even more since like anywhere, despite all the stagnation and stagflation across the country these days.
    Because of my limitations, I doubt I'll ever get a hundred miles of there again. Haven't even made it to the tri-state proper since 2009, several months before halfway north to Albany, which I'm lucky to even get to once a year as it is. Just as people from my hometown or local alums who live elsewhere now can't all make it over yet once any time of year because of the costs and/or current routines. Maybe someday, I'll make it back. If I do go to events in the NYC region, I could stop along the way once I have my driving licence and own car, although I'd have to sort out the city itself (you know how it is).

AI

Iszards, a defunct department store from Twin Tiers

 You may have noticed that the past year, I have been using AI to create images for several different chains and even indies. It's more out of necessity because free images aren't always available, even if they would follow Wikipedias policy of older ones being out of copyright if taken before a certain year, even in our lifetime and not having a copyright, or if one from a lifetime ago is just too old hat to work unless it's about that time in history. I use Meta via Facebook, Instagram and Messenger for this, which is why I based the post in their area. AI assumes I'm making up these places myself, not realising that they were around before AI was even a thing in sci-fi books and films. Department stores oftentimes used cursive logos to look posh and many still do to this day, and I even prompt AI to provide that for me, but it can sometimes give me a right mess, just as many people these days can't spell to save their lives! For these pictures generated by the machines, I try to edit them on my phone if that works, or I painstakingly do so on my Desktop with Microsoft Paint, or poor mans Photoshop. I also just nick the real logo and just paste it onto a copy of the fantasy store, even though it looks more dodgy than it is. A few of these are photorealistic, which look like they ripped off actual photos, while others are digital illustrations I could never do on my own because my style is too simplistic on paper by comparison. I use both methods when it comes to furry art, but AI is highly slated by the fandom, among other things. One thing I don't use it for is to write, since I have the natural ability like a true journalist is supposed to have, and if writers block should come, it'll pass since I have no deadlines here, and the real media and educators alike are also keeping AI to a minimum, even though it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

McCurdy's

AI with fixed logo, and that's not Irish underneath!

 After my annual visit to Monroe County, I just had to cover McCurdys next, which I also just heard of in the past few months. They've been gone for three decades now since The Bon-Ton took over their stores, even though corporate were sold to May Department Stores, which already took over Sibleys, which I know from the old days was replaced by Kaufmanns. McCurdys later owned B. Forman, which was in my area that I vaguely remember and we'll get to next. While one could go to Wikipedia and the like, I'll just put it here the usual way so it's not as complicated. Also on opposite sides of Ontario County, and later Cayuga County across the Finger Lakes and Twin Tiers when they bought Iszards.

Rochester (downtown) - Midtown Plaza, NY 96; flagship; demolished 2018*

Henrietta - Marketplace Mall, NY 252 & 15A; now Dave & Busters and a go-kart track

Greece - Long Ridge Mall (later The Mall at Greece Ridge), NY 104; demolished and replaced with new stores

Irondequoit (1) - Irondequoit Mall (now Skyview at the Ridge)

Irondequoit (2) - Northgate Plaza*

Geneva - Town and Country Plaza, NY 5 & US 20*

Victor - Eastview Mall, NY 96; absorbed by von Maur expansion

Lansing - Pyramid Mall (now The Shops at Ithaca Mall), NY 34; previously J.W. Rhodes; now Cayuga Health centers

Big Flats - Arnot Mall, CR 35; previously Iszards; now vacant

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

*non Bon-Ton

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.

Sibley's

Irondequoit Mall (had to block lamppost to fit logo)

 Sibleys (originally Sibley, Lindsay, & Curr, Co.) were a chain from Monroe County which I remember from early days that had been in CNY until they were sold to Kaufmanns in 1990. The flagship in downtown Rochester is in the National Register of Historic Places (our answer to the National Trust in a way). They had absorbed chains like their successors had too. While I can remember much of the CNY stores, WNY and beyond are a return to the time warp (mostly Wikipedia, making Cliffs Notes look like a bill that has to be passed).

Syracuse

Syracuse (downtown) - Previously RKO Keiths; briefly connected to the Galleries by Skybridge; closed 1989; later deLuxe; now offices and businesses such as CXTec, Redhouse and Tompkins Savings Bank.

Fayetteville - Fayetteville Mall, NY 5 & N Burdick St; later Kaufmanns; closed and demolished in 1993; replaced by Caldor from 1994-96; mall demolished 2001 for Towne Center (Target car park)

Clay - Great Northern Mall, NY 31 & 481; later Kaufmanns and Macys; now Dunk & Bright, while mall will become power center with Micron on the horizon

Buffalo

West Seneca - Seneca Mall, CR 137 & 91; now demolished (property recently sold)

Cheektowaga - Walden Galleria; was only there the first year; later Kaufmanns; now Macys

Amherst - Boulevard Mall, US 62; previously Sattlers; later Kaufmanns; now Macys

Clarence/Harris Hill - Eastern Hills Mall, NY 78; previously Hengerers; later Kaufmanns, Macys and Niagara Emporium; now under development (here we go again!)

Hamburg - McKinley Mall, NY 179; later Kaufmanns and Macys; now closed

AI mall version with fixed logo (based on later one)

Rochester

Victor - Eastview Mall, NY 96; later Kaufmanns; now Macys (Ontario County, but more obvious)

Greece - Greece Town Mall (now The Mall at Greece Ridge), NY 104; later Kaufmanns; now Macys (sadly, only one Upstate set to close) 

Henrietta (1) - Southtown Plaza, NY 252 & 15; now Price Rite?

Henrietta (2) - Marketplace Mall, NY 252 & 15; later Kaufmanns and Macys; now Floor & Décor

Irondequoit - Irondequoit Mall, E Ridge Rd; later Kaufmanns and Macys; now closed (pictured at top)

Webster - Eastway Plaza, NY 404; demolished; now Breuggers Bagels and Chase Bank

Newark - Newark Plaza, NY 31; now Rent-a-Center? (Wayne County)

Rochester (downtown) (1) - Main & St Paul Sts; original store; Granite Building burned down in the Edwardian era (1880-1904)

Rochester (downtown) (2) - NY 96; second flagship; now offices

AI downtown Rochester store (fairly close logo anyway)

Courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc. (fictional store shown)

The Bon-Ton

 

deWitt location with superimposed logo (all I could do)

The Bon-Ton came to CNY in the mid-'90s after acquiring Chappells (see earlier post) and Hess's, and had already opened in the Southern Tier/Twin Tiers (ex-McCurdys/Iszurds) with Hess's being from Lehigh Valley, working its way up the then-PA 9 and I-81. Bonton is another name you'd be surprised to know is still around, even online. The current owners only brought back sister chain Carsons in Illinois, but could revive Bonton proper here. For old stores, it's strictly Upstate, you know, so I don't delve into other states or subsidiaries since the blog is supposed to be about New York. The Boston Store were part of Bon-Ton Holdings, giving them honorable mention since I know they had presence in the Mohawk Valley and Capital Region, even though it was acquired in recent memory, and was actually from Milwaukee County (and you thought Chicago Markets were from the Midwest); now an e-tailer.

Syracuse - Destiny USA*

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20; Fingerlakes Mall (had Chappells)

Camillus - W Genesee St, Camillus Commons* (although only part of former store is available now)

Albany - US 20; Crossgates Mall; former anchor

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

Amherst - NY 78; former Best Buy

Former locations

*

deWitt - NY 5; Shoppingtown Mall; previously Chappells; demolition pending for District East (pictured)

Clay - NY 31; Great Northern Mall; previously Chappells; demolition pending for lifestyle center in the wake of Microns arrival

Watertown - Salmon Run Mall, NY 3 & CR 100; previously Chappells; now vacant

Williamsville - Eastern Hills Mall, NY 78; previously AM&As; now Raymour & Flanigan

Wheatfield - The Summit; previously AM&As; now Niagara International Sports & Entertainment

Lockport - Lockport Mall, NY 78; previously AM&As; now demolished

Cheektowaga - Walden Galleria; previously AM&As; now Dave & Busters (moved from above)

Hamburg - McKinley Mall, NY 179; previously AM&As; TBD

Buffalo - Main Place Mall, NY 5; previously AM&As flagship; now a hotel and apartment complex

Johnson City - Oakdale Commons, NY 201; previously McCurdys; now BJs Wholesale Club

Massena - St Lawrence Centre, NY 37; now St Lawrence Industrial Complex

Big Flats - Arnot Mall, CR 35; previously Iszards and McCurdys

Lansing - The Shops at Ithaca Mall, NY 34; previously JW Rhodes; now Cayuga Health

Victor - Eastview Mall, NY 96; absorbed by von Maur expansion in 2012

Henrietta - Marketplace Mall, NY 252 & 15A; previously McCurdys; now vacant

Greece - The Mall at Greece Ridge Mall, former McCurdys, NY 104 & CR 261; now Burlington?

Irondequoit - Irondequoit Mall, former McCurdys; now Skyview on the Ridge

Utica (downtown) - The Boston Store; Bleecker St; long since vacant (original sign survives)

Niskayuna - The Boston Store; Mohawk Mall, NY 5; later Addis & Deys; now Mohawk Commons

Wilton - Wilton Mall at Saratoga, NY 50; previously Addis & Deys; will become townhouses and luxury apartments

*past location

Chi-Chi's

Chi-Chi's in Luxembourg (which is now closed, with just another in the EU)

 Chi-Chi's was a Tex-Mex restaurant chain I vaguely remember from the old days, and there was one on NY 5 on Syracuses east side, but a Hepatitis outbreak two decades ago ended the chain in this country, while most of the European franchises closed in more recent memory, leaving one in Belgium. The brand was still in the frozen section when sold to Hormel, and they'll licence the name for a revival of the chain. Not sure if this is up to Pati Jinich standards since I can't eat any of this myself, but they hope to regain the publics trust if it's still a fresh memory or they think the name was long gone entirely. Here's where it could go today.

Syracuse - Destiny USA; former Cantina Loredo

Dayton/Springfield/Miami Valley area, OH - former Frischs Big Boy

Latham - US 9; former BurgerFi

Clifton Park - US 9; former BurgerFi

New Hartford - CR 30; former Unos

Watertown - CR 100; former Tilted Kilt

Cortland - NY 13; former JoAnn Fabrics; Riverside Mall

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20; Fingerlakes Mall

Amherst - NY 78; TBD

Rochester; NY 252; TBD

The Yard

Doggy models what you could find at the Yard!

 I first heard of The Yard through the print edition of The Daily Orange. It's run by Andrew Rainbow and Steve Davis out of their house on Madison Avenue east of Syracuse University around the corner from Thornden Park. It's all used goods from mainly the '90s-'00s, but not strictly SU. Vintage shops are big now, and Syracuse has a few. However, The Yard only runs on weekends, but with the weather we have, they must be looking into a permanent store front and more convenient, central location closer to campus and accessible for students and townies alike, especially those of us who can't drive. Shirt Worlds closure last month left a void, even though they sold new merchandise, and there are still local options (the bookstore at Schine was just sold to Barnes & Noble, like the one at leMoyne a decade ago). Champs & Scholars downtown are The Yards closest competitor since they also specialise in second hand clothes, but primarily old school Orange, and they're not the cheapest, mind. Hungry Chucks last location on Marshall Street would have made a great spot when it was available and filled the vacuum in a way, even though the Yard was a rival to Shirt World too, and Chucks are now Dazed, a cannabis shop (not to be confused with donut shop Glazed & Confused if you're thinking of Zeppelin). Even the former Marine Midland Bank/Key Bank on East Adams Street might work since it'd be less red tape than another bank or restaurant. The old Bank of America on Nottingham and Tecumseh Roads past South Campus may be a longshot if right on the hill is not an option, but running it like a car boot sale just doesn't work all year, since out of town/state and overseas students from warmer climates learn the hard way how it works around here (same with townies). 

I have read, as well was told by a staff member at 3fifteens Camillus store (geared mainly towards older shoppers as opposed to the sister store in town) how at the end of each semester how students may leave behind goodies they only needed for the big game at the Dome (fast fashion CNY style). While the Yard may not want anything too new, it opens the door for finding recent purchases for less, since run of the textile mill clothes wind up getting binned, but ours are as desirable as Comfrt or Armani here. At least whatever's in tatters can be recycled now if it's too much a state to be fixed. Champs and Scholars even have a few things that look like my cats had a go at them (they know better) only because it's otherwise rare, and flaws are part of the charm, perhaps, since repairing it would make it look patchy. It's like on these shows about appraising and flipping everyday items for quick cash (that's more for the sister blog, although I don't care for that kind of show myself, or even watch much TV now).

Two nearby churches have started their own charity shops, and could also have some SU lying around, while competing with the Rescue Missions monopoly that dominates this third of Upstate. To think one would look for this many places in other cities. The Yard isn't a thrift store per se, rather a vintage shop also appealing to bargain hunters and collectors. I just hope I can afford to get something there at some point since I barely got a few from the other place over the past several years before they were gone.

A too-good looking and literal AI prompt pop-up SU sale

More of a nicked photo of a new goods sale on campus.

AI photos courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc. May depict actual people or buildings (my inner solicitor is making me tell you). Not to be confused with The Yard pub turned artist hub based in Manlius.