Sattler's

Sattler's, back from the dead thanks to AI. Courtesy Meta.

 She can't help herself! Sattler's were yet another department store chain from Buffalo that have enough locations to put here. I can go a little further than Wikipedia, yet some of this is still lost to the ages. This wraps up Department Store December and a year of retail adventures! Long live Sattlers!

Buffalo (1) - 998 Broadway; demolished; later kmart; now vacant

Cheektowaga - Thruway Plaza, NY 240; now Value City Furniture?

Amherst - Boulevard Mall, US 62

West Seneca  - Seneca Mall, CR 137 & 91

Buffalo (2) - Main Place Mall, NY 5, downtown

Olean - Olean Place Mall, NY 16; vacant

Lakewood - Chautauqua Mall, NY 394

Buffalo (3) - Elmwood & Hertel Aves; Sattlers Wonderful World of Food and Home Furnishings City

Buffalo (4) - Various; 8 drug stores

Henrietta - NY 15; previously J.M. Fields

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.

Flah & Co.

AI Flahs if it were around now. Courtesy Meta.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Albany (downtown) - NY 32; TBD

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

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

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

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

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

*later B. Forman & Co.

B. Forman & Co.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brighton - NY 31; childrens store

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

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

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

Henrietta - NY 252 & 15A, Marketplace Mall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*previously Flahs

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.

Lechmere

Danvers, MA store outside Boston in the '80s. Courtesy Salem State University

 Lechmere were a department store with electronics, appliances, jewellery and more. By the late '90s, they were gone after a few years under Montgomery Ward (I started putting locations under that post, but now I have enough for this one). There were only seven stores outside New England, with most of them here in Upstate NY, as well as one in Mecklenburg County in North Carolina.

Syracuse (north side) - Carousel Center (now Destiny USA) - later Circuit City and DSW; now Hobby Lobby

Danvers, MA - Liberty Tree Mall; now Target, Staples, Dollar Tree and Best Buy (pictured, non-NY)

Cheektowaga - Walden Galleria; later JCPenney Home; now DSW

Albany - Northway Mall, NY 5; now Target, Marshalls and Jo-Ann Fabrics

Henrietta - NY 252; now Amvets?

Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Galleria, US 9 (also had Wards proper)

Utica - Riverside Mall, NY 5/8/12/49; now Walmart and Bass Pro Shops (also had Wards proper)

Steinbach

Modified AI Steinbach. Courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.

 Steinbach were a chain from Asbury Park, NJ (made famous by Bruce Springsteen, which I pointed out in an earlier post). There were several in CNY and elsewhere Upstate, but they were closed by 1999. In Tompkins County, they operated under the name Howlands after Steinbach acquired them in the '60s. Steinbach were once considered to be bigger than Macys or Harrods in the Edwardian era, but began to diminish by the end of the millennium, and would struggle if they held out longer into todays climate.

Syracuse - Carousel Center (now Destiny USA); later the Home Place and Best Buy; now Going, Going, Gone (Dylan reference and Dicks closeout chain)

deWitt - Shoppingtown Mall, NY 5; previously the Addis Co.; later Kaufmanns and Macys; now vacant awaiting conversion to District East building site (here we go!)

Poughkeepsie (1) - South Hills Mall, US 9; TBD

Poughkeepsie (2) - Poughkeepsie Galleria, US 9; previously Filenes; TBD

Walkill - The Galleria at Crystal Run; TBD

Utica - Riverside Mall. NY 5/8/12/49; now Walmart and Bass Pro Shops

Glen Falls/Queensbury - Northway Plaza Shopping Center, US 9; TBD

Albany - Colonie Center, NY 5 & Wolf Rd; now Boscovs?

Wilton - Wilton Mall at Saratoga, NY 50; now Dicks Sporting Goods

Clifton Park - Clifton Country Mall (now Clifton Park Center); now Boscovs?

Ithaca - Pyramid Mall (now the Shops at Ithaca Mall), NY 34; Howlands; TBD

Cicero - Penn-Can Mall; previously Sears; later Burlington; now Drivers Village, yet store is vacant

Big Lots

Manchester, CT store. Courtesy Mike Mozart/Flickr/Creative Commons.

 Big Lots are one of several chains closing in the coming year as part of the so-called Retail Apocalypse, cause by the events of the past five years. They have had a number of stores in CNY since the late '90s at the earliest. Ocean State Job Lot or even Japanese chain Daiso could replace some of them. I haven't gone to Big Lots myself in a period, but it is always troubling when this happens.

Current locations

Mattydale - US 11; former Tops/P&C

Oswego - NY 104; former Fays?

Utica - NY 5; former Chicago Markets/Great American

Auburn - NY 5; former kmart

Liverpool - CR 57; The Shops at Seneca Mall; former Price Chopper

Cortland - NY 281; TBD

Oneida - NY 5 & 46; Glenwood Shopping Center; former Price Chopper

Past locations

Syracuse - Onondaga Blvd, Wegmans Plaza; former Fays; now Goodwill

deWitt - NY 5; former Price Chopper; now Spectrum

Hudson - US 9; TBD (non-CNY)

Montgomery Ward

Former Montgomery Ward in Augusta, GA. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 Department Store December continues with Montgomery Ward. It had left Syracuse by the time I could remember, and Utica was the closest. I only got to go in Poughkeepsie (that area could use a post of its own since I picked up so much from that time). Wards survives today as an e-tailer, but that's just too easy, of course. We like to remember a simpler time when you either got out to shop or ordered from the catalogue through the post or even over the phone (I'm getting on now!). Most of these were catalogue stores as opposed to full-fledged locations, especially in smaller plazas and areas (even though the Hudson and Mohawk Valley stores were mall anchors from later years). They also owned Lechmere in its final three years, which would be better off in its own post, but I only know of a few of those stores along the Thruway corridor (including Dutchess County).

Syracuse (Lyncourt)  - Shop City Plaza; TBD (just too old to figure out exactly where it was)

Syracuse (north side) - Carousel Center (now Destiny USA) - Lechmere; later Circuit City and DSW; now Hobby Lobby

Cheektowaga - Walden Galleria; Lechmere; later JCPenney Home; now DSW*

Albany - Northway Mall, NY 5; also had Lechmere; now Target*

Cicero - Marketplace Mall, US 11 & E Circle Dr

Lockport - Lockport Mall, NY 78*

Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Galleria, US 9; now DSW and Dicks; also had Lechmere*

Fulton - NY 3?

Utica - Riverside Mall, NY 5/8/12/49

Augusta, GA - Pictured*

Baldwinsville - Tri-County Mall

Johnson City - Oakdale Mall*

Cazenovia - Town & Country Plaza, US 20

Plattsburgh - Pyramid Mall, NY 3*

Menands - Office building, NY 32*

North Syracuse - North Plaza, US 11

*Non-CNY

G. Fox & Co.

AI downstate G.Fox. Courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.

 G. Fox & Co. were once the largest department store in New England outside of Boston. I heard of them in the Poughkeepsie Galleria since I used to be up US 9, being the main drag on the east bank of the Hudson between Albany and New York. However, I can't seem to remember if I had heard of them in those days since it was no longer there by the time I came to the area. The sister mall in the next county, Galleria at Crystal Run in Walkill outside Middletown seems to be the only other store G. Fox ever had in New York State (not even mentioned in the link, so I had to inform them, and I'm waiting for the comment to be approved). They were supposed to be at another Pyramid property that I know, Crossgates Mall in Albany County, but by then, G. Fox were folded into Filenes (which left the other mall down the river several years earlier, only to come back), even though rival mall Colonie Center had them already and moved around the corner. Many past G. Fox stores that became Filenes later converted to Macys after Federated acquired May Department Stores, but today, Macys are in trouble again with the events of this century and decade.

Since other chains have looked into a comeback, either brick-and-mortar or as an e-tailer only, maybe G. Fox could be next. My drawing has just three locations, but if the legal successor are facing administration and technically own the name, I might as well try with all the defunct chains that haven't confirmed any plans on returning since G. Fox was lost to consolidation and a changing industry, and it would be even harder for such a thing to make it in the current economy, even if some old rivals may have another go, but adapt to the needs of the 2020s. You never know, but G. Fox could be next.

Furry fox fantasy of a relaunch (one can dream)

Department stores in CNY

Edited Witherill's AI. Courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.

    While I have been covering several department store chains this month, I there are more that were in Syracuse, mainly before my time, that are long gone. It's getting more painstaking to even find free photos for each one, let alone find where they even had stores. I will just list the rest in this post. I won't mention the time of year I wrote this so it's not too seasonal in nature. I have heard of these over the years here and there. It'd be hard for them to get on today when some of the larger chains are struggling right now. Only ones I don't plan on covering separately are listed, but if I do one, it will be deleted.

AI Bonwit Teller. Courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.

Witherills (pictured at top); downtown Syracuse and Camillus Plaza (only two stores ever)

Anderson Little

Cohoes (Fayetteville Mall; now Stickley Furniture at Towne Center)

Filenes Basement (never had Filenes proper since it was sister to Sibleys and Kaufmanns, even though Filenes Basement had spun off later)

Bonwit Teller (Carousel Center [now Destiny USA newer section; including closed Forever 21]) (above)

Macys Closeout (possibly in Penn Can Mall. Smaller Macys proper downtown.)

Denbys (Penn Can Mall; now Drivers Village)

Channel Home Center (Airport Plaza in North Syracuse which was later P&C and is now Tops)

Zayre (Northern Lights Plaza in North Syracuse; later Ames and Staples; now vacant)

Addis & Dey's

AddIs & Deys of later years (that's not a typo!)

 What started as two department stores in downtown Syracuse, one in the Victorian era founded by ex-pat Scottish brothers Dey Brothers, and another before the Great Depression, the Addis Company, would join forces in 1989 when both were on the way out (I remember seeing the farewell party on the news). Both buildings survive today with new purpose and businesses. Deys and Sibleys were briefly sister chains in 1987 when owned by May Department Stores and were part of the Galleries the following year, only for the latter to close the next year and succeeded by Kaufmann's at Carousel Center in the new decade. Getting back to this, here's where Addis or Deys each or the merged chain were until 1993 when the last of the mall stores just couldn't compete with the bigger names anymore.

The Addis Co. if they never merged and had a rebrand

The Addis Co.

Syracuse (downtown) - S Salina St; flagship, now apartments with replica sign and building on the National Register of Historic Places (mom said she had one of her first jobs there) (pictured below)

deWitt - Shoppingtown Mall, NY 5; mall store later Steinbach, TJ Maxx, Kaufmanns, and Macys; see below (I could go on all day on that lot)

Cicero - Penn Can Mall, E Circle Dr; closed by late '80s; see below

Fairmount  - Fairmount Fair Mall, W Genesee St; see below

The Addis Co. building today with editing

Dey Brothers

Syracuse (downtown) - S Salina & E Jefferson Sts; flagship; now several businesses and soon apartments (pictured)

Baldwinsville - Tri-County Mall, Downer St; demolished by 2000s; now over-60s housing units

Cicero - Penn Can Mall, E Circle Dr; closed in 1988 for next one; now Burdicks Drivers Village

Clay - Great Northern Mall, NY 31 & 481; can't remember which anchor replaced it; Micron coming

Fairmount - Fairmount Fair Mall; demolished; now power center with several anchors

deWitt - Shoppingtown Mall, NY 5; later store became Sears in 1994; now vacant pending legal action with District East building site (don't get me started!)

Glens Falls - TBD; satellite store according to anonymous tip from the Department Store Museum

Real logo for Addis & Dey's, 1989-93

March8613, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Addis & Deys only (Capital Region) [I wonder if my relatives there ever knew or even went back then]

Niskayuna - Mohawk Mall, NY 5; previously The Boston Store; now Mohawk Commons

Wilton - Wilton Mall at Saratoga, NY 50; past info TBD; later the Bon-Ton; will become townhouses and luxury apartments

AI images courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.

Close enough Deys (tried to prompt the logo)

Lord & Taylor

Later store on Long Island in Manhasset (now NYU Langone Health and SaksWorks)

 Since mostly high-end department stores have become a running theme here lately, my Google algorithm has just told me that one of the very first chains ever opened in the country Lord & Taylor are now the latest one to come back from the dead. They haven't been gone that long, even though COVID had affected them like so many in the past five years. Regal Global Brands now own the IP for what was one of the oldest names from downstate. Lord & Taylor still have vacant stores left behind, including the one they opened thirty years ago just a few miles away from home. Might as well get them all back, but I'd have to see where they are, and stick to this state, but if they're taken, see if someone else has a property to spare instead just as good. Also go to areas that never had Lord & Taylor before. Regal do plan to open brick and mortar in the foreseeable future, and I never expect any company to come here for ideas, but I'm no better than The Simpsons on any of this (although Futurama had the parody Alien Overlord & Taylor!).

Syracuse - Destiny USA (past location still available, even though I wanted close competitors Neiman Marcus or Bloomingdales there before)

Albany (Guilderland) - Crossgates Mall, US 20; empty anchor (last location now Primark)

Colonie (Roesslville) - Colonie Center, NY 5 & Wolf Rd; former Christmas Tree Shops (if above is unavailable)

New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A; former Hess's/Kaufmann's/Macy's (although small by Lord & Taylor's standards as is the area, yet their closest rival were last in there)

Victor - Eastview Mall, NY 96; past location, although after legal dispute, something like Wegmans or even Patagonia was suggested by the mall owners in all but name

Henrietta - Marketplace Mall, NY 252 & 15A; former Dicks instead of above (Rochester)

Cheektowaga - Walden Galleria; former store still available (Buffalo)

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

Johnson City - Oakdale Commons, NY 201; former Burlington (map unavailable online to check)

Big Flats - Arnot Mall, CR 75 & 35; former Hess's/Bon-Ton or Sears (Twin Tiers is also small towns)

Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Galleria, US 9; former JCPenney (I haven't been over there since 2000)

Kingston - Hudson Valley Mall, US 9W; former Best Buy or Gander Outdoor (Dicks may move soon)

Bay Shore - South Shore Mall; former store (may still be available, but downstate is just too big to get all of the ones that were last open, while another on Long Island was repurposed [see photo])

New York - 5th Ave; flagship (Manhattan)

W.T. Grant Co. in CNY

Nedrow store with replica sign made with my phone

 Now for something entirely before my time, yet I've heard of from the over-60s and historical sources. W.T. Grant Co. were a department store chain that started in the Edwardian era outside Boston that was the next level after the five and dimes, but cheaper than local competitors Filenes and Jordan Marsh. Grants closed in 1976 after seventy years' time because of bankruptcy, mismanagement, and not keeping up with those times. They were common in Syracuse and around the country, mainly the eastern seaboard. Here's where they were here and two other spots, so I don't binge again, yet people may have taken the store for Grant-ed back then! (I have such cheesy puns!). Because of how long ago the company existed, I can't always put down what came after, even in my own neck of the woods.

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd; Northern Lights Plaza

Nedrow - US 11 & Southwood Dr; Green Hills Plaza; later kmart and flea market; now vacant (pictured)

Vails Gate - NY 32; later Caldor and kmart; now Goodwill (non-CNY)

Albany - NY 5, Westgate Shopping Plaza; closed by 1974; TBD (non-CNY)

Camillus - Camillus Plaza (now Camillus Commons)

deWitt - NY 5; Shoppingtown; original plaza demolished by 1975 when converted to mall before chains closure; store replaced by Woolworths in 1978; closed 1993 and replaced by Media Play, which itself closed in 2003 and was later Black Mamba and then vacant again; mall to be levelled for District East

Syracuse (downtown) - S Salina St; demolished in 1985 for the Galleries, which opened in 1988

Of course, this is the only way we'll ever see it now

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)

Kaufmann's

Sangertown Square store with added logo

 Kaufmann's were a chain from Allegheny County whose flagship store in downtown Pittsburgh had a clock that people would meet (it's always easier that way and not just for time). They entered Upstate NY in 1990 after acquiring Rochester-based Sibleys (the downtown stores there [that flagship] and Syracuse [we looked into them later] were both too old and out of date for smaller cities), which brought the chain to CNY as a result. When owner May Department Stores merged with Federated in 2006, Kaufmanns, Marshall-Fields, and Filenes all became Macys. Overlapping stores were sold to other chains if not closed (Albany County's Colonie Center already had both Filenes [which switched ownership from Federated to May] and Macys in the old days, while rival mall Crossgates down I-87 had Jordan Marsh to boot!). Meanwhile, McCurdys were the other chain in Monroe County that Kaufmanns absorbed in 1994 along with B. Forman (I could go on all day with these defunct department stores). I just did Hess's and even some of those were taken. Here's what I can "Kauf" up!

Syracuse - Carousel Center (now Destiny USA); now Macys (last one in area)

deWitt - Shoppingtown Mall, NY 5; previously Addis & Deys; later Macys; soon to be demolished pending court order for District East

Fayetteville - Fayetteville Mall, NY 5 & N Burdick St; previously Sibleys if not Hess's; closed and moved to above in 1993; mall demolished by 2001; now Towne Center (likely in front of Target now)

Clay - Great Northern Mall, NY 31 & 481; later Macys; now Dunk & Bright; one of the few mall anchors spared from demolition for future lifestyle center for pending Micron community

New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A; previously Hess's; later Macys; now vacant. Also had a Kaufmanns Home store around the corner (pictured)

Victor - Eastview Mall, NY 96; previously Sibleys; now Macys

Greece - The Mall at Greece Ridge, NY 104 & CR 261; previously Sibleys; now Macys (closing in 2025; the only one Upstate so far)

Henrietta - Marketplace Mall, NY 252 & 15; previously Sibleys; later Macys; now Floor & Décor

Cheektowaga - Walden Galleria; previously Sibleys; now Macys

Clarence/Harris Hill - Eastern Hills Mall, NY 78; previously Hengerers and Sibleys; later Macys and Niagara Emporium (local store); now under development (we'll see how they get on)

Amherst - Boulevard Mall, US 62; previously Jenns and Sibleys; now Macys (mall becoming Boulevard Place)

Hamburg - McKinley Mall, NY 179; main store previously Sibleys; later Macys; now closed. Home store previously L.L. Berger.

Big Flats (Fisherville) - Arnot Mall, CR 35; previously Hess's; later Macys; now closed

Johnson City - Oakdale Mall, NY 201; previously Hess's; later Macys; now Dicks House of Sports

Hess's in CNY+

Kitty used instead of someone elses photo

 Hess's Department Stores were a chain from Lehigh Valley dating back to the late Victorian era. The flagship would have A-listers make in-store appearances. They worked their way to Upstate NY from acquiring other chains, but would gradually be bought out from the late '80s through the mid-'90s. They were unrelated to Hess Oil Company (which still exist, but are just not directly accessible to the public anymore). I can remember them being in CNY in the old days.

Clay - Great Northern Mall, NY 31; later Chappells and the Bon-Ton; soon to be redeveloped now that Micron have been approved for their building site a few miles away so the mall is one for a new lifestyle center and modern village (we'll delve further as soon as we know more if others don't already)

Fayetteville - Fayetteville Mall, NY 5; later Sibleys and Kaufmanns; now Towne Center (TBD)

New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A; later Kaufmanns and Macys; now vacant (shown below)

Allentown, PA (downtown) - flagship; later The Bon-Ton; now offices (too many others to list)

Poughkeepsie - South Hills Mall, US 9; later Burlington; TBD (only non-CNY store within the state I'll do because I used to be up the road, but that's for another day)

Rotterdam - Rotterdam Square Mall (now Viaport), NY 337; later Filenes and Macys; now NYS Taxation call center

Camillus - Camillus Plaza/Mall; previously Witherills; later Chappells and the Bon-Ton; now St Josephs Health, Empire Dermatology and vacancy (last surviving building from mall at Camillus Commons)

AI depiction of sidewalk sale at Lehigh Valley OG store

AI creations appear courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc./Facebook. No real people or buildings are shown.

New Hartford location (not AI for once! Just copy and paste!)

AI mall store with improved sign. Courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.

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 Naples Pizza

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20; Fingerlakes Mall

Amherst - NY 78; TBD

Rochester; NY 252; TBD

Hills Department Stores

Hills roadside sign outside of Nashville, TN; courtesy Wikimedia Commons

 I forgot to write about Hills. We've had four in Syracuse. Most of them became Ames by 1999, only for that to close in 2002 (see earlier post). I have the local ones memorised (of course), and three from afar (not going to get too carried away again like I have with the other chains, so just a few for today). I can even remember TVs Brett Butler (Grace Under Fire) in their commercials back in the mid-'90s. 

Economy, PA - now vacant

Ithaca (Lansing) - NY 34; Pyramid Mall (now the Shops at Ithaca Mall); later Ames; now Regal Cinemas

Cortlandville - NY 13; Cortlandville Crossing; now Marshalls

Christiansburg, VA - Bus US 460 & VA 114; now Kohls (happened to come up while looking up the above in Google)

Lockport - Lockport Mall, NY 78; later Ames; now Walmart Supercenter

Syracuse - Carousel Center (now Destiny USA); later At Home; now vacant

deWitt - NY 5; Marshalls Plaza; now Marshalls Homegoods

Cicero - Penn Can Mall; now Drivers Villages Burdick Used Warehouse

Camillus - Camillus Plaza; did not become Ames, which was already down W Genesee St at Fairmount Fair, but closed by 1994 when Caldor opened (see other post); vacant until demolished in 2005 when Walmart Supercenter was built

Hermitage, TN (pictured) - TBD

Fairly close AI fantasy Hills if it was around now

Because of few free photos, I headed for the AI Hills!

AI images courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc. No actual people or buildings are depicted (just sayin').