Grand Union: Not Again?

Grand Union on NY 86 in Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains

Retail Regents, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 It's been five years since the merger of Tops and Price Chopper, which had led to several overlapping locations in small towns to be sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers, who revived the Grand Union name, yet this past year, old habits die hard while recent events make it difficult to operate, even in outlying rural communities with little competition since even there, some residents can have a transportation barrier, such as the over-60s, disabled, low-wage earners and others on a limited income. The Owego store was the first of the new generation to close last year, with ALDI opening nearby to boot. Now the stores in Norwich, Cooperstown, and Watertown are next. Chenango County has had no proper public transport for over a years time, so the authorities are scrambling to help those who can't get to the outskirts of town while waiting for new bus service to even occur. Baseball country also has a local place, as does Peru in Champlain Valley, trying to be Davids if the Goliaths are slain, as it were. Jefferson County has more options by comparison, yet between having something close at hand and even finding another union chain, this is happening coast to coast, and with Grand Union, you know how things happen in threes. There have even been some rumors in Cortland on Facebook, and that's the largest and nicest one I've seen of the current chain. The old guard Grand Union had dealt with the economy of that time, mismanagement, debt, administration, embezzlement and liquidation. The Enron of supermarkets! While the new ones are dealing with different challenges, it does make me want to get back to one of the few I can reach because it does worry me and these communities. There isn't much time left now.
    Tops could return to Cortland, Watertown, Rome, Warrensburg, Peru, and Saranac Lake if things take a turn for the worse all over again since these stores either have enough competition or are far enough from a Price Chopper or Market 32 now that it's been long enough since they were told to spin off, yet even the Liverpool one closed with Tops just up the road. As for Grand Union, it'll be hard to find a new chain tied to UFCW or you'll be lucky to get anything at this stage these days. Otsego County could even wind up with ALDI since it's the one place where the two don't compete. The sole non-NY store in Rutland, VT might sell to Albertsons Shaws or Star Market (feel the Bern would make sure).
It's not quite the Grand Union I grew up with, but one closure of any place is one too many. It's sad that it's come to this once more. More as this develops.

Tully's Good Times

Better AI of Fayetteville Tullys

 Tully's Good Times are known for their chicken tenders and sports display, with locations throughout Central and Western New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Some CNY locations were previously the Ground Round (Liverpool and possibly Fairmount), Uno's Pizzeria and Grill (Fayetteville, pictured), and Friendlys (Tullys Tenders in Oswego). The last post led me to take it further with Tullys. While two on the list have been confirmed by the chain as far as them wanting to open them, they're in the same boat as for the rest the way we do things around here. The same family also own CopperTop Tavern, which only have a few locations, while having closed Good Buddy's Pub in Fairmount up W Genesee St from that Tullys, where TJs Big Boy and IHOP used to be and is now Second Chance Diner, which in turn, moved in from Camillus, but more on that another day. In Liverpool, Tullys Tenders have been looking to build on NY 31 between CR 57 and NY 481. Microns construction may prompt that of the truncated version of the chain that is already on NY 104 after going up the previous highway. Originally from Batavia, the chain are now based in East Syracuse, and the east side location is the de facto flagship. Someone on Facebook had brought up one in the Mohawk Valley that is also in the works, akin to the one shown. As for the rest of the region, I'll just have to look around the region for other closed restaurants that can be done up as usual, or even just built from the ground up, if that.

Liverpool (Clay/Bayberry) - NY 31, build from scratch (no pun intended); Tullys Tenders (confirmed)

New Hartford - CR 21, former Unos/Outback Steakhouse?; Orchard Plaza (plans confirmed for new location in that area)

Cortland - NY 281 & 222; former Eckerd/Rite Aid (since another pharmacy is unlikely)

Ithaca - NY 13, 34 & 96; former Burger King (building could be demolished since it's a state)

Oneida - NY 5; former KFC? (could be too small, so may also be replaced by original building site)

Horseheads - CR 35 & 75; Arnot Mall (I don't know Twin Tiers well enough to think of another spot)

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20; Fingerlakes Mall (even Cayuga County is tight on space along that corridor)

Advocates, Incorporated: Dine for Dollars

Fayetteville Tullys AI made from Unos

 Every month, Advocates Incorporated, a non-profit organisation that I've been involved with for the past couple years, partner with a different restaurant in Onondaga County, either a local business or the franchise of a regional or national chain, where if you mention the promotion or show it to them on your phone or tablet, the restaurant will usually match 20% of proceeds that are donated back to Advocates. They've worked with indies like King Davids, Home Run Pub and Stingers Pizza Pub; regional chains like diBellas, Tullys and Friendlys; and national ones such as Panera, IHOP, Red Robin (we've done two locations to get both sides of the county), and Texas Roadhouse (Clay, not deWitt). Tullys only want old school print, so you'd have to do it at home or work if possible, or go to the library or shipping place (I had to around the corner at the last minute after learning the hard way), yet they also do the same for our star players other cause, the local theatre company Front Row Players (last time, they were neck and neck). For me, if something doesn't get on with my stomach or budget, or is located too far for me to get to at that stage, then I just don't need to every month. We're not the Bob Geldof and Midge Ure (Band Aid) of Advocates, of course. We're just two complicated artists trying to find time for a coffee, mind. Do check both NGOs' sites and socials for more information (FRP may only do this once or twice a year, and is otherwise unrelated to the monthly appeal). Is likely just tax deductible for the business, not the customer, yet it would be more relevant coming from a local place (you might know how that goes).

Special thanks Nicholas Courgi.

Caribou Coffee

Older Caribou Coffee in the Twin Cities Region. Courtesy Scott Beale/Laughing Squid.

 As if we need another coffee chain, Caribou Coffee, one chiefly in the Midwest and east coast south of the Beltway (those went to Peets, which I may do another day), was brought up by the floof group, led by another "Cervidae". I likely may have heard of it before in passing, but I'm not sure how, since it's from the Minnesota Capital Region. I could have even seen it in Chicago, where they'd be up against McDonald's McCafé. This is likely the very last post for 2025. Here's where Caribou could "rein" in:

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights Plaza, former Hofmann Hot Haus/Salt City Dogs (demolish building since it's too small and dated to be done up to Caribous standards and start fresh)

Mattydale - US 11 & Malden Rd; former Eckerd/Rite Aid/Walgreens (instead of above)

Oneida - NY 5, former KFC?

Baldwinsville (former Tri-County Mall) - Downer St, former Eckerd/Rite Aid

Cortland - NY 281 & 222, former Eckerd/Rite Aid

Syracuse (east side) - NY 5

Camillus - W Genesee St, former Friendlys/Second Chance Diner

Cicero - US 11 & Caughdenoy Rd, former Eckerd/Rite Aid/Walgreens

Baldwinsville (Moyers Corners) - NY 31 & CR 57, Kimbrook Plaza; former KeyBank?/Walgreens

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20; Fingerlakes Mall

Fulton - NY 3; former Rite Aid/Walgreens

Oswego - NY 104

Hallmark Store in Upstate NY

Hallmark Store in Edmonton, ALB, Prairie Canada

Rowanlovescars, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 It's that time of year again when people buy cards, and Hallmark lead the way. CNY, the Capital Region, Finger Lakes, WNY, Southern Tier, North Country, Hudson and Mohawk Valleys have all had the Hallmark store over the decades, but the stores themselves have been given their cards. Only the one in Destiny USA is left in Syracuse today. Changing consumer needs and the economy has closed what have been mainly franchises. Some I can remember near home anyway, others I have to dig up. The company are based over by Taylor and Travis (send them a card for the wedding), and don't even get me started on those dross TV films, mind! Here's where the cards were sold. Only a few that I know are other things today.

Syracuse (Lyncourt) - Shop City Plaza, was likely in mini-mall; demolished by mid-'90s

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall, The Gift Horse; closed by 2010s

Liverpool - W Taft Rd, Tracys Gift Shop, Wegmans Plaza; now Upstate Nails Spa

Westvale - NY 5, Westvale Plaza; Annies Hallmark Shop; now iSmash

Clay - NY 31 & 481, Great Northern Mall, Matthews Gift Shop; closed by 2010s

Syracuse (downtown) - S Salina St?; closed decades ago

Syracuse (north side) - Destiny USA (formerly Carousel Center), Matthews Gift Shop; closed and replaced by current store down the hall (Christmas Treasures)

Cortland - N Main St; Jodis Hallmark

New Hartford (1) - Genesee St, Tracys Hallmark Shop, New Hartford Shopping Ctr

New Hartford (2) - NY 5 & 5A, Sangertown Square Mall, Matthews Gift Shop

Rome - E Chestnut St; with Hummels Office Plus

Watertown - NY 3, Salmon Run Mall; Matthews Gift Shop

Ithaca - NY 13, 34 & 96; Tracys Gift Shop

Johnson City - NY 201 & Harry L Dr, Oakdale Commons

Kingston - US 9W, Tracys Gift Shop

Rotterdam - Altamont Ave, Tracys Gift Shop

Schenectady - NY 337, Viaport, Matthews Gift Shop

Delmar - NY 443, Delaware Plaza, Hallmark Gold Crown

JoAnn Fabrics: Former Locations in NYS

JoAnn etc store in Connecticut courtesy Mike Mozart

 JoAnn Fabrics closed this past spring, leaving Michaels and Hobby Lobby the last chains of their sort left in the country. AC Moore had previously gone out of business years ago. Michaels did acquire some of JoAnns stores in areas where they did not overlap, which makes sense, and perhaps, Hobby Lobby got some of the others. I'll just focus on the ones in the regions that I know.

Syracuse - Destiny USA (then Carousel Center); now Burlington (closed long before recent events)

Fayetteville - Towne Centre, NY 5 & Towne Dr; now vacant

Clay - Marketfair North, NY 31; now vacant (should become Michaels with Micron coming and not right near existing store)

Cortland - Riverside Mall, NY 13; now Area 51

Vestal - Parkway Plaza, NY 434; now vacant

Big Flats - CR 35 & 75; becoming Burlington in 2026

Ithaca/Lansing - Cayuga Shopping Ctr, N Triphammer Rd

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall; US 20 & NY 5

New Hartford - New Hartford Shopping Ctr, Genesee St

Henrietta - South Town Plaza; NY 252 & 15

Watertown - NY 3

Colonie - Northway Mall, NY 5

Clifton Park - Clifton Park Ctr, NY 146

Kingston - US 9W

Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Plaza, US 9

Middletown - Dunning Rd

Malone - US 11

West Babylon - NY 27A

Commack - Garet Pl

Bohemia - NY 27

Amherst - US 62

Blasdell - NY 179

Williamsville - NY 78

Williams Grocery & Meat Fair: 70 Years On

Near-accurate AI rendering of Williams back in the '90s

 After covering Sweetheart Market, I decided to cover close competitor Williams Grocery & Meat Fair a block or two away. The original store was on the city's north side, yet moved to North Syracuse in 1955 as part of postwar move to the suburbs. By 1986, the store expanded and was the largest indie this part of the state. I don't remember what private labels they carried in those days, which can vary with the mom and pops, since they were in Hometown Markets whenever Sweetheart weren't. There were some farm animal motifs inside that could be found at Stew Leonards today in the Tri-State. They also had a farm stand in Cicero Center that is still open, and even has the parking garage. The bakery section also continues the legacy up the street from the old store back in North Syracuse over at Marios Bakery.
 In 1996, Peters bought Williams, which was not well received by the community. The other place left the co-op as a result, which fell apart several years later. Even worse, the store was replaced by the plaza that's there now. Peters was only there for about a decade before that closed. Williams became the casualty of another indie rather than of a chain, even though P&C opened in the former Channel Home Center in Airport Plaza in 1994 that is Tops today, which gave both standalone stores a run for their money after moving up the road from Mattydale. As for Williams, their road sign was changed and later binned for all we know, being the antithesis of their neighbor. I suppose Chanatrys in Utica has some of the aura of Williams and other family run stores of the old days since they're even older, while there are still a few back in Onondaga County, but it's still happening to this very day how small business is struggling as much now if not more than it did thirty years ago. I only went to Williams once in a great while since I was young myself when it was still open, and didn't live on that side of town. It is still missed by many Central New Yorkers.