Quality Markets

Flagship Jamestown/Celeron store near Lucys old house

 Quality Markets were P&Cs sister chain in WNY and NW PA. They were originally from Jamestown, so the legendary Lucille Ball would have remembered them from growing up (although she also lived in Montana for a period). Quality were founded in 1913 and sold to Penn Traffic in 1979. They reached Buffalo when they acquired Bells in 1993, a onetime IGA franchise (some Bells became other things, and none in Niagara County became Quality). Most of the Quality chain however went to Tops in 2010, but like P&C, some fell through the cracks, mostly because of overlap with existing stores which was inevitable in the region. There was once a row in Cattaraugus County when Tops wanted to come in on their own, but if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! (Tops won out, but read on).

Now Tops unless indicated

Sheffield, PA - US 6 (borough [PA term] recently profiled in the Washington Post)

Celeron/Jamestown - now construction company near Lucille Balls childhood home (original Tops around the corner; closed store pictured)

Buffalo (Lackawanna) - 1234 Abbott Rd; previously Loblaws and Bells; now Save-a-Lot

Buffalo (Bryant) - 250 Lakewood Ave; previously Loblaws and Bells; later Latinas; now PriceRite

Buffalo (1) - 257 W Ferry St; previously Star Discount Foods, Loblaws and Bells; now Bartons Home Outlet

Buffalo (2) - 499 W Klein Rd; previously Bells, now Dash's (last local only non-regional indie chain)

Cheektowaga - 540 Dick Rd; now Crunch Fitness

Williamsville - NY 5

Erie, PA (1) - 838 E 6th St; previously Loblaws; now closed

Erie, PA (2) - 3712 W 12th St; same as above

Erie, PA (3) - US 20; previously Rudys Super Duper; now Champion Ford

Erie, PA (4) - 712 W 38th St; now Tops

Erie, PA (5) - US 20; now Giant Eagle and Valu King

Erie, PA (6) - PA 8; now vacant

Erie, PA (7) - US 20 & 2708 Legion Rd; now vacant

Erie, PA (8) - US 20; now Walmart

Erie, PA (9) - US 20; Harborcreek; now Pet Supplies Plus

Dunkirk (1) - 3955 Vineyard Dr & NY 60

Dunkirk (2) - 166 E 4th St & NY 60; now Save-a-Lot

Ellicottville - US 219

Lockport - NY 31 & 77; previously Bells (IGA and indie); now Tops

Falconer (1) - NY 394

Falconer (2) - 10 S Work St (NY 394); now CVS

Frewsburg - 20 Center St & US 62

Attica - NY 98 & Prospect St (one of the last new stores opened)

Mayville - NY 394

Olean - NY 417

Silver Creek - NY 5

Tonawanda (Kenmore NW) - NY 324 & 384; closed 2003 (Tops now around the corner, although this was several years before the sale)

Williamsville - NY 5

Cambridge Springs, PA - US 19 & PA 409; TBD

Corry, PA (1) - PA 426; now Sanders Markets

Corry, PA (2) - 100 W South St; now vacant

Corry, PA (3) - 124 W Smith St; now Snap Fitness

Kane, PA - US 6

Lakewood - NY 394; now Michaels

Warren, PA - Business US 6

Union City, PA - US 6

Westfield, PA - PA 49

Youngsville, PA - US 6

Titusville, PA - 110 S Martin St; now Giant Eagle

Waterford, PA - US 19

Meadville, PA (1) - US 6 & 19

Meadville, PA (2) - PA 27; now Walgreens

Jamestown (1) - NY 394; now Salvation Army Family Store

Jamestown (2) - NY 394; now Geer-Dunn (around the corner from Lucys museums)

Jamestown (3) - NY 430; now New Flyer of America

Jamestown (4) - NY 60; previously Loblaws; now Tops

Jamestown (5) - 214 E 3rd St; demolished decades ago; one of the earliest

Jamestown (6) - 703 W 3rd St; previously Nu-Way; now Farm Fresh

Jamestown (7) - 18 S Main St; opened 1942; long gone

Sherman - Church St; now Macks Markets

Randolph - NY 394

Hazeltine - TBD (may just be Jamestown)

Stores dating back from before WWI to the Depression may require some additional research. The WWII-era one is the oldest I could dig up. Since Lucy and I have the same birthday, I dedicate this post to her memory.

You can't spell Quality without AI!

AI image courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.