Ruby Tuesday

Typical Ruby Tuesday, likely in Connecticut. Another Mike Mozart masterpiece.

 Ruby Tuesday are a restaurant chain named after a Rolling Stones hit, and unlike Keith Richards, they have had locations that didn't last forever. CNY, WNY, the Capital Region, Southern Tier, Hudson Valley, downstate (I'll just put a couple because it'll take too long) and North Country have all had over a dozen out of hundreds nationwide close, and only the East Syracuse one is still in operation in CNY. I can still picture the pumpernickel croutons in the salad bar. Still, we're gonna miss them.

Syracuse - Destiny USA (formerly Carousel Center); now Aloha Krab

deWitt - NY 5; later Stones Steakhouse; now CopperTop Tavern

Clay - NY 31 & 481, Great Northern Mall; now vacant

New Hartford - NY 5 & 5A, Sangertown Square

Watertown - NY 3

Greece - NY 104

Cheektowaga - Walden Ave

Blasdell - McKinley Pkwy & NY 179

Johnson City - Oakdale Commons

Poughkeepsie - US 9

Kingston - US 9W

Westbury - Old Country Rd

New York - 7th Ave

Guilderland - US 20, Crossgates Mall

Wilton - NY 50, Wilton Mall

The UPS Store in CNY

Fantasy Eastwood store in Syracuse

 The UPS Store are the shipping giants retail arm and successor to Mail Boxes, Etc. in North America. They provide direct UPS services and rates, and most Amazon.com and other online returns. When you can't get to the post office, much but not all of what they do is available for a bit more. However, some locations in CNY have closed over the years, while new ones should be opened. The latest is downtown or the north side of Syracuse. I'll just have to reach into the memory vault or look up old and new spots as always. Here's what the brown lorry delivered:

Past locations:

Syracuse (Eastwood) - Shop City; now Appliance Parts

Syracuse (downtown) - S Warren & E Jefferson Sts; now boutique shop/CommonSpace

East Syracuse - NY 290; now RISE medical cannabis dispensary

Baldwinsville (Moyers Corners) - CR 57 & NY 31, Kimbrook Plaza; TBA (current store across CR 57)

Syracuse (east side) - Nottingham Rd, Julian Pl & E Colvin St; now Café Kubal (moved up Nottingham Rd next to Kinney Drugs)

Auburn - Genesee St (only just closed)

Penfield - NY 441, Bay Towne Plaza (also closed for now, but found while looking up locations)*

Pittsford - NY 31, Pittsford Plaza*

*Rochester area

Future locations:

Syracuse (Eastwood) - NY 290 & North Ave; former PostNet/Daws Drugs/Walgreens (20th Century) (AI pictured)

Liverpool - Electronics Pkwy & Old Liverpool Rd; former Big M/Carls Drugs/Fays Drugs/Thrifty Shopper/Palm Market; Liverpool Plaza (there'd be room for sorting packages)

Syracuse (Fairmount) - Fairmount Fair

New Hartford - NY 5A; former similar business

Media Play/On Cue

Former Media Play in South Hills Mall in Dutchess County (now demolished)

 Media Play were part of the Musicland conglomerate that included Sam Goody and On Cue. Napster, iTunes and illegal downloading brought an end to the chain by 2006. At first, I could only dig up a handful of stores, including a few in CNY, one in the Hudson Valley, and another in Ohio Valley. I managed to find them all, but of course will mainly stick to those that were on New York soil because that's the point of this blog.

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall; previously Woolworths and Kallet Theatres; later Black Mamba; closed 2003 (District East on hold again, go figure)

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights Plaza; previously Burlington; closed 2003

Auburn - NY 5, On Cue, Auburn Plaza; now ALDI (honorable mention since they were a sister chain, essentially a truncated version of Media Play for smaller markets like Cayuga County. Some remaining locations in other areas later became Sam Goody after Best Buy took over before those were closed.)

Poughkeepsie - US 9, South Hills Mall; now the Shoppes at South Hills (pictured)

Cincinnati, OH - Cincinnati Mills Mall; now demolished (only non-NY one I'm putting here)

Amherst - NY 79; later FYE; now Hobby Lobby

Albany (Guilderland) - Washington Ave Ext, Crossgates Commons; TBD

Niagara Falls - US 62 & NY 265, Milpine Plaza

Hamburg - NY 179, McKinley Mall

Middletown - off NY 17/I-86 & 84, Dunning Farms Shopping Center; now Ollies Bargain Outlet?

Henrietta - NY 252 & 15, South Town Plaza

Niskayuna - NY 5, Mohawk Mall

Greece - NY 104, Ridgemont Plaza

Cheektowaga - Walden Place; now Ollies Bargain Outlet

Former Burlington locations

Former Henrietta store; soon to be Dunk & Bright Furnitures first outside CNY

 Burlington may sound boring, but in CNY alone, there are a few spots where they used to be. I feel like I did this before, but it just turns out I put in other posts what could go and went into them. I've gathered enough from Syracuse, Rochester, the North Country, Capital Region and Twin Tiers to make this one. The current Syracuse (city) store in Destiny USA was where the Rx Place and Comp USA were. The deWitt store in the former kmart had an accident and will reopen in January. I'm sticking to Upstate because some things are too downstate-centric. They've come a long way from just a coat factory.

Fayetteville - NY 5 & N Burdick St, Fayetteville Mall; demolished in 2001; now Towne Centre with Tops, Target and several others

Cicero - E Circle Dr, Drivers Village (formerly Penn-Can Mall); now vacant

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights Plaza; later Media Play (closed 2003); moved to above; now vacant

Henrietta - NY 252 & 15, South Town Plaza; previously kmart?; soon to be Dunk & Bright Furniture (first store outside Onondaga County, as they had acquired plaza)

Watertown - NY 3 & CR 100, Salmon Run Mall; previously Montgomery Ward; now Bob Johnson Auto Group? (I haven't been here since 2011, but it's a small town, and he's one of the biggest names in the motor trade, coming out of Monroe County)

Latham - NY 2, 7 & 9; Latham Circle Mall; previously The Boston Store; closed May 2012; current store at the Shoppes at Latham Circle coming full circle

Dutch Bros Coffee

Multnomah County location in August in the Pacific Northwest

Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 I know there are a tonne of coffee places big and small these days, but Dutch Bros are a chain that haven't reached the Northeast just yet. The only part of the east coast they've gotten to thus far is the Orlando area between Floridas coasts, yet some of their competitors weren't always that widespread themselves. They all prefer to build from scratch like the photo shows rather than try to do up another chains building. I can just go to ones that are too much a state to save or won't sell or let so Dutch Bros can bring their courage (even though that term means Heineken, mind).

Oneida - NY 5, former KFC?

Syracuse (east side) - NY 5, former Arthur Treachers

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights Plaza; former Hofmann Hot Haus/Salt City Dogs

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

Liverpool - Old Liverpool Rd, former Eckerd/Rite Aid/Family Dollar

East Syracuse - NY 298, former Starbucks/Jimmy Johns

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96, former Burger King

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

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

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

Fulton - NY 3, former Rite Aid/Walgreens

Oswego - NY 104, former Ponderosa

Rome - NY 46 & 49, former Rite Aid

Ace Hardware

Fratellones Ace Hardware in New Hope, MN (Twin Cities area). Courtesy Chad Davis.

 Ace Hardware may seem just as easy as their big box competitors, but even they have some pockets in CNY they could still fill. They're likely to take over franchises from rival co-op True Value after they were sold to Do It Best where those two overlap, but not where Ace already have an affiliate. Ace have gotten several former True Value stores in CNY alone in recent years, and opened a few more. The one in Liverpool Plaza, the center my late father over saw in later days, had that personal service that the big chains mostly lack, given that all Ace stores are separately and locally owned and operated. I had a coupon and bought a few things, even though I didn't get all his DIY knowhow (he went to "the other place" mostly). I did get my lawn mower fixed there by David, which Goliath doesn't do, if you like. Here are where Ace should have a base (see what I did there?!):

Syracuse (Lyncourt) - Shop City Plaza; former Ames/Eckerd/Rite Aid

Syracuse (Westvale) - Westvale Plaza, NY 5; former P&C/Tops (Sears Hardware used to be up the block in current Thrifty Shopper, so this would bring DIY back to this part of town)

Canastota - NY 5 & 13 and CR 25; former Family Dollar or former Rite Aid/Walgreens

Chittenango - NY 5; former Rite Aid/Walgreens

Utica - Genesee St; former Carls/Fays/Eckerd/Rite Aid or Rite Aid only (across from Market 32)

New Hartford - Kellogg Mall, Washington Mills, CR 26; former Fays/Eckerd/Rite Aid and/or New Hartford Shopping Center; former Tuesday Morning or Herb Phillipsons

Cortland - Riverside Plaza, NY 13; former flea market or NY 222; former Valu Home Center

Gloversville - N Main St; former Rite Aid (Noble are in Johnstown)

Mattress Firm: 40 Years On

Future deWitt store on this Erie Blvd E

Future store in Rome on that Erie Blvd E

    With Metro Mattress, Resnicks, and Sleepys all put to bed, if you like, Mattress Firm are the next chain that are late to the party in CNY, since they're in WNY in Cheektowaga for a start. The first chain based in Liverpool had just gone out of business, so the one from Houston are perfect for the empty stores, as well as others around the region. We'll sleep on it. This makes the Sleepys post obsolete.

deWitt - NY 5 (pictured above)*

Liverpool - CR 57, Bayberry Plaza (pictured below)*

Lakeland - John Glenn Blvd & Farrell Rd*

Syracuse (Fairmount) - W Genesee St*

Cicero - US 11*

Fulton - NY 481 & CR 57, former kmart; River Glen Plaza

Oswego - NY 104, former Big Lots

Watertown - NY 3, former Sears or Christmas Tree Shops; Salmon Run Mall

Cortland - NY 13, former flea market; Riverside Mall

Rome - NY 46 & 49, former rue21; Freedom Plaza (pictured above)

New Hartford - former Herb Phillipsons; New Hartford Shopping Center

Binghamton - US 11, former Grand Union/Giant/Weis

Big Flats - CR 35, former Sears; Arnot Mall

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96, former Hobby Lobby

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20, former JCPenney; Fingerlakes Mall

Colonie - Wolf Rd, former Barnes & Noble

Canastota - NY 5 & 13 and CR 25, former Family Dollar or Rite Aid/Walgreens

*former Metro Mattress

Logo used to edit on the phone and free use with just text

Can't really be in Shop City with Factory Direct next door

Mattress Firm in Bayberry Plaza in Liverpool

3fifteen Expansion

3fifteen in Liverpool Plaza with updated sign

 3fifteen have three locations on SU and Elm Hills, the second being in Camillus, and Eastwood Plaza after a near-three decade absence of the Rescue Mission as described just earlier, and now a fourth location in the upcoming Mission Landing by their headquarters in the Mission District that has just started building, making it the flagship by default by the end of next year, close to where there had been a Thrifty Shopper before that has since closed, much like Eastwood. Yet maybe it could happen again in Liverpool in my late dads plaza. Thrifty Shopper had been in the former site of Big M, Carls and Fays until 2020 when it moved to the former Herb Phillipsons up CR 57 in Bayberry for more space. 3fifteen is more of a boutique that needs less room. The short-lived Palm Market left after several months due to lack of interest. A 3fifteen there would be closer to the Rescue Missions warehouse on Henry Clay Blvd, which becomes Electronics Pkwy past Vine Street and W Taft Road. Some people miss Thrifty Shopper on Old Liverpool Road, let's just say. However, another NGO/registered charity's donation bin would have to be removed from the car park, not just because there are those who dump junk at those (dad hated it when that happened in the back, as those skips aren't free, mind). I already made a list of past and future locations for Thrifty Shopper, yet this is it for 3fifteen since that's more of a niche by comparison which holds it own. Liverpool would have to be distinct from the rest so it's not as cookie cutter, if you like, or just history repeating itself. The confirmed new store is being done from scratch as opposed to an old store front being done up, which I like to first before having to start a new building site or even demolishing an old one unless it's beyond repair and/or unfeasible. I just hope the official new store and this concept comeback has more variety than the new James St one, which was mainly womens clothes and other things that just didn't appeal to me and just wasn't the same as even the old guard. Each 3fifteen if not Thrifty Shopper proper has its own unique character. (UPDATED: 7/11/25)

Former CVS locations

Waterbury, CT store. Courtesy Mike Mozart (always at the ready)

 CVS/pharmacy have had a negligible history in CNY and left behind more stores than they have open. They only have two full-fledged locations in Onondaga County, and just one with a drive-thru. Since their two biggest competitors have had to close stores as well, it's unlikely that CVS will here in the near future. Here are where they use to be, including other parts of the state:

Syracuse (east side) - NY 92; originally non-pharmacy store; later Revco; now Dollar General

Syracuse (downtown) - S Salina St; formerly Kresge/kmart; later beauty supply; now vacant

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall; later Fays, Eckerd, and Rite Aid; soon to be District East

Fayetteville - NY 5; now The UPS Store (only just learned of this from photos of 1981 flood)

Clay - NY 31 & 481, Great Northern Mall; now vacant, awaiting renovation with Micron coming

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20; Fingerlakes Mall; now vacant

Liverpool - CR 57 & Wetzel Rd; previously Revco; later pool supply; now Bryant & Stratton

North Syracuse - US 11; now Harbor Fright Tools

Cicero - Penn Can Mall; now Drivers Village

Hyde Park - US 9, Hyde Park Mall; now Stop & Shop

Delmar - NY 443 & 335; now medical office

Albany - NY 443; now vacant

Manlius - NY 173; now various business

Camillus - Camillus Mall; now demolished

Colonie - NY 5; Colonie Center

Magnolia Studios

Edited sign taken by me at old shop before moving.

 While it may seem to make this blog too CNY-centric, Eastwood Hair & Beauty Co. have moved from the outskirts of Syracuse to the village of Liverpool several miles away after their lease with Skinner Realty was not renewed (it has now been confirmed that it was because of a row over HVAC, and my family also no longer deal with this landlord either, who is the Mr Fischoeder of Eastwood, and no relation to Principal Skinner for that matter). They are now be called Magnolia Studios on 200 Salina St (not to be confused with the one in the city). One stylist will now be at Self Care Club in the same plaza. Adelines Barber Shop on 1st and Tulip Sts next door to Nichols is now vacant, but may have been too small and old hat for the ladies or just not available; I don't know. Magnolia are just blocks from NY 370 and CR 57, close to Heids, Onondaga Lake Park, Amazon (to a lesser extent), the library, and parkway (no lorries allowed!). It's just too bad they couldn't stay in Eastwood anymore, losing the convenience for me, taking my bike in warmer months (it doesn't usually leave a three-mile radius of the house, mind), as well as for older customers, perhaps. Also, they won't get to be near the new coffee shop and charity shop in the old plaza (one still isn't done yet and they're not missing much with the other). Unless I read that a small CrossFit gym is going in the old guard/Magnolias former space, a Fantastic Sams or Cost Cutters may as well go into that spot to fill the vacuum, even with national chain Dollar General being the one non-local tenant in the plaza, or even a small beauty school, as I was told by missus. Just hope whoever moves in gets on better than Eastwood Hair & Beauty/Magnolia had. Not likely associated with Magnolia Nails. The plot thickens, as it always does. (UPDATED: 7/11/25)

The old shop before closing up. Watch this space.

New sign fresh from the printers, next to the settee.

Magnolia Studios, now by the railway.

Not to be confused with Magnolia Studio & Co. in Keyser, WV.

3fifteen Eastwood

Original photo with pasted sign and my bike locked up

 3fifteen, Rescue Missions boutique arm, which is more or less specialised compared to Thrifty Shopper, are opening a 3rd location (that was intentional) in Eastwood Plaza. I was told a few months back on Facebook that the Mission were opening there. Could have meant the unrelated Mission Syracuse, who are in Destiny USA, since I didn't expect the Rescue Mission to ever return to Eastwood after closing their original store in 1999 and reopening in East Syracuse at the former Leo & Sons Big M (formerly owned by NewsChannel 9 WSYRs Christie Cascianos family). The old Thrifty Shopper would later have Café Kubal and Sacred Melody, which have both closed. Caffé Cosi and Eastwood Home are there now. Around the corner, the old Sacred Melody on the left would have True Value Hardware and Hooches Antiques and Furniture, which was always a state and made Thrifty Shopper look like Harrods. While it would be nice to have the Rescue Mission a bit closer to home after nearly three decades, I'd be torn between there and the SU flagship, wanting my Orange (I loathe the "S" word) and Salt City Coffee. The Camillus store often gets the over-60s and people who live out that way. Also, Eastwood Hair & Beauty Co. have moved to Liverpool because their lease with Skinner Realty was not renewed, so I followed them there (I'll cover their spot another day). 3fifteen brings Rescue Missions legacy in Eastwood full circle after a short lived outlet in Shop City had failed to catch on long term. What will make this location different is more of a focus on furniture. The Westvale Thrifty Shopper across town did have a section with that, as well as appliances and even Zimmers and wheelchairs. Back in Eastwood, there should be nice bureaux, tables, and settees. The donation centers could be getting all these now. It's early days. Neither of the existing 3fifteens carry furniture, and larger Thrifty Shoppers like Cortland and North Syracuse will have some here and there. With this new emphasis, it won't take away from either SU or Elm Hill any more than near Bridge St. It does show the Rescue Missions impact on the region and staying closer to home after expanding to a third of Upstate New York in recent years. Now, if you need furniture at low prices or have any to donate for a write-off, 3fifteen on James St is the next stop to make. To boot, the Rescue Mission broke ground on a new building site in the Mission District for the new Mission Landing complex, which will include the fourth location of 3fifteen, which will open by late next year and become the de facto flagship. More as this develops.
    It has now been confirmed that the new Eastwood store will focus more on womens clothes, décor and accessories. The Grand Opening is 6 November. It should still offer some of what the other two and the sister chain do. I could still drop off donations there, even if they're brought over to the Liverpool warehouse to be transferred to other locations, becoming a semi-replacement for the shelter down James St at Wegmans in East Syracuse, since most of them were removed because of people leaving donations that were unacceptable, or rather just dumping junk. As for the new 3fifteen, I might not go there that much if it's too effeminate for me. I suppose they just wanted something different.

John J. Sposato 1950 - 2025

Notsky and ThinkPawsome grieve with us.

 It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the passing of my father, John J. Sposato yesterday after recovering from major surgery. What happens next at the time of this writing is uncertain. He had worked as an estate agent specialising in commercial properties, which is how I'd learned of the ins and outs of the retail business, from travelling around the region to dealing with potential renters and buyers, and in the last few years, had been managing a plaza in Liverpool. He had also worked in the motor trade. He had vaguely known about this blog, despite the nature of the material (never about the floof, but that's a story for another day). Now I must learn to adjust to this new normal. You can send any contributions to my PayPal if you want, which is by no means a cash grab, but a way to help me through this difficult time since he had been supporting me and I have to figure out what to do now.

Poor doggy says goodbye to his master (dad didn't have one in recent years)

Dolly kips in the churchyard after visiting his humans grave.

Northeast Grocery sale

Market 32 montage of Price Chopper on Syracuses east side

 Northeast Grocery, Inc., the parent company of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops, are reportedly looking to sell, with help from UBS. I could see it go to a conglomerate with no current foothold in this part of the country. Tops were formerly owned by Ahold until they spun off and Ahold merged with Delhaize in the Benelux, so they couldn't be a contender since Hannaford compete with these chains. Northeast dismiss it as speculation, which is what we do here, but it's just too soon to know. 

SpartanNash

Albertsons

Kroger

United Natural Foods

Meijer

Giant Eagle

Weis

Westside Family Pharmacy on the Northside

Westside Family Pharmacy meets the Northside

 A local indie pharmacy serving the needs of the inner city and immigrant community are opening a second location. Westside Family Pharmacy is one of the last local drug stores left in Syracuse at a time when even the chains are struggling. In a David and Goliath twist, Rite Aid is closing stores nationwide, with the Shop City one already shuttered and the north side store on Lodi Street just having closed their pharmacy and clearing out everything else like with all remaining locations, yet is one of the only ones in CNY that didn't sell their prescriptions to Walgreens since they don't have a store on that side of town at this time (and didn't even acquire that Rite Aid in 2019), yet Kinney have had a smaller one for a decade after outgrowing a small one inside St Josephs Hospital (pictured in that article). As for this new store, it's about coming full circle. Westside will open their new Northside location in what was Fays Drugs until it was sold to Eckerd in 1997, which built an original store across Butternut Street, which became Dollar General some time after Rite Aid bought Eckerd because of overlap. The former Fays was sold to Dollar Tree, which closed a year or two ago, since they were still sister to Family Dollar a block away (in what was the old Rite Aid to boot before they opened their own standalone around the corner). Westsides flagship is located where Rite Aid and later Walgreens as well as another indie turned onetime CVS went out of business, which led to the founding of Westside in a diverse yet low-income neighborhood, which was and still is also reeling from the loss of Nojaim Bros. and later Brady Market. By this fall, Westside Northside should be open, making it the first mom and pop pharmacy there since Kress Drugs closed in the early '90s (which dated back to late Victorian times), even though it sort of moved to Upstates Almond St office near the soon-to-be-levelled-I-81 before being absorbed by Kinney. Westside will be like many small businesses and offer services that the big ones don't. With no one else covering this, it was up to me to offer this exclusive before the others catch up.

FloofAid

Edited poster for FloofAid (fake future website)

    Coming after the founding of Furacuse comes the arrival of FloofAid (FurAid, a rescue centre for real cats and dogs, was taken, even though many furry conventions support those), the worlds first registered charity for helping the less fur-tunate afford tickets and travel to cons across the country, including to Furacuse, which will raise money for FloofAid, which seems ironic, having a con to benefit having people get to other cons, but also fursuits, since life these days is expensive enough, let alone floof. Cons are usually non-profit and thus an organisation or two registered with the IRS is the way to go, yet I don't know the first thing about this myself, and I just don't want to become the Willie Nelson or Bob Geldof of furries. I'd have to find others to run this with in order to get clearance.

    For now, you can contribute to my usual outlets at Ko-Fi (see earlier post), GoFundMe, PayPal, Venmo (@Sposato120, the only place I can accept cryptocurrency, which I'm not wholly familiar with myself, but can convert to real cash there), and CashApp ($Sposato2024). This is not another scam. It comes from me not being able to get to Eufuria, FurPoc, Furrydelphia, Fluffalo, Anthro New England, Anthrocon, or any con for that matter. I just want to pay it forward and help others who deserve it just as much, from young kids to those on disability like myself to others in a bad place that want to be a part of the fandom. While it is a luxury like fine jewellery, it's just not as grandiose per se. Even buying materials to make your own fursuit can cost just as much as having someone else do a commission or getting a premade. FloofAid can even help with that. You'd be surprised how many call themselves furries, but have little to show for it. Even those just starting out their own lives are just getting by.

    While AI is looked down in the community, I have made it my medium for designing. While Canidae are dominant, I put in three dollies and even threw in a Dutchie (rainbow dragon) and I'm not sure what that is (grey floof). I got them from the CNY Pride parade when using ChatGPT to create this from previous images. I didn't want just canines and felines because that's too easy. I even have a couple of hyenas, as well as deer, rabbits, birds and bears in the local group (we've only discussed the furcon).

    Once both NGOs are officially established, I will look into events such as Dougs Fish Fry or adult prom, to opening a Savers that has FloofAid as the local partner in Syracuse, despite Thrifty Shoppers regional dominance over two other national chains combined. Fursuits occasionally appear at Goodwill or other charity shops in random parts of the country, and we'll accept ones that are unsellable for even dirt low prices. We could provide a tax receipt, despite only one out of ten donors even bothering to itemise because it's barely takes off of most peoples taxes. Paul Newman didn't believe in write-offs and the estate continues that policy. Maybe Newmans Own or Warren Buffett could send a few bob over! Also, if you live outside CNY or can't come by, you could ship the fursuit Ground Advantage, but it might not be Savers' policy, yet the diehards will come looking for us to get some rock bottom deals.

    When Furacuse gets going, maybe FloofAid will too, but for now, you can contribute this way. The name FurryCuse may also have been suggested.

Furacuse

Furacuse poster made with ChatGPT

    As much as I would love to go on a trip to a furry convention in another town, it remains unattainable for many in the fandom, with the economy right now. Even Eufuria in Albany is out of my league this year. I learned that Fluffalo in Buffalo is actually held this year in a fishing club in Hamburg several miles down US 20 (it's a sizeable, yet low budget rental space, even for there), but it's in October, a couple weeks before Furpocalypse in Stamford, CT in the Tri-State, one of the largest in the Northeast, along with Anthrocon in Pittsburgh. I think Syracuse has the capacity for a furcon itself, and it has been discussed in the local Telegram group. RetroGameCon is also that time of year at the OnCenter in downtown Syracuse, which does have some furries, so it could be done. There are a few hotels nearby, and more in the suburbs, given the State Fair and eventually Micron. The location between the North Country, eastern Ontario, northeastern Pennsylvania, Twin Tiers, and the two existing cons on both sides of Upstate would bring in the people to at least break even, although we want to make a profit, yet we can't compete with Alleghany County being a smaller area with less infrastructure and resources.

    If downtown won't work, then there is Randolph House Hotel in Liverpool, which had been Sheraton, Holiday, and Ramada Inns before coming full circle under the latters sister franchise. It's right off the Thruway, has large event rooms and can have blocks booked, with all the floof under one roof. It'd be a bit of a hike from the bus, especially for those new to the area stunned by Centros paltry frequency, unless it's improved by the time this is established (that's for a whole other post). At least there'd be a few competitors nearby for overflow. The plaza could have a shuttle, but there are some things I won't get into here at this time. I think the CD Record Fair will remain at its current home at St Georges Macedonian Orthodox Church on NY 173 in Onondaga, even though I would never clash with that. There's no one time to do it, but I wouldn't when it's too cold for a start like in the boys' area.

    The dates provided are just an example, so nothing is there this year. Anything of this magnitude requires months of planning and thousands of dollars of sponsorship and investment. Even Furrydelphia had to start somewhere. I just wish more things could be in my area, which is how this blog came to be in the first place, and even this is something that is late to arrive in CNY. Had less trouble with IKEA.

    Since most cons are non-profit, this will raise money for a sister project called FloofAid, which will be the next post. It'll be a registered charity to help those in the fandom with less get to other cons as well as their own fursuits. I know that defeats the purpose of Furacuse, but it would be smaller than ones in the major metros, yet FloofAid will get the less fur-tunate the floof of their dreams, and even to this if they live too far from Syracuse or any con at all. Not even the biggest chain is on every corner.

GoFundMe

Doggy's holding on to that money!

 Please help.

7 Brew Coffee

7 Brew building site in Melbourne, FL in 2022 (I'll get my own snap shortly)

 7 Brew Coffee are a growing chain of drive-thru coffee takeaways, with new locations in North Syracuse and Rome, with Auburn and other area on the way, but there are some they may not have considered yet. They build from scratch and they take no time at all to pop up, so if an old property is sat and no longer of any use, it can just be demolished to make way for 7 Brew, which is easier for people in cars, even though I stumbled upon the Rome one at short notice, which had led me to write this one. May not be the easiest for those of us who don't drive or get on with technology (over-60s).

deWitt or Syracuse (east side) - NY 5

Clay or Liverpool - NY 31 or CR 57 (given Micron)

Cortland - NY 281 or 13 (local chain Coffeemania are also drive-thru only, so it'd be classic David & Goliath in a small town, you know)

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96 (former Burger King)

Auburn - NY 5 (former Eckerd/Rite Aid; confirmed)

Camillus or Fairmount - W Genesee St

Oswego - NY 104

Fulton - NY 3 or 481

Oneida - NY 5

ChatGPT OpenAI express version of 7 Brew Coffee

Salt City Coffee

Notsky the dog furry in Pamplona mode on a Valentine (Open AI)

 Salt City Coffee are one of the largest local coffee chains in town, giving even Café Kubal a run for their money, now with five locations (near west side flagship, downtown bar, SU Hill, east side, and Fayetteville), one Salt City Coffee got after the other place had a rift with next door neighbor 3fifteen and its owner the Rescue Mission, if not the Willowbank Company, the landlord of Marshall Square Mall, which they run in partnership with SU. Salt City Coffee could open a few more stores without selling out and staying true to their name, since CNY or any given area these days has no shortage of local coffee shops to compete with the big chains.

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights Plaza; former Hofmann Hot Haus/Salt City Dogs (unrelated business) (pictured below)

Syracuse (north side) - 1 Walsh Circle (off NY 370), Regional Transportation Centre; former Dunkin'

Liverpool - CR 57, Glenn Crossing Plaza; one of two former restaurants TBD

East Syracuse - NY 298 & Weighlock Dr; former Starbucks and Jimmy Johns (between Carrier Circle, Northern Blvd and Collamer across from Kinne St off Thruway exit 35)

Fantasy location in North Syracuse

Original Valentine with Notsky and added logo

Revised Ghibli Valentine with added logo and edits

Mystery Bins

Fantasy location in Sangertown Square in New Hartford

 It seems bin stores with Amazon and chain store surplus are growing, and a new chain has come to New York. The downstate location at Palisades Centre is the flagship, so I based the post there, and half of the old JCPenney at Destiny USA in Syracuse back Upstate is the first one here. Now we can just connect the dots. Just starting with ones I know since I haven't done this kind of post in a period due to lack of new material.

New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A; former Hess's/Kaufmanns/Macys, although smaller bin store is in the former Sears/current Boscovs wing (pictured)

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall, NY 5 & US 20; former Rex

Watertown - Salmon Run Mall, NY 3; former Christmas Tree Shops

Albany - Colonie Centre, NY 5; same as Watertown

Greece - Greece Ridge Mall, NY 104, former Sibleys/Kaufmanns/Macys

Williamsville - NY 78; former Best Buy

Binghamton - US 11; former Giant/Weis Markets

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96; former Hobby Lobby

Big Flats - Arnot Mall, off NY 17/I-86; former Sears

Where to Hold Adult Prom in Syracuse

Kitty and doggy are ready for the big night!

    Now in my tenth year of finding a prom in my area (even in 2020 when even the kids were out of luck, and I'm doing this for those who were deprived in 2020-21 as well as those of us of every vintage who are looking to either make up or redo like it's a test we had to take in order to earn it). While I was able to find something I could go to with just one days notice, I'm still determined to get this done, especially since Singers Karaoke Club have now decided that they won't have it this year after all because of other events being planned, even after last years revival following a long, long pause. A pride prom in Rome not just for young people has raised money, and it's on a Saturday this time, which is free if you live right in the area, but not if you have to pay more money getting there than being there, even if it's less than some events back home or starting from scratch. Going even further from town is out of the question for me and many others, even if they can drive. I wrote the list offline first before copying it here. I just wish this could be done in my backyard when they are held in one-horse towns as much as the big cities. Can't even get concerts to come here every time anymore (that's more for the sister blog). I also found where to have it in other Upstate metros, but it'd be more sporadic because I wouldn't know them all combined as well as my own backyard, of course, which is why I stay there. I went to Rome since I could absorb that cost, as that was my only option for the time being thus far, but I ruled out another prom in the Mohawk Valley, being held a hotel in New Hartford in July on a Tuesday, which is rare. The town (Utica) is small, but not that small (even if you do have your own way around). Because of poor bus scheduling in Rome, I don't want to make the same mistake twice in Utica and New Hartford, even though there'd be better chance of a bus turning up, I will stay close to home for these events in future because I had to be picked up and lodged a complaint to one bus company.
    I haven't ruled out holding adult prom in Syracuse, even if it's not in the springtime or this year, although I found a more exclusive event at short notice similar to a couple I went to several years ago. That place closed months after not long before COVID and is still vacant, yet I would buy it and use it as a small event space to let, but until then, here are the numerous options in and around the city I can come up with. Price, parking, ADA compliance and bus lines all are factored in to each venue.
    Someone else in my area said that they're planning on having one this Labour Day Weekend (5 or 6 September), so that saves having to go two counties away again just for that. They'll most likely book one of the larger spots downtown. Might be a different lot than the other two this year, but one must keep an open mind. Just hope tickets are reasonably priced. A charity ball in Jefferson County charged $25 for singles, which would be doable here. Comes before the start of school and homecoming season in the Northeast. Other places are considering, but this is the only one half-confirmed thus far in Syracuse, so that saves me the trouble of navigating (as everyone says these days) this on my own.

Downtown/Armoury Square

Palladian Hall; N Salina St (former OnBank/M&T Bank)

Maxwells, Hanover Square; E Genesee St (formerly Elbow Room)

The Rail Line; S Clinton St

Sky Armoury; S Salina & Clinton Sts (has hosted some proms before, but not in a period)

Marriott Syracuse Downtown (has several regular proms and may be too expensive); E Onondaga, Harrison & N Warren Sts, formerly Hotel Syracuse

OnCentre (same, even though it's taxpayer property); US 11

Landmark Theatre (has hosted a few of these in the corridor and lobby); S Salina St; formerly Loews State (from studio system era under MGM); unavailable during the summer because of renovations and when there are residencies.

Liverpool

Randolph House Hotel, Electronics Pkwy & 7th North St off I-90 (Traditions of Wyndham franchise; formerly Ramada [sister chain]/Sheraton/Holiday Inn. No regular proms this year. Have gone for CD Record Fair and Easter buffet)

Cicero

Carnegie Conference Centre, E Circle Dr; Drivers Village (former Penn-Can Mall in old Denbys wing near clock tower; also no run-of-the-diploma-mill proms in 2025; went for festive do last year)

Mattydale

VFW Post 3146; Truck NY 298 & leMoyne Ave (went for late Lent chippy)

Maplewood Bar & Grill, US 11 (former Zebbs); Mattydale Plaza (former kmart plaza; formerly at Holiday Inn & Suites in Liverpool [previously Maplewood Inn & Suites and Days Inn]; opening by this fall)

East Syracuse

American Legion Post 359; NY 290 (Halloween parties and fundraisers held there; other venue I wanted is closing)

Onondaga Hill

SRC Arena, OCC, NY 173 & 175

Camillus (in name only)/Onondaga

TK Tavern; Howlett Hill Rd, Taunton (original location off NY 5 had Salt City Collective prom twice)

Tipp Hill

Emerald Cocktail Kitchen (suggested to them and they will consider); W Fayette St

Ukrainian National Home (SCC prom moved there after old TK closed from a fire); W Wilbur Ave

Eastwood

Palace Theatre; NY 290 (has no lift to get upstairs at this time unfortunately being older and smaller)

American Legion Post #1276; NY 290 (former Friendlys; not sure if they even do this at new location)

Brewerton

Brewerton Centre for the Arts; US 11 (hosted one two years ago, yet may be too far for some people)

Syracuse (east side)

Harveys Garden (floofs had back room, yet prom could be held upstairs); E Water St

Syracuse (west side)

Singers (last resort during the day if booked as a private event since nights are ruled out)

Car washes

A car wash in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Deutschland. Courtesy Günther Hentschel.

 It seems like lately, new car washes open up left and right. Of course, they need to be cleaned, yet they seem to be an easier business to open than others with a bit less red tape. Nowadays, they are larger than ever, able to accommodate dozens of customers. Delta Sonic alone get queues several yards long. They are also the only way to get Tim Hortons in CNY. Other competitors have replaced former chains such as Babies 'R Us, Cams Pizzeria/Hardees/Hortons/ Dougs/TJs Fish Fry, an older car wash, a phone store, and other businesses. I miss the kind of full service car wash where you could have the attendant take your car through while you wait and then they clean the inside out after (this is called detail). Those must still exist. Car washes aren't nationalised, if you like. They're regional or indie. Also, get undercarriage because it prevents rust if you don't have rust already (one of my pet hates about motor cars, along with bumper stickers, dents, scratches, and bin bags in windows if you're too cheap to get them fixed).

Ko-Fi

Notsky the blue husky furry is asking for your donations!

    Like most people these days, I'm struggling to get by. I am now on Ko-Fi if you can give what you can. I know this should be with the widgets on the side if you're reading this on the desktop, and I set up a similar one years before based on someone elses, but I needed to point this out and even up the number of posts I've made to date. The crowdfunding sites have done next to nothing for me. Anything helps. Thank you for the help. It doesn't directly support running this blog, yet I will eventually need a new laptop because mine will lose support in six months' time because it's on Windows 10 and is too old to be upgraded, and I can only get another used one that may be no better. I may only be able to donate any of my old laptops to my NGO ISP in LA and get a tax receipt if I qualify if not get an affordable and compatible one there, but other priorities have been grating at me this past year, and it's hard to establish yourself at a later age (she won't say which one, mind). I don't get to do half as much as I used to between the events of recent years in the world and in my own life. I can't be like Ralph Kramden chasing every get rich quick scheme because it doesn't usually work. I will land on my feet like my kitties always do. Seeing all these properties just sit there for years shows that none of us are exempt from the economy. At least help me until I can find my own way and the country does too.

 

Family Video today

Cortland store last year

    After going by the former Family Video in Auburn yesterday and looking at a now outdated post here from almost a decade ago on which I only added tags for reference, I felt it was time to look into what has happened to the last of the video chains as far as this state goes, although all but a handful were in Western New York, with a few in CNY, the Finger Lakes (Rochester counts as there and WNY) or Twin Tiers. All vacant or TBD unless indicated.

Auburn - US 20 & NY 38A; now FlynnStoned

Cortland - N Main St/US 11 & NY 41

Liverpool - Morgan & Buckley Rds; later Zara Fashions (no relation to the chain); now closed

Amherst - Eggert Rd

Lackawanna - Ridge Rd

Jamestown - NY 60 & 394

Dunkirk - Central Ave; now Dollar General

Elmira - College Ave

Lancaster - NY 21

Lockport - NY 31

Niagara Falls (1) - US 62 (Niagara Falls Blvd)

Niagara Falls (2) - US 62 West (Pine Ave)

North Chili - NY 33

Orchard Park - NY 277

Rome - N James St

Bowling in CNY

If a bowling alley were in downtown Syracuse today

 While sports isn't something I typically cover, one thing I've noticed over the years is that bowling alleys in Syracuse are fewer by the day. It's not as big anymore. I managed to write a list of locations of where they used to be, but I can't remember the names of most of them. It'd be too easy to get a free image of the inside of any bowling alley, and I can't find one of the outside of any open or closed. I used to have a photo of one of these, but it was ruined and later disappeared. Another one across town, I can still picture the Jerry Lewis MDA gumball machine from the mid-'80s. NBC 3 used to be the local affiliate for a national bowling show on Saturdays. In recent memory, a tournament was held at the OnCenter (Onondaga County convention center). So much for Homer Simpsons perfect 300 game. Here's where they used to strike before winding up in the gutter (that was bad).

Solvay - Milton Ave, Solvay Recreation Alleys; one of the oldest in the area and country; recently closed due to the owners death

Syracuse (Eastwood) (1) - NY 290, Eastwood Plaza; later a dance studio; now Yesteryear Antiques & Collectibles

Syracuse (Eastwood) (2) - NY 290 & now 598; Eastwood Sport Center; now Kinney Pharmacy; parking lot now Dunkin' and Papa Johns (previously ToGos)*

Syracuse (east side) (1) - NY 5 & 635; later Tilted Kilt; now KPot*

Syracuse (east side) (2) - NY 5; now Express Bottle Return

Syracuse (west side) - NY 5; now ALDI*

Auburn (1) - Pulaski St, Falcons Lanes

Auburn (2) - NY 5 & US 20, Starlite Lanes (as of April 2025)

Skaneateles - US 20, Cedar House Bowling Lanes; being rebuilt

North Syracuse - US 11, Bowling Green Lanes

Liverpool - Old Liverpool Rd, Lakeview Bowling Center

Central Square - NY 49, Green Acres Lanes

East Syracuse - Bowl-Mor Lanes, Highland Ave

New Hartford - NY 5 & 5A, Pinz; Sangertown Square; a different animal and further out, but also worth mentioning

*Demolished

Notsky, dolly and the other floofs go night bowling

Dolly, Notsky, Wuffy and Duffy keep bowling alive

This could be a spot the differences thing in magazines.

Service Merchandise

If Service Merchandise were open now. Courtesy Meta AI.

 I've been meaning to write about Service Merchandise for several months, but I needed to find more locations since I only know the two that were in my area. They were a chain of catalogue showrooms, and my generation can remember the print edition, competing with Sears, JCPenney and Spiegel, before the internet (Amazon in particular) made it obsolete by 2002. There were subsidiaries like Mr How (previously HomeOwners), The Lingerie Store, The Toy Store, and Zims Jewellers, all of which I have only just learned about or just didn't notice in the old days. Due to having to deal with the here and now, and how long ago this all was, despite being from living memory, most downstate locations are more vague, and Upstate ones are less so if I know the area enough, but I will update as I know more and can commit to finding out where they all are and what is there today. Any input is always appreciated. TBD unless indicated (which is why I can't cover every chain, and even a wild guess can be disproven).

deWitt/Fayetteville - Wegmans Plaza, NY 5 & 92; demolished for current Wegmans in 1994 and/or later Chase-Pitkin, American Signature Furniture, and Value City Furniture; now Hobby Lobby

Cicero - Marketplace Plaza/Mall, US 11 & E Circle Dr; demolished by 2002 for current plaza

Huntington

Massapequa - Sunrise Mall

Montgomery - NY 208; now Staples

Lawrence

Nanuet

Woodhaven

Lake Grove

Albany - Northway Mall, NY 5 (most likely; demolished by 2004; now Target et al)

Schenectady - NY 5

Wilton - Saratoga Mall, NY 50 & CR 102

Yorktown Heights - Jefferson Valley Mall, US 6 & NY 6N; now H&M

Henrietta - NY 252

Irondequoit - US/NY 104

Greece - US/NY 104

Kenmore - NY 384

Plattsburgh - Champlain Centre, CR 26

Fishkill - Dutchess Mall, US 9; closed 1995; now vacant

Kingston - US 9W

Poughkeepsie - South Hills Mall, US 9

New Hartford - NY 5A

CVS lite

Small and pokey CVS in Glastonbury, CT from none other than Mike Mozart

 CVS/pharmacy have been struggling to regain relevance, much like their two main competitors. They've launched a new tactic by launching a dozen new locations that are just pharmacies and not much else. In CNY, they haven't had the best history and are sporadic in the region. In contrast, there have been stores without pharmacies (even Rite Aid had one in downtown Syracuse a block from a regular store [ex-Woolworth/now-DGX] and CVS/sans pharmacy [ex-kmart] in the old days). What CVS could do is have these truncated pharmacies in certain spots. One would be on SU Hill, where they have one last non-Rx location, which stuns newcomers to the area, who would have to go to Target or Manlius if they wish to have their scripts stay with CVS. Walgreens turned a former bank at Moyers Corners in Baldwinsville into a smaller store instead of converting the old Fays turned Rite Aid to cut costs, which is now Planet Fitness, so maybe CVS could do the same thing, and there'd even be a drive-thru at the ready that can be converted for pharmacy use. These mini-pharmacies could open where there isn't one nearby, which would help seniors and others without transport since the mail and even Amazon aren't always reliable. On Syracuses near west side, CVS briefly took over an indie, which was small by current standards for a regular store, yet Walgreens closed a few blocks away, leaving another local place to fill the vacuum. On the east side, Fays Cornerdrug were in the Madison Irving medical building at the foot of the hill, which I think had a pharmacy and just a few things, yet we covered them earlier already, since they also bought out mom and pop stores, mostly in small towns.
 They say less is more, and it'll be a little more challenging to come up with austere express locations for CVS since I tried for the usual, but events of the past several years have made growth difficult. They just can't be near Target or other pharmacy chains, of course. Maybe this could work. Just think smaller.

Syracuse (east side) - former Marine Midland/Key Bank; E Adams St

Syracuse (downtown) - former Sibleys/RKO Keith; S Salina St

Syracuse (north side) - Destiny USA; one of various hallway vacancies

Syracuse (south side) - former Acme/Carls/Fays/Dollar Tree; Turnpike Centre; NY 173 & 80

Canastota - former Family Dollar; NY 5 & 13 and CR 25 (since they won't open a full-fledged store in the former Rite Aid/Walgreens across the street)

Liverpool - former Café 407; Tulip St (no pharmacy in village since indie on CR 57 closed in the '90s)

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall; NY 5 & US 20 (past location, with or without pharmacy)

deWitt - former Party City (part); Marshalls Homegoods Plaza; NY 5 (full-fledged store was in Shoppingtown until late '70s when replaced by Fays)

Westvale - former Tops/P&C (part); Westvale Plaza; NY 5 (Target up W Genesee St in Fairmount, yet no pharmacy in plaza since Fays closed in 1997 and store became Family Dollar)

Brewerton - US 11 (vacant property listed on Facebook Marketplace)

Mattydale - former Eckerd/Rite Aid/Walgreens; US 11 & Malden Rd (even though it could be a full-sized store; this part of town has been weak in retail in recent years, but more on that another day)

DHgate

 

Maybe this dolly is on DHGate like the other place.

Try your luck and win big! Download the DHgate app and spin to win your $100 coupon. https://dhgate.allapp.link/d/2Run9G

Pizza Hut in CNY

Classic red mansard roof design in Saratoga County in the Capital Region, 2014.

Tyler A. McNeil, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 Pizza Hut aren't as big as they once were. So many have closed over the past few decades in CNY alone. I have to dig through my mental archive again for this one. They remain in East Syracuse, Liverpool, Cicero, Auburn, and an express location in Niagara Falls, ONT (the boys' side) for that matter. Here's where they "panned" out (to think Craig Robinson, who used to do the adverts, did one with Shaq for the General, since the NBA icon has a Papa Johns franchise and specialty pizza to boot):

Syracuse (Eastwood) (1) - Shop City Plaza, Swansea Dr & Lea La; later Antonios and a barbecue (Salt City BBQ?); now City Laundromat; was truncated in late '90s before closing

Syracuse (Eastwood) (2) - NY 290; later Papa Johns; now Liberty Tax*

Fayetteville - Highbridge St; now Twin Trees*

deWitt - NY 5; demolished; now Calibre Collision

Mattydale - US 11; now X-Crispy Chicken

Oneida - NY 5; now vacant

Syracuse (Fairmount) - W Genesee St; later Pudgies; now Stellas Diner

Chittenango - NY 5 & 13; now Chittenango Pizza

Cortland - NY 13; now Hydes Diner

Syracuse (south side/Valley) - US 11, Valley Plaza*

Nedrow - US 11; now vacant

Baldwinsville - Downer St, River Mall; becoming TJs Cannabis (never thought I'd be putting that on) 

*Pizza Hut Delivery