Adopt-a-Platoon

Green Hills Market, an indie grocery on the south side of Syracuse, have adopted the Alpha Troop 1st Platoon 1-71 of 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum who are deployed in Afghanistan and need items that are easily found back in the West. I saw a brochure at Imagine That in Skaneateles and was intrigued. I could buy a few things that only cost a few dollars here. I started with Best Buy brand snack crackers (compare to Wheat Thins), but there's a whole plethora to choose from:

Wet Wipes

Hand Sanitizer

Canned Goods

Soup Mix

Sunflower Seeds

Newspapers

Air Fresheners

Stress Relief Balls

Notepads of Paper

Word Puzzles/Crosswords

Vitamins

Tissues

Microwave-safe plates (i.e. Chinet)

Altoids or other mints

Deodorant/anti-perspirant

Jelly beans

Crispy rice treats (pre-made)

Video games for Sony PlayStation

Chewing Gum

Hard Candy

Dominoes

Squeeze Spread

Tinned Sardines

Spices, Salt & Pepper

Microwave Popcorn

Macaroni cheese

Beef Jerky

Batteries

Hot Cocoa

DVDs (NTSC or PAL/SECAM)

Paperbacks

Magazines

Pringles

Razors for Shaving and Cream

Pens

Icy Hot patches

Foot Powder

Eye Drops

Paper Plates/Cups

Little Debbies

Inflatable Seat Cushions

Body Powder

Disposable Cameras

Snack Mixes

Music CDs (also see my other blog)

Nuts

Playing Cards

Cookies

Dice

Pasta and Sauce

Smoked Oysters

Licorice

Ramen Noodles

Cereal Bars

Sewing Kit

Microwave Pasta that doesn't need to be refrigerated (Nutri-System has some)

Disposable Shower Towels

Gatorade or Kool-Aid powder

Powder Laundry Detergent and Color-Safe Bleach (Liquid is a risk en route)

Condiments in Plastic or Single Packs

Cigarettes/Tobacco (used to barter)

Plastic Knives/Forks/Spoons

Air-Activated Heat Wraps for Sore Muscles

Canned Air to Blow Dust out of Electronics

AT&T or other Long Distance Phone Cards

Koozies



What not to send:

Liquor/Beer

Anything in Glass

Pornography

Chocolate (it melts)



You can also donate money for S&H. I doubt this can be written off your taxes due to the open nature of this appeal. Any money left goes to the families or more things.



Donation Centers:

Green Hills Market, Syracuse/Nedrow

Onondaga Free Library, Onondaga Hill

Bob's True Value

Key Bank, NY 173, OH

Purcell's Paints

Imagine That, Skaneateles

Betts Branch Library

Meachem Elementary School

Curves, Green Hills Plaza

Encore Video, Tully

Greeley's Auto

ECK

M&T Bank, Green Hills Plaza



Some items can be mailed to me if you're outside Onondaga County in Upstate NY. Address by request only.

Gananoque, ONT

Sorry for the latest delay, but I haven't had anything new to put up for a while, so this time, I decided to go across the 49th parallel to Gananoque, ONT, Canada, where I'm going to the casino shown above. What gets to me is the limited retail. Should it be like Skaneateles back near me, or should it be more like the suburbs? Gananoque is a suburb of Kingston, ONT, yet it's not like Vancouver or Montréal. Gananoque is a seaside tourist town, which goes into dormancy during the winter like Alexandria Bay a boat ride away.
While Gan has Metro, Shoppers Drug Mart, a flea market, a variety store, McDonalds, BMO, Dairy Queen, and some indie eateries, the town is lacking big box and chain retail such as Walmart, Dollarama, Mr Sub, HBC, Future Shop, HMV, and other retailers typical in larger areas. Another thing lacking is enough public transport. This seems like the kind of place where you have to know how to drive to get to Kingston and Cataraqui. There's a VIA Railway station, or you can take a cab. What do the local over-60s without cars do? The ones on my side of the Great Lakes Seaway are coming into town on a chartered bus and I'm coming with them!
All of Canada deal with the winter when it's there, and there's more happening in the big cities and suburban Québec (skiing and a winter festival) than at the seaside. There must not be enough incentive for development. Maybe it's better that Gan stays small. Maybe the casino is better off small as it doesn't have to be Vegas or Atlantic City. Also, everything's within a 5 kilometre radius. The point I'm trying to make is that I'm on the fence whether Gan is fine the way it is or could use gentrification. Then again, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Possible PriceRite locations

Cromwell, CT store near Hartford.

PriceRite are ShopRite USAs sister chain. This is another one of those smaller markets that mostly carry own brands with a few nationals, all at everyday low prices. They're often in less-affluent neighbourhooods where there isn't a lot of money. While ShopRites are mostly franchises, PriceRites are almost all O&Os except the West coast in the giant LA area. They usually try not to be in the same area to avoid self competition for owner Wakefern (though the NY Capital Region and parts of Connecticut now have both chains). They compete with the big boxes and indies, but more with Aldi or Save-a-Lot to put it that way.
What I'm putting here is a list of towns where PriceRite should open in Upstate and even Downstate NY as well as PA:

Poughkeepsie - former Natures Harvest, US 9
Horseheads - former Aldi
Canandaigua - former Walmart
Syracuse - south side (South Ave; spear-headed by Jubilee Homes) - now open!
Tully - start from scratch despite rival Aldi having a warehouse in town yet not opening a store there
Lancaster - former Save a Lot
North Adams, MA - former Price Chopper if not something else already
Fulton - former kmart on NY 481; split with Planet Fitness
Oswego - former Peebles/Gordmans, NY 104
Cortland (US 11 & NY 41/Homer Ave.) - former Dollar Bazaar
Palatine Bridge - NY 5S; former Ames

Napanoch
Bridgeport - former Victory/Great American on NY 31 & 298
Geneva - former Tops/CherriBundi, NY 14A
Pulaski - former Als Big Corner Market off US 11 and NY 13
Milford, PA - former Grand Union unless taken
Matamoras, PA - same as above
North Syracuse - former Media Play (Northern Lights)

Tops may bring gas stations to CNY

For anyone who follows this blog, sorry I hadn't put anything up in three months' time. There hasn't been anything to report that hasn't already been done. Also, I just have my own life to deal with.
I heard on NBC 3 for a second that Tops Markets may be building their own gas stations in Central New York as part of their comeback campaign. I can't find anything on the TV station, chain's, or any sites about this.
Right now, the closest Tops petrol station to me is at the pre-existing Auburn location. Most of them are around Rochester and Buffalo (see below).
The scheme is one used by many chains and a few indies in the States where you earn points for every certain amount that you spend. Price Chopper and select Sunocos were the first to bring it my way, and I try to get to them when I can. Their programme is the best so far that I know of, where you save 10¢ a gallon for every $50, where most others make you spend $100 like Tops, ex-sister chains BI-LO and Stop & Shop, Giant Eagle, and indie promotional discounters GasBusters.
Back to Tops, I'm not sure which locations will get the gas stations. They have to be right nearby. They can't be on every corner. A lot of digging and council approval is needed for this to happen. Camillus, Baldwinsville, North Syracuse, Fayetteville, Cortland (NY 281), and Seneca Falls are more likely candidates for this. Other CNY communities like Syracuse (Shop City), Westvale (unless the old Pep Boys two doors down gets destroyed), and Watertown, as well as small towns such as Cazenovia, Canastota, Skaneateles, and Pulaski don't really have the room or infrastructure to accommodate the gasbars.
However, you can earn the points at locations or areas that don't have Tops gas yet. I was told by HQ that I could once the new placards were erected. Also, you have to use the BonusCard, not the Wild Card which is still in use at the ex-P&Cs (Quality and Bi-Lo/Riverside are largely converted by now in the Finger Lakes, Western and Central New York, and Pennsylvania). You can bet your last litre of petrol that almost no one east of Skaneaatles realises that GasPoints even exist at Tops.
Because Price Chopper isn't convenient for everyone this half of the state, Tops may be an alternative despite being half as good as the other, but it can still help families save on gas as prices fluctuate over time. Not many majors in the Northeast offer this kind of deal. Keep an eye out in the coming months as this story unfolds.

Current locations:

Alden
Amherst (Transit Road)
Arcade
Auburn
Baldwinsville
Batavia
Bath (309 W Morris St)
Bradford, PA
Buffalo (Sheridan & Delaware, Niagara St., and S. Park Ave.)
Dansville
Depew
Derby
DeWitt
Dunkirk
Elmira (S. Main St.)
Erie, PA (W. 26th St.)
Gates (Rochester subrub; NY 33 off I-490)
Grand Island
Hamburg (S. Park Ave.)
Ithaca (S. Meadow St.)
Jamestown
Lansing
Leroy
Lockport (S. Transit Rd. and Wrights Corners)
Medina
Niagara Falls (2, not Town of Niagara or ONT)
North Syracuse (on the way)
North Tonawanda
Olean
Orchard Park
Rochester
Spencerport
Tonawanada (2)
West Seneca

This section wasn't working on their site when I first wrote this, so I copied the list from the brochure. To save time, just match up the one closest to you on both sites. Restrictions do apply.

Tops name to return to Syracuse and beyond

Looks like the Tops name will replace those of P&C, Quality, and BiLo/Riverside after all, according to the Watertown Daily Times, which reported on three stores in the North Country specifically being spared from giving pink slips to employees and displacing shoppers, which was the case with a dozen stores between four states.
Tops in my area was '86ed in '86 for any given reason, being downsizing, or too much competition. Then C-store division Wilson Farms would be their foothold in most of the 315 area code east and northeast of the Finger Lakes Region for another two decades before they too broke away with the help of Wall Street and Madison Avenue. Tops have come full circle.
Renovations and façade changes may be underway in the coming weeks, along with the obligatory grand opening celebrations. Let's say right now, it's one long soft opening! A hotel in Miami didn't have their grand re-opening until seven months time after changing hands, but that's another story!
I'm still waiting to see if the Wild Card will go the way of the P&C Plus, Peter's Preferred Customer and Grand Union Grand Savings cards. I hope Tops can encourage all the doubting Thomases and Wild Card customers alike to sign up for the Bonuscard. I collect these loyalty cards from around this side of the Mississippi, so I was ready to go.
Most locations still have to pass muster with the FTC ministry, which should be with flying colours. The company have analysed and evaluated all the stores they took on. I think we're ready for the next arc of the transition.
Even though the old names have history as I said before, in recent years, the former Penn Traffic chains have been slated in recent years for not being in league with other supermarkets in many respects. Others may be sad to say goodbye to the old guard. Either way, nobody's perfect, but I think the future looks bright for anyone involved with Tops, be it a consumer or employee.

Commander and Topco brands

Early Commander logos

These were brands sold at P&C, Quality, Big Bear, BiLo/Riverside, Big M, Neighborhood (now selling ShurFine), and Hometown Markets.

Commander Foods/Penn Traffic (all retired by 1994 except + 2008):

Exel
Party Club
Sunny Square
Golden Acres
Country Manor
Bonny Brook
Penny Curtiss (the last one to go)+

Topco:

Mega*
World Classics (later a specialty premium brand)*
Valu-Time*
Full Circle
ShurFine/Western Family
Food Club
Top Crest*
Pet Care (formerly Paws*)
Top Care (sold at Wegmans, Tops, Grand Union, some indies, and Price Chopper!)
Clear Value (at Tops and Price Chopper)
Domestix*

That's Smart

Simply Done
Electrix*
EasyClix*

*retired brands

Hometown Markets

Logo done by me from memory.

Hometown Markets were a co-op of independent supermarkets in Central New York from the mid-'80s and '90s that teamed up against the big boys, even though they were clients of Penn Traffics former wholesale division, which also serviced Big M, Neighborhood Markets, and other indies (much of these now use C&S Wholesale), so they would have many of the same items, including store brands from PT's Commander Foods division until it was replaced by Chicago-based Topco in 1993. Here's a list of all the stores in the group (Hometown name now used by current P&C Fresh as a legal entity):

Peter's - last one to close until Nojaims; sold to P&C in late 2004 (see earlier post)
William's - was once the largest indie in Upstate NY, now lost to the ages (the farm stand survives on NY 31 in Cicero Center, and Marios Italian Bakery up N Main St/Plank Rd/Brewerton Rd in North Syracuse is owned by a longtime former employee), US 11 & W Taft Rd.  Left partnership when close competitor Sweetheart across the road joined.  Williams sold to Peters in 1996.
Arace's - Milton Ave & Hillsdale Rd, Elm Hill Plaza, Camillus.  Later Burnet, previously Snyders.  Now various businesses including 3fifteen.
Sweetheart Market - another North Syracuse landmark; sign survives at Sweetheart Corners; now Rite Aid (CVS/Fays/early Eckerd were next door in old building later on), US 11 & W Taft Rd
Nojaim Bros. - the final survivor; second store in Marcellus to become Stewarts Shops in Spring 2024, NY 174; original Syracuse west side store now Bradys Market
Burnet - previously Big M in Eastwood (later Discount Natural Foods and demolished for Brooklyn Pickle expansion); short-lived in Camillus in former Snyders/Araces.
Smith's - had been in Chittenango, Cazenovia, Fayetteville, Minoa, Manlius, Brewerton and East Syracuse (not to be confused with Kroger-owned chain in Southwest and Mountain West); see later post
Snyder's - formerly in Marcellus and Camillus (lost to obscurity; dug out of newspaper archives)

Thrift stores

Forgot where is this.

A lot of us have seen these if not shopped there. Thrift stores, or charity shops (UK term). In the States, the bulk of them are run by the Salvation Army, and in the UK, Oxfam rule the roost. Goodwill have also cornered the market, but I've only gone in Albany, NY. In my area, the Rescue Mission in Syracuse and Binghamton have Thrifty Shopper. We used to have Volunteers of America in Auburn. Others are indies, run by churches, hospitals, care homes, and non-profit organisations. Some are even for-profit, but I haven't seen any in my state.
One can find clothes, records, videos, electronics, books, toys, furniture, appliances, drinking glasses, costume jewellery, and other odds and ends at rock-bottom prices. You can donate items as well. Most places, you have to have someone look at them first, especially if you want a receipt for an itemised tax write-off (laws may vary by state and country), or if there are restrictions on what's accepted (TVs are a big one because of DTV making older sets obsolete). If something doesn't sell, it could go in the free bin or the dust bin! The revenue after costs and payroll is supposed to help those in need if it's philanthropic. Also, inventory is usually sold as-is and may not be as varied and desirable as when it was brand-new and sold at a conventional retail outlet. With the recession, families are turning to charity shops for everyday items on a budget. The Rescue Mission also has clothing giveaways for the needy.
I think because these op shops aren't about the bottom line, it isn't directly part of the economy, even though because of it, these stores are more relevant than before. Also, those who must squeeze pennies, as well as those who are into vintage fashion, will keep these places around a long time.

Virgin Cola Wanted

For a change of routine, here's a post on a product rather than a chain, saved from VidiNow before they changed hosts:

Those of you in the UK and certain other countries, I could use your help on this. I have been wanting to get diet Virgin Cola (or Virgin Cola Light on some of the continent) for some time now. A couple of e-tailers who specialise in UK goods that can be shipped to the States I've heard about didn't have it and were unable to stock it, yet one of them could have Pepsi and Coke from the UK sent to North America, which isn't that necessary, while Virgin Cola remains the Robbie Williams of soft drinks! Twice, it failed to catch fire in the shops. Even own brands sold more than Virgin! Maybe I'll buy import diet Pepsi or diet Coke in future just to try it (my Canadian friends, I did buy your editions of these when I stopped by, as well as A&W and Diet RC last year!). I'm sure it's made differently than at the bottlers across town from me! There might be a shop in the Southwest US that could help me, but I have to find them first!

It's human nature to want what you cannot have, innit? If I could just give this a go at least once, I'll be satisfied. If I win the lottery, I could go on holiday in the UK and then I could pick it up along with house brands at Tesco or ASDA!

So if your country has Virgin Cola, and you're willing to post it, do send me a message, and we'll work something out, won't we? I'll pay, of course, but we'd have to figure out the currency conversion, P&H, and if it'll manoeuvre through Customs (it can be checked off as 'gift' because I couldn't sell it anyway if I wanted to). A one or two litre bottle would suffice. Cans might be too heavy or harder to ship.

To think I'd go out of my way for soda! This is no mere soda!

P&C, Quality, and BiLo/Riverside: Here to stay

According to Store Front, it looks like the former Penn Traffic brands aren't going the way of Peter's, William's, and Price Chopper New Zealand. It appears that P&C, Quality, and BiLo/Riverside will remain in use for the time being. Also, the Wild Card loyalty programme will also continue to be accepted at these stores. However, Tops' own Bonuscard (still used by current Ahold US stores) might not be taken at all of the newbies (the Skaneateles store took my Bonuscard, but I used my Wild Card at the Skytop store the next day), as it uses a different algorithm, and is not interchangeable with the Wild Card. Not everyone thinks to have both, even if they were in the same area beforehand (such as Bath, Buffalo, and Erie). Even three BiLos in Pennsylvania that now are called Tops yet remain on the BiLo site still use the Wild Card and the same ad as the other new stores (see earlier post). However, it is still early days and the stores are still being evaluated and more announcements are being made as they come.
P&C, Quality, and BiLo/Riverside each have a long history in their respective areas, and it'd be hard to shut the door on it all. These have all changed hands in the past, especially P&C, but it's a different world now. Increasing competition from world-class Wegmans and un-union Walmart, as well as the economy have changed the rules. We'll have to see how this will pan out in the long term. I can accept having the different names as conglomerates Safeway, A&P, and Kroger, who have larger market spans, have it this way as well.

Former Peter's locations

I took this myself and made it as close as possible from memory.

No free online photo exists of the Skytop Peter's as that, so I had to make do.

My one-time employer Peter's Groceries were a fixture in my area from 1944 until late 2004. After three generations and administration, they became another statistic of a local business being lost to the ages. Here's where they used to be:

501 Midland Ave., Syracuse south side (original store)
Skytop Plaza, Syracuse (pictured, flagship now a Tops)
Shop City Plaza, Syracuse (formerly Green Hills, co-existed in plaza with Grand Union? and was bought out by P&C, and now Tops as well)
5399 N. Burdick Street, Fayetteville (now a Kohls)
NY 5 & 92, Lyndon (deWitt/Fayetteville)
500 Butternut Square, Syracuse north side (previously Chicago Markets; now a Save-a-Lot)
US 11, North Syracuse (previously Williams, later Maines; now Planet Fitness, Thrifty Shopper and Corsos Cookies)

US 11, Syracuse (north side), now cornershop

N Salina St; later Barbieris Diner, now vacant (moved from up the street years earlier)

NY 290 (Eastwood) - Previously Loblaws, later Foodland, Carls Drugs, Fays Drugs, Eckerd and Rite Aid; now Family Dollar.

Bridge St, East Syracuse/deWitt; Westons Plaza, around where Home Depot and Dunn Tire are now

Peter's had been part of the Hometown Markets partnership (in a later post). Many longtime employees stayed on through different vintages and changing of hands. Personally, I was better at shopping there than working there, to cut a long story short. The pressure was on, and the Peter family were petered out! Still many older townies remember it, especially as an IGA franchise! Still, it's good to remember a simpler time!  The liquor stores at Skytop and North Syracuse remain in business.

Shop local

Books and Melodies in Eastwood, Syracuse

In Syracuse and Albany, there are grassroots campaigns to urge people to shop locally, by going to small, indie business 100% owned and operated in their respective regions. 68% of the money spent stays in the local community, while the rest may go to an out-of-town company and the taxman. Still, you're helping your neighbours by shopping close to home. The alternative weeklies in these Upstate hubs (New Times and Metroland) also have annual polls on the best of each category of local businesses.
Locally-owned franchises of multi-national chains such as McDonald's for starters don't technically count since the big boys will still get the lion's share. The point of this movement is to avoid the Walmarts and KFCs of the world whenever possible. A local business is supposed to be the antithesis of the big box conglomos.
I'm not sure if there are similar trends in the rest of Upstate (especially areas comprised mainly of small towns like the Mohawk and Hudson Valleys on the Thruway corridor), but there ought to be. The economy needs help big time, and it starts in our own backyards.
Buying local products is a plus, but that might not always be practical. Some things can't be made or grown in the Northeast US, like orange juice or shea butter.
Another downside to it all is that prices might be higher at a local place than a national chain, as the little guy probably can't afford to sell for less, and can't always compete in a David and Goliath situation.
It's good to have selection, but if you can get it local, it will pay for itself at the end of the day.

Local grocers in CNY

Thank the Lord I got this as you never think it could be gone one day.

A recently bygone era.

I will start a post on buying local overall shortly. First, I will start in one of my main areas of expertise, the grocery industry.
While the P&C name stuck around through the summer (click the link for its current incarnation), similar situations have occurred with other companies, new guard Tops is a Western NY institution, ending a tradition in Central NY going back decades. There also used to be a co-op called Hometown Markets (see other post), whose partners were Peters (an IGA in early days), Smiths, Burnet, Araces, Williams, Sweetheart, and Nojaim Bros. Most of these have closed, with Williams in 1996, Sweetheart in 2003, and Peters over a year later. Sole survivors Nojaims in Marcellus and Syracuses west side, along with Liverpools Nichols (also an ex-IGA) and Fultons Strupplers are now ShurFine affiliates. Health-conscious hipsters have the Syracuse Real Food Coop (or as I call it, the hippie store!). Also see my earlier post on Big M. In Utica, Chanatrys on French Road remains highly involved in the community. Byrne Dairy holds their own. However, I'm not fond of those inner-city cornershops, as they have a tepid reputation (from a retail point of view). You know what I mean! They're a different animal anyway.
Green Hills near Nedrow had once been named the biggest little grocery store in America. So thats supposed to make it the Reno of supermarkets? I should stop there more often!
On Syracuses upper south side, Jubilee Homes will set up a small supermarket on South Ave. This is a part of town where there isn't a lot of money and many people don't have a car, much like me. The bus isn't always feasible for bringing a lot of groceries home, especially for families with small children as well as the over-60s, so to have something nearby with healthy choices is very essential. As far as I know, this will be 100% indie, and not an IGA or Big M franchise. The store may have the Jubilee name, but it is not related to a store in Chemung County in the Twin Tiers area.
While Price Chopper, Wegmans, Tops, and Walmart have marginalised the market, there will always be a niche for local selection in the Syracuse area.

Big M Supermarkets

Glad I took this when I had the chance as it's a Tops now.

There is now an official site for Big M, a regional chain of franchised grocery stores that are chiefly in small towns and suburbs. I went to a few of these back in my day, yet not as much in recent history. The company were essentially purchased from Penn Traffic by C&S Wholesale Grocers. They used to be a stepsister to P&C in a way. They would have similar inventory. Big M were stepsister to Grand Union (mainly O&Os but also in Charles Kuralt-friendly communities) and Best Yet Markets (NYC/Long Island franchise since sold to Lidl except one store downstate).
I used to have a fan site, but the host shut down and I can't even archive it, so I had to start from scratch. I was not in the position to start a full-fledged site, so I think this was close enough before Big M made their own at last!  Some franchises are on Facebook like Alex Bay.
Big M are the largest chain of independent supermarkets in the state. All are locally owned and operated in their respective towns and some if not all are even union.  They charge fees according to one would-be store.
The ad still showed Topco private labels Food Club and Paws. Since Big M have been under C&S control the past few years, it looked like they may continue to carry these brands and the only places to get them in these parts now that Tops had moved their own brands into the former Penn Traffic chains (Tops used to have Ahold USA brands).  Big M now carry Best Yet which I got into more in another article.

Current locations:

North Region:

Alexandria Bay
Oswego (NY 48)
Plattsburgh (Yandos)
Speculator (NY 8)

Southern Region:

Deposit
Osceola, PA (Tioga) - last surviving non-PA store
Ovid
Walton
Windsor

Central Region:

deRuyter (NY 13) - previously Great American
Dolgeville
Seneca Knolls (NY 48; was Shurfine for a period; now the last Big M in Onondaga County and the flagship as office is about a mile away in van Buren)
Sherburne (NY 12)

Western Region:

Bloomfield
Gates (Rochester suburb)
Caledonia

Former locations:

Adams***

Andover++

Auburn (honorable mention; Maxwells had Big M signs inside and sold Best Yet items, which may mean they used C&S; now closed)
Canisteo++
Eagle Bay++
Baldwinsville (NY 48, Smokey Hollow; previously Smiths Hometown Market; now vacant)
Syracuse (Burnet Ave.; also a Hometown Market and later Discount Natural Foods; building is now gone and a car park is there for Brooklyn Pickle)
Boonville (NY 12)***
Brockport++
Morrisville (off US 20)
Clayton (now a Shurfine)
Clifton Springs
Geneva (now Byrne Dairy)
Elbridge**+ (pictured)
Jordan**+ (later Tops; now Family Dollar)
Hamilton*? (off NY 12B)
Hallstead, PA - US 11 (also BiLo and Acme; now Robs ShurSave)
Lyons (now Tops)
Hilton (Rochester exurb. Now Tops; also was Furnals Fresh Market, a ShurFine affiliate, as well as an ex-IGA franchise)*
Oriskany Falls++
New Berlin (NY 80)++
Whitney Point (NY 79)*
Hannibal (NY 3; later IGA and became Tops in 2016)
Ilion (NY 5S)++
Little Falls (closed but became Price Chopper in April 2014)

Malone++
Mexico (NY 104)**
Mohawk (NY 5)++
Morris++
Montour Falls++
Hammondsport++

Norwood++
Old Forge (NY 28) - also now an IGA
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA area (small town TBD)
Philadelphia, NY
Potsdam (NY 11B) - went back to IGA
Pulaski (almost became Big M, but owner couldn't afford their fees, so he also went to Shurfine instead, but is now closed)
Sandy Creek***
Watertown (US 11) previously P&C and Tops; now Piggly Wiggly
Warsaw***
Weedsport (now ShurFine)*

Westfield, PA++
Wolcott++
St Johnsville++
Spencer++
Spencerport++

Endicott - Schusters; Country Club Rd; now Superior 24/7 Fitness

Oswego - Boscos Midstate; now indie
Weedsport (NY 31 & 34)*
Syracuse (Fifields/Roys/Westcott, Westcott St.; now a non-profit organisation)
Syracuse (NY 298/Court St.; previously Victory Market; now Diamond Market)*
Syracuse (E. Colvin St. near SU; now Ramzi Market [cornershop])

Syracuse (US 11, south side, later Factory Direct Furniture Outlet; now DG Market)
East Syracuse (NY 290, ex-Leo & Sons; now a Thrifty Shopper)
Union Springs (NY 90)*
Fulton (Mirabitos Midstate on Cayuga St., former sister to later Hannibal store)*
Fulton (Strupplers on NY 48; later a Shurfine store and Valero station, then brought Tops back to town after a decade away, which closed in 2018 due to bankruptcy and is now River View Pediatrics)
Fort Plain (NY 10) - was Grand Union and Great American before it was Big M and is now a Save-a-Lot
Syracuse (Previously Leahs Market on Onondaga Hill, but Big M sign was no longer on building. Formerly Abbotts before that. Later Hill Top Market, another ShurFine affiliate; then Big O Deli, now Family Dollar.)*
Syracuse (US 11/Wolf St on north side, later Wilson Farms, then Dullys and Dollar Tree; now vacant)

Other towns TBD.

All are closed or unknown to me unless indicated. Subject to change. *Now 100% indie. **Formerly Farrugia family-owned but has become Tops.  ***Became Tops in June 2013.  ++TBD (off official site)

Identity crisis

Not the one I grew up with!

Chain or company names used by one or more different companies:

Price Chopper (chains in Upstate New York [many already or becoming Market 32], Iowa, Kansas and Missouri [pictured], franchise in world-famous Branson, MO; previously in Ontario*, formerly in Oregon, and late Woolworths division in New Zealand*, as well as wristbands!)
Wegmans (chain and obscure small dairy store in Marcellus)
Market Basket (US south, early CNY, and New England chain)
Mr Sub (Canada*, Lowville and Mr Subb in Albany area)
Rite Aid (US chemist giant and Australian* brand)
Tops (used in New York, Connecticut, Thailand [offshoot of NY chain], Washington State, Michigan, and northern California), as well as a now-closed small chain of Chinese buffets in Virginia to boot!
BJs (Brewhouse and Wholesale Club)
Hersheys (Creamery and Chocolate, both based in Pennsylvania Capital Region)
Big Bear (used to be in Ohio; unrelated businesses in Georgia and the Carolinas)
Woolworths (original US icon, UK*, Mexican, and German spinoffs, Oceania*, and South Africa*)
Bi-Lo (Pennsylvania, Australia*, Idaho and South Carolina)
Peppinos Pizza (Syracuse, Niagara Falls, South Carolina, Brooklyn, three in Colorado, California, Michigan, the UK* and Northern Ireland, three in Pennsylvania, three in Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Long Island, the Bronx, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rosendale, Duanesburg [Albany exurb], Callicoon, Australia*, Germany, Canada*, South Africa* [just the ovens], etc.!) - Has to be the most common occurrence!
Rays Pizza (similar to above; mainly NYC tri-state area)
Smiths (former local Syracuse chain/IGA franchise and Kroger division)
P&C (confused with Price Chopper [NY] sometimes!)

Nichols (Liverpool indie [ex-IGA], Voorheesville Stop & Shop and Watertown department store)
Quality (former P&C sister; Delta, UT; Thunder Bay, ONT [closed]*; Powell River, BC [Quality Foods]*; and Krogers QFC)
Big M (NY/PA franchise chain, Canadian* drug store in Calgary, ALB; Australian* flavoured milk, clothing company in New Jersey, Albany truck stop, and obscure indie store out West)
Grand Union (used for the chain and a few other things including a book, Croatian store and hotel with chains former logo)
Acme (brand used in cartoons, indie in New Hartford, PA and OH chains)
Lowes (DIY, mid-Atlantic and southwest)
Food Lion (east coast) and Lion (west coast).
Nojaim (two former CNY ShurFine affiliates and former cornershop in Eastwood)
Target (US, once in Canada* and US chain formerly operating there and name licenced in Australia*)
Kmart (US and former Australian* arm)
Dominicks (Safeways defunct Chicago-area branch and Syracuse Neighbourhood Market)
ShopRite (The States, formerly in Canada*, South Africa*, the Isle of Man*, and Australia*)

PriceRite (NJ chain and Price Rite Central Markets [used in early adverts for NY Price Choppers predecessor])

Green Hills (Syracuse and St Joseph, MO)

Central Markets (NY and TX)
Stop & Shop (cornershops, New England and Ohio)
Shop 'n Save (Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Maine)

Food 4 Less (chain and cornershop)
Martins (Pennsylvania/Virginia and Indiana) - sister to Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle, but use other name because of the following
Giant (Giant Eagle, Allegheny County, sister stores in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and Broome County chain bought out by Weis). Food Giant also used in the UK*, Missouri, San Diego, Miami, Columbus, MS, and Birmingham, AL.

*Commonwealth realm or republic.

And some people think I sell flooring!

Former P&C locations

Logo I drew myself, mistakenly thought by some to be the real thing!

These are former locations of P&C that had already closed years ago or recently, mainly in CNY. All NYS and/or vacant unless indicated:

Fulton (NY 481) - now CCC North, River Glen Plaza
Clyde (NY 414) - had last surviving early sign; now a  Save-a-Lot
Bath - now a Save-a-Lot as well
Tyrone, PA (4/24) - former BiLo
Johnstown, PA (BiLo) - now a Valu King
Rome (NY 26) - Now a Dollar General
Rome (NY 46/Black River Blvd) - now a Price Chopper/Market 32
Rome (Freedom Plaza) (NY 46 & 49/Erie Blvd W) - later Tops, then P&C again, and back to Tops; now Grand Union
Pulaski - now a Tractor Supply, NY 13
Ogdensburg (4/20) - also a Save-a-Lot
Philipsburg, PA (BiLo)
Syracuse (Burnet Ave.) - Open 1986-2004; demolished for Bill Rapp Nissan*
Syracuse (Shop City) - Left in '80s, replaced Peter's in late 2004
Mattydale (US 11) - open 1986-94; now Big Lots*
Mattydale - Penny Curtiss bakery division
Auburn (NY 5/Grant Ave.) - demolished for Walgreens
Auburn (Genesee St.) - now CubeSmart
Oswego (NY 104)**
Syracuse (Eastwood) (NY 290) - Later Arc; also demolished for Walgreens; previously A&P
Fairmount - later Bed Bath and Beyond, now Old Navy
Utica - later Tops and now Hannaford (it's a small town, so I know)
Schenectady - left in late '90s
Hanover, NH
Lincoln, NH
Attica (Quality)
Jamestown (Quality)
Canton**
Gouverneur** (US 11)
Massena** (NY 37)
Peterborough, NH (was also A&P who are completely gone)
West Carthage**
Newark
Seneca Falls* (NY 5 & US 20)
Elmira Heights
Geneva  (NY 5 & US 20) - Tops were already in town, but both are no more
Batavia - closed decades ago
East Syracuse (NY 290) - later Big M (former stepsister), now Thrifty Shopper (info based on picture of familiar marina-style building typical in postwar era)
Gang Mills
Watkins Glen (NY 414)
Muncy, PA - BiLo turned Big Lots
Hornell
Bradford, VT - now a Hannaford, may have been a Grand Union before P&C
Lakewood, NY (Quality)
White River Jct., VT - far outside usual Tops market region; previously a Grand Union
Erie, PA (Quality) - overlaps with existing Tops
Ithaca (Hancock St.) - same reason, although Pine Tree Road one survives to this day
Cortland, NY (US 11/NY 41) - overlapped with existing Tops (now Grand Union) on NY 281 & 222 in Cortlandville; also formerly Grand Union; now Dollar General (Riverside Plaza one lives on)
Clarion, PA (BiLo)
Blairsville, PA (BiLo)
Cicero - now an Ollie's Bargain Outlet
Judd Falls
Syracuse (Tipperary Hill) - Later a bingo hall, now a Jehovahs Witness Kingdom Hall
Watertown - US 11, later Tops; now Piggly Wiggly (South Watertown) and Grand Union (Pamelia)
Syracuse (Valley Plaza) - later a Tops, now vacant.  Previously A&P. US 11.
Waterbury, VT
Natrona Heights, PA (BiLo)
Lebanon, NH - now Price Chopper
Hollidaysburg, PA (BiLo)
Colchester, VT
Rutland, VT - previously Grand Union and now Hannaford
Martinsburg, WV - left state years ago, as did sister stores BiLo and Big Bear
State College, PA - long gone from Centre County
Carthage (NY 26) - now Price Chopper
Macedon (NY 31)
Canandaigua (NY 5/US 20)
Herkimer (NY 28) - now Hannaford
Horseheads (NY 14)
Oneida (NY 46) - demolished by flood
Painted Post (NY 17C)
Plattsburgh
Potsdam** (NY 56)
Southport
Randolph, VT
Towanda, PA
Trumansburg (NY 89)
New Hartford (NY 5A) - now Hannaford
Little Falls (NY 28)- now Hannaford
duBois, PA (BiLo)***
Brookville, PA (BiLo)***
St Marys, PA (BiLo)***
Titusville, PA (Quality)***
Dunkirk (Quality)
Woodstock, VT - also was a Grand Union, then a Mac's Markets

Other towns TBD. Some of this was from a Google search, some from press, and some from memory. Many P&C locations that remained have just become Tops, from the North Country, Central Leatherstocking Region, southeast Finger Lakes, then Twin Tiers, and all the way back to Central New York.

*Previously Tops
**now Price Chopper
***now Giant Eagle

Grand Union - Past and Present

Glenmont, NY store

This list of former Grand Union locations was on Wikipedia, but it had to be removed, so I put it here where it would be better.  Not a complete list due to the nature of the business (some of this comes from additional contributors who are unknown but covered under Creative Commons).

Locations

New York

Now Tops:

Corinth, Bolton Landing, Elizabethtown, North Creek, Au Sable Forks, Schroon Lake, Northville, Chestertown, Greenville (ex-Bryant's), Hancock, Stamford, Hoosick Falls, West Coxsackie, and Tannersville (all small towns mainly in or near the Adirondacks or Catskills).

Other former GU stores:

Albany (NY 5/Central Ave ACROSS from Westgate) - later was a Toys for Joy, now is a Hannaford

Albany (NY 5/Central Ave IN Westgate) - A former Albany Public turned Scot's Lo Cost (Same company)- turned into GU when merged then torn down during renovations a few years back - sat in the "corner" of the plaza.  Later had Price Chopper International (closed in 2024 when Market 32 took over ShopRite down the street, so current GU could get Westgate vacancy).

Albany (NY 5/Central Ave just ABOVE Westgate same side) - This was a former Caldor/Price Chopper plaza - the Caldor was torn down and a MEGA SAVE store was built (identical to the one in Poughkeepsie that never opened) - this was open 6 MONTHS then closed during bankruptcy. In fact, at one point, a "Grand Opening" sign and a "Store Closing" sign were seen on the store at the same time. The whole plaza was torn down and a Home Depot is now there.

Albany - NY 5, Grand Way

Amsterdam - now True Value Hardware

Astoria - was no longer in greater Tri-State area

Auburn - NY 38A?

Ausable Forks - NY 9N; became Tops in 2001; returned to Grand Union in 2006 and Tops by 2013

Ballston Spa - NY 50, now Ocean State Job Lot

Beacon - Now Key Food

The Bellmores - GU was no longer on Long Island

Bolton Landing - NY 9N; became Tops in 2001; returned to Grand Union in 2006 and Tops once more in 2013 (I have a photo my sister took for me on hols)

Bronx - 164th St and Ogden Ave; disappeared

Brooklyn - may now be ShopRite (possibly the one off the F tube), others TBD

Burnt Hills - now Dollar General

Brunswick - closed and became a Salvation Army Family Store, now closed.

Binghamton - closed; now Auction Centre?  Another now a church?

Cambridge - NY 22, closed 2002; now Dollar General (small part vacant for lease)

Carmel - became Key Food in 2001; now NYSC (fitness chain)

Cazenovia - originally Cazenovia House, then Harris Foodliner (IGA?); later Smiths; now Kinney Pharmacy; US 20 & NY 13

Centereach - later King Kullen, now Big Lots

Champlain - became Tops; closed in 2005; currently Ace Hardware

Chatham - now Price Chopper

Chappaqua - stayed open till 2006; now a Dagastino's

Chenango - now a Weis

Chestertown - US 9; became Tops in 2001; returned to Grand Union in 2006 and back to Tops again in 2013

Clayton - US 12; later Big M

Clifton Park - now a Kohls; store HQ later in town under C&S but there were no more Saratoga County stores by 2004

Clinton - was around in '50s; long gone

Cohoes - closed generations ago

Cold Spring - caught on fire in 2002; rebuilt as Foodtown

College Point - TBD; also see below

Commack - TBD; GU was no longer on Long Island by 2000s

Corinth - NY 9N; became Tops in 2001; returned to Grand Union in 2006 and Tops again in 2013.

Cornwall - Became Key Food in 2001

Cortland - US 11 & NY 41; became P&C in early '90s; now Dollar General (new Grand Union in former Tops opened 2022)

Crown Point - NY 22; long gone

Deer Park - now Stop & Shop

Delmar (NY 443) - now Hannaford

Dobbs Ferry - now a Stop & Shop

East Greenbush (US 4)- Torn down when Walmart expanded to super store, where part of parking lot/driveway is now.

East Greenbush (US 9 & 20) - Another former Albany Public Markets (sold to Weis in 1967), was Grand Union for just a short time, then Big Al's discount, later Fays and then Eckerd before closing in 2010 after the Rite Aid buyout (as there is a Rite Aid just across street) - now vacant.

Elizabethtown - US 9; became Tops in 2001, returned to Grand Union in 2006 and Tops in 2013

Elmira - closed in the early or mid 1980s. Was an independent hardware store for several years as of the early 2000s.

Endicott - A&P prior to becoming Grand Union in mid-1980s. Closed and vacant for 3 years. Demolished in 2001, now undeveloped land in Endicott kmart Plaza

Endwell - NY 26?; closed and vacant for 2.5 years. Demolished, rebuilt as Giant Markets (now Weis)

Endwell - 3100 Watson Blvd; later a carpet and now Byrne Dairy

Flushing - Main St/NY 25A and Union Tpke; GU was no longer in the New York City boroughs; now Key Food

Forest Hills - became Met Foods, now Walgreens

Fort Edward - closed in 2003; later caught fire.  Market 32 opened at the site.

Fort Plain - NY 80; Previously Great American; later Big M (semi-stepsister chain); now a Save-a-Lot

Freeport - became a Compare Foods Supermarket and is now a CVS/pharmacy

Fultonville - closed by time chain was sold; current status TBD

Garden City - 7th St. Location - later Pathmark, today TBD

Garden City - Roosevelt Field Shopping Centre - later Herman's Sporting Goods

Geneva - NY 14; Later Area Records and Music, now Perfectly Unique Gifts and Home

Glenville - now demolished

Glenmont - US 9W and Fuera Bush Road; now a Marshalls (old store pictured in 2004)

Gloversville - TBD

Goshen - NY 17C; now a CVS/pharmacy

Greenville - NY 32; later Bryants Country Square, but also now a Tops

Greenwich - became Eagle Bridge Furniture in 2002; now a butcher shop? (not Greenwich Village in NYC)

Greenwood Lake - now a CVS/pharmacy and post office, off NY 17A

Guilderland - US 20; now Price Chopper/Market 32

Hamilton - NY 12B; later Tops, later Grand Union again and Fashion Kraze; now Parrys general store (last CNY store at time of 2012 sale until return while Price Chopper opened up the street)

Hancock - NY 17 & 97; Still Open as Tops

Hicksville - Became Scatturo's; later Best Market (formerly one-time stepsister store to GU under C&S Best Yet Market); now Lidl USA.

Highland - US 9W; became Hannaford

Hoosick Falls - NY 22; still open as Tops

Hopewell Junction - NY 376; now ACME?

Hudson Falls - closed in 2001; TBD

Hudson - on US 9/Union Street, closed many years ago, has housed offices since and still does

Hunter - NY 23A; TBD

Hyde Park - US 9; Closed in 2004; later an Amish Market, now Dutchess County Board of Elections

Ithaca - NY 13/34/79/89/96?; lost to obscurity, even for a small uni town (only had a mere tip on Facebook, but rumored to buy closing Tops on S Meadow St)

Jay - NY 9N; closed

Keeseville - was Tops in 2001-03, Save-a-Lot 2004-06, and Bourgeois IGA until later, but may become a Macs Markets or Shaws after that.

Kingsbury - demolished in 2005; now Hannaford

Kingston - There were two. One near uptown Kingston and one just outside of the city in the town of Ulster on US 9W. The Ulster location is Hannaford, but the uptown site is now vacant.

Lake Placid - became Tops in 2001; closed 2005

Latham - NY 2, 7 & 9 in the Latham Circle mall as an outparcel, later Gold's Gym, torn down when Lowes was built

Latham (NY 2 between Latham & Watervliet) - now houses a church

Larchmont - no longer a Grand Union by the time chain folded

Long Lake - NY 30; now Northern Borne

Loudonville - US 9; now Price Chopper/Market 32

Little Neck - now Stop & Shop

Mahopac - now a Key Food Marketplace

Malta - now Price Chopper/Market 32

Manhattan - TBD

Massapequa - later a Pathmark; now TBD

Mattydale - US 11; later Tops and P&C, now Big Lots

Mechanicville - No longer a Grand Union when they became defunct; more info TBD

Menands - NY 32/Broadway. Originally an Albany Public Market (later owned by Weis), now the space is used as an operations center for Bank of America.

Middleburgh - NY 30; closed in 2012 after flooding; later Shop with No Name; now vacant

Millbrook - NY 44; now Foodtown?

Millerton - NY 44; now Foodtown

Monroe - now a Super Stop & Shop

Monsey/Wesley Hills - became Wesley Kosher Supermarket

Mount Ivy - long gone!

Mount Kisco - became Stop & Shop; closed in 2007; now a CVS

New Hartford - former NY 5/8/12; formerly in New Hartford Shopping Centre; may have been a Save-A-Lot later, yet Tuesday Morning moved in there since

Niskayuna - now multi-purpose space, including medical offices

Niskayuna (NY 146/Nott St.) -later ShopRite until November 2023; now Market 32

North Bellmore - Took over the former ShopRite, which was The Big Apple supermarket now Super Stop & Shop

North Creek - became Tops in 2001; returned to Grand Union in 2006 and Tops in 2013

North Syracuse - North Plaza, US 11; now has Dollar General and other businesses

North Syracuse - Airport Plaza, US 11; closed in 1966; later Channel Home Center; became P&C in 1994 and Tops in 2010.

Northport - became a Key Food Marketplace; now closed

Northville - now Tops

Nyack - original store closed ages ago. Latter-day store was later Stop & Shop and is now Met Fresh.

Palantine Bridge - Was no longer a Grand Union

Peru - NY 22; became Tops in 2001; returned to Grand Union in 2006 and Tops again in 2013, reverting to GU in 2022.  Original store was in village well before this.

Plainview - was no longer on Long Island

Plattsburgh - one now Yandos Big M, another now a TJ Maxx (2 other stores TBD)

Pleasantville - now a Key Food Marketplace

Pomona/Mt Ivy - became Stop & Shop

Port Henry - became Tops in 2001; now Mac's Markets

Port Jefferson Station - became Giunta's Meat Farms

Poughkeepsie (city) - closed in 1991; later Davis Furniture, then a Latin American market.  Now Market Fresh.

Poughkeepsie (town) - constructed to become a Mega Save Grand Union in 2000, but was never finished because of the bankruptcy and never opened; it is still vacant, US 9

Queensbury - later Toys "R" Us, now closed, US 9

Ramapo - closed a generation ago

Red Hook - likely US 9; long gone

Remsen - TBD

Rhinebeck - US 9; original store vacant for a period and is now an urgent care; Stop & Shop built next door and then became ex-sister store Tops

Rome - NY 46 & 49; later Tops, then P&C, Tops again, and Grand Union once again

Rotterdam - now Superior Office Products

Rouses Point - closed in 2000; became Save-A-Lot in 2002; currently a Dollar General

Saranac Lake - there were two Grand Unions operating. Both became Tops in 2001, then returned to Grand Union in 2006 and back to Tops in 2013, then GU again in 2022 (NY 3 location).  Other location TBD.

Saratoga Springs (Congress Ave.) - became Off Broadway Theatre & Grill; now an Embassy Suites

Saratoga Springs (West Ave. & NY 29) - now an Empire State College outreach centre

Saugerties- NY 32 & 212; closed years ago, now vacant

Sayville - CR 85; now Stop and Shop

Schenectady (NY 5/State St.) - later Aldi, now vacant.  Other Schenectady County stores TBD.

Schodack - Built as Grand Union in 1977, closed during last bankruptcy and remained vacant, opened as Tractor Supply in 2007.

Schroon Lake - US 9; became Tops in 2001; returned to Grand Union in 2006 and full circle to Tops in 2013.

Scotia - NY 50; later CVS/pharmacy; now Kings Dance Academy

Sidney - NY 7; became Tops in 2001; now a Price Chopper

Sidney (2) - now vacant

South Glens Falls - US 9 & NY 32; now Hannaford

Spring Valley/Hillcrest - later Bravo, now KeyFood

Smithtown - NY 25, 25A & 111; later a Waldbaums, now closed

Stamford - NY 23; now Tops

Stony Point - ("old Grand Union") became CVS/pharmacy (stores were open simultaneously; 1st Stony Point store retained '60s façade)

Stony Point - ("new Grand Union") became Stop & Shop which is now closed. (this store was remodelled to red dot format)

Suffern - see Tallman

Syracuse area - left by early '80s; perhaps earlier or later (may need more research); included Westvale (NY 5), Shoppingtown (NY 5, deWitt; demolished in 1975), Shop City (later with P&C, Peters, Green Hills and Tops); NY 290, Eastwood, downtown, north, west and south sides (including three on US 11) (all long gone), and Northern Lights (US 11, North Syracuse; various changes)

Tallman - NY 59; became ShopRite, now vacant

Tannersville - NY 23A; now Tops

Tarrytown - US 9; now a Walgreens

Ticonderoga - NY 9N & 22; became Tops in 2001; closed 2005

Troy - no longer had a Grand Union a decade ago.  Hoosick Falls was last Renssalaer County store.

Tupper Lake - NY 3 & 30; possibly closed by '70s

Utica - former NY 5/8/12; left in the '90s, now a Market 32 (formerly King Cole Shopping Plaza)

Vail Mills - NY 30; now Adirondack Wildlife Museum

Valatie - US 9, closed in 2007; now an Ocean State Job Lot

Vestal (Four Corners) - Was the IBM Endicott IDEAS Department before the building was split in half, with IDEAS keeping one side and the other becoming a Grand Union in 1978. Grand Union closed in 2001, was first vacant, now Big Lots

Vestal (Vestal Plaza) - Opened in 1959. Turned into a dollar store decades later, demolished, now private student housing for Binghamton University

Voorheesville - NY 85A; closed then reopened; later Supervalu and Nichols Shop 'n Save (no relation to Liverpool store); now Hannaford.

Warrensburg - US 9; became Tops in 2001; returned to Grand Union in 2006 and Tops again in 2013, came full circle to GU once more in 2022.  Early store in village.

Waterford - NY 32; No longer had a Grand Union.  Also had a warehouse.

Watertown - NY 3?; Downtown (there were at least two); gone by '70s (new one on US 11 in Pamelia)

West Babylon - NY 107; became Foodtown and later ShopRite; now closed

West Islip - two locations; was no longer on Long Island by 2000s

West Nyack - became Stop & Shop, NY 59

Whitehall - became Tops in 2001, then closed; now Dollar General

West Coxsackie - US 9W and NY 81 & 385; now Tops

West Hempstead - later Pathmark; now on the market

In October 2005, C&S's Grand Union Family Market division announced that they would acquire 12 Tops Markets supermarkets in the Adirondack region of New York state. Ironically, these were Grand Union stores before Tops acquired them from C&S in 2001.  Many of them became Tops again in 2013 (see above) and several back to Grand Union once more in 2022.

----

New Jersey

Asbury Park (of Springsteen fame) - No longer a Grand Union and had left the Garden State by 2004.

Belleville - Later a Foodtown; and then A&P; now their sister store Food Basics USA

Berkeley Heights - now a Stop & Shop

Bridgewater - now a Barnes and Noble

Butler - now a Stop & Shop

Carlstadt - Last "Mega GU" prototype superstore opened right before liquidation; now Super Stop & Shop

Clifton (Broad Street) - now a Stop & Shop

Clifton (Styretowne Centre) - later a C-Town, now a CVS/pharmacy

Clifton (Lexington Ave) - now Rite Aid

Closter - became a Stop & Shop, now a Whole Foods

Denville - became a Key Food; now a Walgreens

Elmwood Park - store, vacant office tower, and adjacent Walgreens demolished after store closed, new Walgreens built on site

Fair Lawn - later Eckerd, now a Rite Aid

Flemington - now a remodelled strip mall

Fort Lee - later a Pathmark; now a South Korean market

Freehold - US 9; closed by the time the Boss was a household name!

Glen Rock - was no longer a Grand Union; TBD

Hackensack - now a Stop & Shop

Hardwick - unknown

Hawthorne - was no longer a Grand Union, TBD

Hazlet - formerly located in the Airport Plaza; TBD

Lake Hiawatha - now a Foodtown

Landing - later a Pathmark; then Fresh Imperium; now likely vacant

Livingston - later a Pathmark; now The Fresh Market

Madison - Now Super Stop & Shop

Manalapan - now a Best Buy

Matawan - Currently a Bed, Bath & Beyond

Middletown - now a Stop & Shop

Midland Park - was no longer a Grand Union, currently TBD

Montvale - now "The Gym"

Northland - TBD

Oakland - now a Staples and Zeytinia

North Brunswick - later an A&P; now vacant

Paramus - previously Acme; later a Stop & Shop; now vacant

Point Pleasant - now a Super Stop & Shop

Ramsey - now a Kohl's

Ridgewood - now a Super Stop & Shop

Ringwood - now a Stop & Shop

Rocky Hill - Grand Union was longer here or anywhere in the Garden State

South Brunswick - now a Stop & Shop

Sparta - now a Stop & Shop

Teaneck - now a CVS/pharmacy

Tenafly - now a Stop & Shop

Toms River - became a 99cent SuperStore; now a Stop & Shop

Union City - TBD

Waldwick - now a Stop & Shop

Wayne - former flagship store; was no longer had a Grand Union; headquarters were in town until 2001

Westwood - now a TJ Maxx

West Orange - It became a CVS/pharmacy. However, the original building which housed Grand Union burned to the ground and was replaced with a new modern strip mall complex.

Wyckoff - now a Stop & Shop


----


Vermont


Barre - closed and divided into 2 stores (Lenny's Shoes and Rite Aid Pharmacy)

Bennington - now Tractor Supply Company

Brandon - now Hannaford Supermarket

Bristol - now Shaws

Burlington - later Brooks, Rite Aid, and Walgreens (about to close)

Colchester - later P&C Foods, now Price Chopper/Market 32

Enosburg Falls - now Hannaford

Essex Center - now Price Chopper

Essex Junction - demolished; now Lowe's

Fair Haven - now Shaws

Hardwick - now Tops

Johnson - closed in 2011 due to flooding; later Sterling Market, but sadly was just demolished because of more floods (there have been several in recent years); new store TBA

Ludlow - now Shaws

Manchester Center - now Shaws

Middlebury - now Shaws

Milton - now Hannaford

Montpelier - now Shaws

Newport - now Vista Foods

North Burlington - demolished 2001; re-built as Hannaford

Northfield - now Tops

Poultney - now Shaws

Randolph - now Shaws

Rutland

- US 7 N and US 4 E- later Tops, returned to Grand Union in 2022 (only non-NY store today and includes 802 Spirits, Montpeliers official liquor store)
- US 7 S - was P&C, closed in 2004; large strip mall including Hannaford re-built on the site

St Albans - closed

South Burlington
- Williston Road - Store closed in September 2008; replaced by Price Chopper/Market 32
- Shelburne Road - closed in 2002, replaced by Shaw's; Shaw's re-built in 2004

Springfield - later Peebles, TBD

Stowe - now Shaws

Swanton - now Hannaford

White River Junction - later P&C; may now be a health food store

Wilmington - now Shaws

Windsor - now a Price Chopper/Market 32

Winooski - now KeyBank

Woodstock - became P&C, then Mac's Markets; TBD


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Connecticut

Darien - Now Shaws

Fairfield - Closed in 1995; Converted to Bob's Stores

Glenville - no longer had Grand Union in CT.  Stop & Shop?

Greenwich - Two in Greenwich both closed in 2001; Now Stop & Shop

Hamden - Later became Child World, Gelco, Hometown Buffet, now East Buffet (Hamden Plaza).

Monroe - Closed in 1995; Converted to Priced Right Discount Store; Then a location for Tutor Time Day Care; Now empty (Big Y?)

New Fairfield - Now Shaws

Norwalk - Now a Marshalls Store

New Canaan - Building demolished. Now retail stores

Newtown - Now Caraluzzi's

Ridgefield - Now CVS/pharmacy

Sharon - CT 41; now Sharon Farm Market

Southbury - Now Shaws

Southbury - In Southbury Plaza; now Super Stop & Shop

Stamford - Now Grade A Market (Tri-State area)

Storrs - closed but might've become Price Chopper/Market 32 if not somewhere else in town (it's a small town)

Stratford - vacant store became an addition to the adjacent Burlington

Trumbull - Closed in 1995; Converted to a Porricellis Food Mart

Waterbury - Co-Located with GrandWay Dept. Store. (in Colonial Plaza).  Now TBD.

West Haven - Co-Located with GrandWay Dept. Store. Now Railroad Salvage/ShopRite.

Westport - Converted to Shaws

Windsor - Now Geissler's

----

Florida

Miami (3) - Left in early '80s (one is now Sabor Tropical)

Coral Gables (near Miami) - Later Winn-Dixie (may become ALDI) and OfficeMax

Pompano Beach - left decades ago as well (same area really)

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Ontario

Toronto area - Now Metro (left the boys' area by the '60s)

Niagara Falls - Now Shoppers Drug Mart

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Other states and the Caribbean US Territories

Virginia
Pennsylvania (Later Milford store now Key Food. Early one on US 6 & 209 now various small businesses.  Later Matamoras store opened in 1993 and closed in 2001.  Edwardian one long gone.  Was also in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area)
West Virginia
New Hampshire - Statham (now Market Basket) and Salem (TBD)
Puerto Rico
Maryland
US Virgin Islands
Texas (operated in Harris County as Weingarten in early '80s. Stores later became Safeway and other chains)
Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Washington, DC

Florida (including Miami/Ft Lauderdale area) - see earlier section
Tennessee
Alabama
Mississippi
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Ohio
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Missouri
Kentucky
Louisiana

Williamstown, MA - MA 2, TBD
Nantucket, MA

Haverhill, MA

Other towns to be determined. Subject to change. Feedback appreciated.

Restaurant roundup

Put here in a hurry

Here are the restaurant chains I want to come to Central New York:

Hardees/Carls Jnr*/***

Toppers
Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavours*
Long John Silvers**
Steak 'n Shake
Roy Rogers**
Big Boy*/**
Grand Lux Café (CF's sister chain)***

*Previously in area
**Exurbs only now
***Also needed in other areas

Tops takeover

I just went to the P&C in Syracuse where I used to work and discovered they had just ordered new carts with the Tops name on the handlebar. This may be a sign that the name will change. Also, Tops brand products are starting to come in, and Topco's Food Club (won't miss the soda), Paws (my cat has to have a special brand) and Valu Time (good riddance to the past sauce!) will no longer be available in my area. All other private labels from the Chicago-area based supplier remain, with the addition of their other no-frills brand Clear Value, which also replaced Always Save at Price Chopper in the Northeast (the unrelated chain in the heartland still have Always Save).
I'm hoping that the P&C, Quality, and BiLo/Riverside (not Tops' ex-sister chain) should be retired. I told Tops that they're the old guard and that many people are willing to say goodbye. It's still early days on all this and Tops spokeswoman Kate McKenna should eventually announce what the company's plans will be.
The last time Tops were in Onondaga County was 1986. Ironically, they sold their stores in my area to P&C. One is now a car dealer and another is a Big Lots. The rest I'm not sure. I was quite young! Tops had also been in Oswego, Madison, and Oneida counties. The Rome store bounced back and forth between Tops and P&C, but will be Tops for good really soon. It was feared that it would close, and even though it's a small town, it would not be convenient for everyone to go across town to Price Chopper, even on the bus, since many seniors walked to the store on NY 46 & 49 near Fort Stanwix. Like the former Hamilton store, some Grand Unions turned into Tops in 2001, only for some to change back or close. Under Koninklijke Ahold NV, Tops pulled out of the Mohawk Valley. They come full circle under Morgan Stanley.
In Pennsylvania, three BiLos are already using the new name, yet still take the Wild Card if not the Bonuscard, and have their ad much like that of P&C, except in the Keystone State, you can't buy drink there (except at off-licences) and you don't have to pay deposit on fizzy drinks or water. BiLos in Hallstead and Montrose are franchised, so they're not counted as official BiLos.
Some of these older stores will need pharmacy sections if they can fit it in. At the Shop City store I frequent, part of the store was partitioned off last year to save energy I believe, but I think it can be used again with the pharmacy there, and the dairy and health & beauty sections moved. If things can be manoeuvred in Auburn (pre-existing store) and Skaneateles, I think they can manage near me. Even smaller stores like Canton, PA, Syracuse near SU (former Peter's flagship), and DeWitt are too old to add to and there isn't room or land to build. I think the DeWitt one could move (see earlier post). However, some older people like the old school size as the behemoth Wegmans down the street is too big and overwhelming for them! The union is another story!
Bob Niedt from the local paper usually writes on this, and he inspired me to start this. I can't compete with him, really. He's a professional, and I'm an amateur. I can expand on his way of doing things, but still I'm lucky if anyone's even reading this.
With this acquisition should come self-checkouts, like at Price Chopper. I've used them in Auburn, Cortland, Fulton, and Williamsville. I know there'd be plenty of room in North Syracuse, Fayetteville, and Rome. Smaller ones like Cazenovia, Manlius, and Westvale may have to make room. We'll see how this plays out.
Tops' purchase of Penn Traffic's assets marks the end of an era, going back as far as Victorian times at a fur trading post in Johnstown, PA! The rest, as they say, is history!