Weis Gas Rewards in Southern Tier

 

Former Giant store in Binghamton (AI edit; CVS now closed)

    With the loss of Price Chopper and Market 32's FuelAdvantage after nearly two decades, Sunoco stations in the Southern Tier and Northeast Pennsylvania will have less business unless they are willing to switch to a competitors own version, and one that is more dominant in the area anyway. Weis Markets have had a monopoly in Broome County alone since buying Giant Markets from the Axel family in 2009. So now it only makes sense if these franchises are willing to participate in Weis Gas Rewards. Even when I last went to the area over the festive period, I saw that two stations had one or the other and were just several miles apart, but never thought that the one that I know could be gone months later. The Elmira store further into Twin Tiers was opened before the Giant deal, and is the only one in the state today not part of that lot or to have its own Gas-'n'-Go station. If Weis bought the former P&C/Tops/Grand Union in Owego, then the Sunoco at the Onvo service station off of I-86 & NY 17 in Nichols would likely join the programme. In Weis's home state, it's a bit more sporadic until you get further towards Susquehanna Valley, where the chain are based. Price Chopper have stores all the way to Lackawanna and Wyoming Valleys and the Poconos, even though one in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre suburb of Taylor had closed recently, since Price Chopper aren't as mega in Pennsylvania, I guess.
    Here are where Sunoco should accept Weis Gas Rewards (if an area Sunoco isn't listed, they either have it already or it's just not right near Binghamton):

Binghamton (east side) - NY 7

Binghamton (near downtown) - NY 17C

Cortland (downtown) - NY 13 & 41 and US 11 (only if Weis come to Cortland)

Cortlandville - NY 281 (same as above)

Endwell/Endicott - 3225 E Main St

Friendsville, PA - PA 267 (although Weis aren't even in Susquehanna County)

Nichols - Onvo, CR 509 (only if Weis open in Owego, although this is technically between the two)

Price Chopper and Market 32 Bonus Points Retired?

Early Price Chopper store back in the mid-'70s

Delaware Ave store in Albany in the late '70s

 I have discovered in the past few weeks that Price Chopper and Market 32 seemed to have phased out their Bonus Points scheme. You can still earn FuelAdvantedge points with online offers, the occasional game, buying organic, or double points now and then. I usually only go to Price Chopper when Tops pause their own points for two weeks' time every other month. Even though they're sister stores now, both programmes started separately under different ownership; Tops when they were owned by Ahold, and it remained after they spun off. Theirs is easier to earn by comparison, yet the Centro pass deal is exclusive to Syracuse, and gift cards with four different chains is used where Tops Xpress is currently  unavailable. Meanwhile, Price Chopper and Market 32 have their points for redemption at participating Sunocos (even those not right near a store, while others have closed or just become other chains or indie since). One may even consider the bonus points deals or the whole promotion another example of so-called "spaving", where you're spending more than you're saving. Even if other chains without such a plan or even a card get more people, it may seem like a drop in the ocean these days as recent events have affected prices at the pump and beyond. Before all of this, I couldn't always get others to use these points, yet I would think they'd kill for it if they don't go to either Northeast chain. It's also not always convenient for me to go to Price Chopper on either side of town, while Tops are just around the corner or right in the suburbs. The mid-Hudson Valley also has both within driving distance, which was already covered here. I would just stick to Tops if they didn't take off earning for a period. Not everyone can go to more than one place. Most are lucky to have the one. Every place does has its advantages.
 If Market 32 and Price Chopper have decided to sunset Bonus Points or just have them on occasion, I'll still continue to come as well as look for the latest deals each month on the app. All is not lost. It'll just take a little longer again to get to a minimum number of points that will shave off a few pennies at the pump for whomever takes up the offer, even if it totals up to just over a dollar, which they may think is twopence in this economy, but at least I tried. At least I can usually keep the other places points for my own, and when I ever get my driving licence in future, I shall have both places at my disposal, or will I?

UPDATE (23/6/26): I go to Western Lights to see if any bonus points items still exist, and the only two things that come up are tubs of cream cheese and a large one of dishwasher detergent. They may just be phased out gradually or something for the diehards to find. Also, a bit less variety on some certain other things I was looking for, but I didn't have time to make two stops and wanted to get home before I got carried away again. Also can't let the side down, like I always say. I could always go again later.
  So not to have to start a whole new post and have too much on this chain, Market Bistro in Latham is now just Market 32. It was supposed to emulate that other chain (so not to get ones hopes up), but they decided to just have it under the name more common in the home territory. It's still uncertain if all Price Choppers will convert to the Market 32 name, even with an unrelated chain in the nations midsection and the economy the way that it is right now. No one else could ever be called Market 32, of course.

UPDATE (24/7/26): The plot thickens. If not getting bonus points isn't bad enough, it's where to use them. After two decades, Price Chopper and Market 32 have decided not to renew their contract with Sunoco anymore. FuelAdvantedge is over as of 1 August, unless they decide to partner with another chain, but there aren't one of the same calibre that could offer the same not already doing something of their own or with another chain. Even with all the rises these days, customers preferred to redeem their points at the till instead, including myself, since I couldn't get anyone to use them anymore anyway (the last person I asked has an electric car and slated Big Oil to put it that way). Just as well. You can also donate, get gift cards or magazine subscriptions. All is not lost. Tops' programme is a separate animal and staying put. This is a game changer. In the Southern Tier and Northeast Pennsylvania, it'll be Weis Markets that have the deal with Sunoco (if not their own stations). Once I drive myself, when I am going to Market 32 if it ever has that name west of Rome, I wonder if I'd even go to Sunoco now that the incentive is gone. I can get picky, and we'll just have to find other ways to save at the pump in these trying times.

Shaws

Shaws in Sturbridge, MA in the autumn

JJBers from Willimantic, Connecticut, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 With Grand Unions portfolio down to a handful, their one store outside New York is in Rutland, VT. It could be next to go, and it would most likely go to Shaws so it could stay union, as I pointed out in a previous post. Across Lake Champlain is a bigger challenge, with a closed store in Warrensburg and a remaining one in Peru close to Plattsburgh, Burlington, and the border. Shaws could start to expand a little west of New England. Albertsons are no stranger to New York, having owned Save-a-Lot and Acme, still in the Tri-State, but otherwise left Upstate decades ago, while Supervalu had been here themselves as well as with Shop 'n Save in WNY and the chains acquired through the merger with Albertsons. I've gone to Jewel-Osco and Dominicks in Chicago, Star Market in Boston, and Shoppers near Washington. Here are where Shaws could go (*still Grand Union for right now):

Peru - US 9*; former Tops

Rutland, VT - US 4*; former Tops

Albany - NY 5; former Price Chopper; Westgate Shopping Ctr

Warrensburg - US 9; former Tops and Grand Union (pictured below)

Troy (Lansingburgh) - US 4; former Price Chopper

Slingerlands - NY 85; former ShopRite

AI of future Warrensburg Shaws (CoPilot)

UFCW Local One

The now-closed Grand Union in Freedom Plaza in Rome

FotoPhest, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (my username there)

    Business closings and labor disputes continue to make the news in this uncertain economy. I've covered the new decline of Grand Union, and now I can count the number of stores on just one hand. ShopRites second exit from the Capital Region a few years back led to Market 32 buying four out of five of those stores. The bigger challenge is finding replacements for Grand Union in other parts of the state since they already left the immediate Albany area a generation ago, with rural locations going to Tops, and a few switching back after the merger with Price Chopper. What's more elusive is getting a chain or two that are affiliated with UFCW. For much of Upstate, UFCW Local One, based in Oriskany out in the Mohawk Valley, are the regional bureau. ShopRite, Tops, Stop & Shop, indie Chanatrys in Utica, P&C (when I was there and with the two left now) and Grand Union (the name refers to the country) are union shops. Some of them have past and present sister chains that are not union, like Price Chopper/ Market 32. To think the Capital District of all places no longer has one that is. Trader Joes employees started their own, but it's been more uphill for them. If Grand Union in Rutland, VT were next to leave, Shaws could get it since it's a smaller state, as I pointed out earlier. Shaws don't operate west of New England, however, but maybe they could expand, and it could be a future post since Albertsons were never in New York themselves, yet were part of Supervalu, which used to own Save-a-Lot and had a store in Voorheesville in rural Albany County in the '80s.

    In some small towns, it may be easier for a non-union chain like ALDI or Weis to take over the vacancy. It's hard enough to get anyone to do so, since they can sit empty for even decades. UFCW members should be able to have their benefits protected since not everyone can move when they want to stay in their field and they get their cards (I prefer that term to pink slip).

 

Rural King

The Bushranger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 I've heard of Rural King on Facebook recently, and I assumed they only opened in small towns, yet they compete more with Tractor Supply and CountryMax, which are in my area. Rural King are finally coming to New York with a store in Twin Tiers according to NBC 18 WETM, which led to this post. This opens the door to more locations by starting near the state line. Since some other chains are harder to replace with their own sort, Rural King might take over these properties as they did in Chemung County. Most of the country is near some form of countryside, even in bigger areas, so it shouldn't be too hard to come up with new locations like with the rest.

Elmira - S Main St; former Tops (confirmed)

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

Sidney - former Great American BK5

Greene - former Great American BK5

Cortland - former Big Lots; NY 281

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

Syracuse - former P&C/Tops, Westvale Plaza; NY 5

Oneida - former Foodtown; NY 365A

New Hartford - former Herb Phillipsons; New Hartford Shopping Ctr

Rome - former P&C/Tops/Grand Union, Freedom Plaza; NY 46 & 49

Albany (Colonie) - former Barnes & Noble/ShopRite; Wolf Rd

Schenectady - former Grand Union/ALDI; NY 5 & 7

Gloversville - former Price Chopper; N Main St

Watertown - former P&C/Tops/Grand Union; US 11

Fulton - former kmart, River Glen Plaza; NY 481

Oswego - NY 104

Rochester (Henrietta) - former Freddys/PriceRite, SouthTown Plaza; NY 252

Buffalo (Amherst) - former Best Buy, NY 78

Grand Union: Not Again?

Colourised by AI photo of Grand Union in West Islip, 8/4/79

 It's been five years' time since the merger of Tops and Price Chopper/Market 32, which had led to several overlapping locations in small towns to be sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers, who revived the Grand Union name, yet this past year, old habits die hard, while recent events make it difficult to operate, even in outlying rural communities with little competition, since even there, some residents can have a transportation barrier, such as the over-60s, disabled, low-wage earners, and others on a limited income. The Owego store was the first of the new generation to close last year, with ALDI opening nearby to boot. Now the stores in Norwich, Cooperstown, and Watertown are next. Chenango County has had no proper public transport for over a years time, so the authorities are scrambling to help those who can't get to the outskirts of town while waiting for new bus service to even occur. Baseball country also has a local place, as does Peru in Champlain Valley, trying to be Davids if all the Goliaths are slain, as it were. Jefferson County has more options by comparison, yet between having something close at hand and even finding another union chain, this is happening coast to coast, and with Grand Union, you know how things happen in threes. There have even been some rumors in Cortland on Facebook, and that's the largest and nicest one I've seen of the current chain. The old guard Grand Union had dealt with the economy of that time, mismanagement, debt, administration, embezzlement, liquidation, what-have-you. The Enron of supermarkets! (Both companies were on the way out around the same time to boot.) While the new ones are dealing with different challenges, it does make me want to get back to one of the few I can reach because it does worry me and these communities. There isn't that much time left.
    Tops could return to Cortland, Watertown, Rome, Warrensburg, Peru, and Saranac Lake if things take a turn for the worse all over again since these stores either have enough competition or are far enough from a Price Chopper or Market 32 now that it's been long enough since they were told to spin off, yet even the Liverpool one closed with Tops just up the road. As for Grand Union, it'll be hard to find a new chain tied to UFCW (Local One for much of Upstate NY, as Rome had been the de facto flagship, but that would now be in Sherrill several miles away), or you'll be lucky to get anything at this stage these days. Otsego County could even wind up with ALDI since it's the one place where the two don't compete (Oneonta is across the county down the road). The sole non-NY store in Rutland, VT might sell to Albertsons' Shaws or Star Market (pro-union and job-saving Feel the Bern would make sure).
    It's not quite the Grand Union that I grew up with, but one closure of any place is one too many. All that's left I can count on one hand. It's just sad that it's come down to all this once more. More as this continuing story develops further.
UPDATE (6/9/26): Cortland and Sherrill stores are now closing. With only three left, those could be next. (17/10/26): Cortland store is closed, after being originally set for December. Markdowns cleared out the place straight away. As always, I'll keep an eye out for any new development on these locations, yet like any property, the economy, whether local or national, is always the elephant in the room. I just didn't get a chance to say goodbye again properly, thinking I had more time. Wasn't surprised, really. Also less ceremonius with less notice, even for a small town. I may have gone out of my way and learned the hard way, but at least I know now. Across the region in Sherrill, I think they're no different, even as the smallest city in the whole state. Leaders in Norwich and Warrensburg are trying to find new tenants for those stores to make it easier for the over-60s and others with a transport barrier (join the queue) since it's just as common and cars are just as expensive in rural communities as in the big cities.

Sweetheart Market: 80 Years On

 

AI of original store with real signs added

    While trying to find inspiration for this months post, I thought I would find it at Drivers Village in Cicero, which was Penn-Can Mall in the old days. I didn't see anything new to go on there, but I did see a restored photo of Sweetheart Market from a few miles away on the corner of US 11 and West Taft Road in North Syracuse. From fruit and veg stand with their own ice cream to a large corner shop. It was in 1979 that the store I remember had been built in order to compete with Williams across the street, as well as big names like Wegmans, Price Chopper, the old Tops, and P&C. It was part of the Hometown Markets co-op by 1985 when Williams weren't, but left when the latter were sold to Peters in 1996. By 2003, neither Sweetheart nor Peters could survive in the new century. Eckerd opened at the site and the corner sign remains to this day. Rite Aid is now empty, but could a new Sweetheart Market open inside since getting CVS in there is a longshot at this rate? Now that a large Walmart and ALDI are also now in the picture, it would be more uphill for Sweetheart to stand out in the current climate, even though a few remaining rivals of the same stature still do.

I recently came across a Sweetheart cart earlier this year on Burnet Ave in Eastwood. Not sure how it got all the way over there or stayed intact for over two decades. This was down the street from where Burnet Market, Big M turned onetime fellow Hometown Market and later indie health food store that was also demolished. I even found a Peters cart across from Wegmans in East Syracuse of all places.

If I were shopping at Sweetheart today.

The sign is not the only thing that made it.

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)

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

Acme in CNY

ACME alive and well in Fairfield County (some people still don't even think it's a real company!)

 The recent closure of a Dollar Tree across town pointed out that it was an Acme a lifetime ago. I have heard that they were in CNY, but have left before I was born to where people here or who have left assume they don't exist anymore if they don't keep up or get around. Owner Albertsons ended their proposed merger with Kroger and a legal case is pending at this writing. Acme is also associated with Warner Bros. cartoons that we grew up with (Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner mostly) due to the generic nature of the name. This is not the same Acme that is in the Midwest. As for this Acme, the tri-state have the closest stores today, which reach all the way to the mid-Atlantic. Now here are where they were Upstate in simpler times, even right next to competitors like Victory or Grand Union in the same plaza (which was normal in those days). Additional thanks to Groceteria for the usual deep dig.

Syracuse (Valley/south side) (1) - NY 173 & 80; Turnpike Centre; later Carls/Fays/Dollar Tree

Syracuse (Valley/south side) (2) - US 11; Valley Plaza; later Chicago Markets, A&P, Tops and P&C (last two twice)

Syracuse (east side) (1) - Nottingham Plaza, Nottingham & Tecumseh Rds; later Fays? (even with Drumlins down the road); now Kinney Pharmacy (half of original plaza long since demolished). Was also down the block and became Victory (the plot thickens!).

Syracuse (east side) (2) - E Fayette St; long gone

Syracuse (east side) (3) - W Raynor St; now Fallon Lecture Hall at SU

Syracuse (east side) (4) - Westcott St; lost to the ages

Syracuse (south side) - South Ave; also not preserved by posterity since

Syracuse (Eastwood) - Shop City Plaza; later Green Hills Farms; now Black Friday Deals? (TBD)

Syracuse (west side) (1) - S Geddes St; now Sabatinos Pizza, Deli & Grocery (cornershop)

Syracuse (west side) (2) - W Onondaga St; now Helio Health

Syracuse (north side) - US 11/N Salina St; long gone due to redevelopment of Little Italy since then

Syracuse (Fairmount) - NY 173 & W Genesee St; Fairmount Fair Mall/Plaza; later Caldor and Walmart; now Target (both previous buildings long since demolished, of course)

deWitt (1) - NY 5; kmart Plaza (now Erie Canal Centre); later Price Chopper and OfficeMax; now Michaels

deWitt (2)- NY 5; Shoppingtown Mall; demolished by 1975 when mall was enclosed; you know the rest (let's give it one)

Liverpool (village) - 1st St; later P&C and Big M; store long gone

Liverpool (Galeville) - Old Liverpool Rd & Electronics Pkwy, Liverpool Plaza; later Manns Midstate/Big M/Carls/Fays/Thrifty Shopper/Palm Market; now vacant (I know this one a bit more)

Mattydale - US 11; now Dees Diner

Syracuse (Lyncourt) - NY 298; now Quality Countertops

East Syracuse - Kirkville Rd & Kinne St; later Smiths; now Dollar Tree

Fayetteville - NY 257; now Ace Hardware

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd; Northern Lights Plaza; various businesses been and gone; plaza now owned by Raymour & Flanigan, which should attract more tenants, despite the economy

Canandaigua - NY 21 & 332; honorable mention; not quite CNY, yet building kept intact long after it closed

Big Lots! Part 2

Marion, OH store; February 2022.

JBTHEMILKER, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 I may have done Big Lots! before, but now they're on the way out, and even if they're sold, the current economic climate doesn't hold well for them. The last post on Trader Joes led to this since some Big Lots! locations could be sold to them if it'll work. DFW-based rivals Tuesday Morning have already gone out of business. Rhode Islands Ocean State Job Lot would make sense in some of these, and they have confirmed that they shall buy several locations in the Northeast including Bayberry. Ollies Bargain Outlet will get many other locations, but they already have a strong presence in CNY alone.

Auburn - NY 5; former kmart*

Buffalo - S Ogden St; South Ogden Plaza

Cortland - NY 281; former Real Deals

deWitt - NY 5; former Price Chopper; now Spectrum

Elmira - Lake St*

Kingston - US 9W*

Liverpool - CR 57; former Price Chopper, The Shops at Seneca Mall; becoming Ocean State Job Lot*

Mattydale - US 11; former Tops/P&C*

Middletown - NY 211; Walkill Plaza

Oswego - NY 104*

Plattsburgh - NY 3; former Big Lots

Poughkeepsie - Burnett Blvd; former Caldor

Syracuse - Onondaga Blvd; former Fays; now Goodwill

Utica - NY 5; former Chicago Markets/Great American*

Watertown - NY 3*

*Outgoing

Mid-Hudson Memories

Gnax the red fox furry; his species are Marists mascot

 From 1997 to 2000, I lived in Dutchess County while away at school. While I won't go into the personal aspects of that too much here, it had to be done. This year would be the 25th anniversary of when I graduated from there, but a Smiths reunion is more likely now than one with my former colleagues (one person from that time knows what I mean). I even wrote to one recently, but that ship has sailed. There is an annual do with those of every vintage up to that time, but I don't know.

    As for what to put here, I finally got to go to ShopRite after only knowing it from then-UPN 9 and WB 11 (more on them on our sister blog). Grand Union provided some familiarity, yet I only went to Price Chopper rarely since that was one of many chains in town that we had back home. I discovered Stop & Shop, which was then sister to Tops, the latter bought some of the others stores that overlapped with Hannaford after the Ahold Delhaize merger. I went to Walgreens for the first time since they did not return to CNY until 2006. There was a dollar store called Just-a-Buck, which we covered years earlier. Rhino Records, which spun off of the label after it was sold to Time Warner, had locations in Poughkeepsie and New Paltz close to college campuses. After Caldor left CNY after two years' time, I had just as long before the whole chain closed. I can't recall if I ever went to Adams Fairacre Farms, the premier local chain in the Hudson Valley.  There were Poughkeepsie Galleria (Destiny USAs sister mall), South Hills Mall and Hudson Valley Mall. My stablemates and I would shop in Ulster and Dutchess Counties and had the minibus. I would take the chartered coach or railway home to visit.
    There was an indie video store across US 9 from where I was and they would sometimes have what I wanted. Even a couple delis were close by. Discovered Chinese buffet down the road. Saw Revco get absorbed by CVS and the last leg of Fays as Eckerd opened. Went to IGA and for the last time A&P. Got ice creams at Dairy Queen (not near home then) or Holy Cow in Red Hook (better off there). Only heard of G. Fox in recent years, and Filenes had been back for some time once I got to the mall. The furry fox I used for this post is in the one for G. Fox and also represents the mascot for Marist College, one of the three private schools in town, and an alum turned staff member of that place worked nights where I lived to boot. It'd be too easy to put a photo of a business or even landscape of the river itself.

   Despite the area being a bedroom community, I only got to take the MetroNorth Hudson Line twice to New York City since it wasn't that simple in those days, and it's not an everyday thing for everyone there; some not going down river for months or even years at a time. I only went once before with my family and three times this century to date, twice to see Paul McCartney, but that's for "Another Day"!
    Mid-Hudson Memories was going to be the name used for a segment on a short-lived user feature on the site for the Poughkeepsie Journal site after a rare visit in 2010 to see Yes at Mid-Hudson Civic Center (on the music blog), but I had to get on to the life I had in that day, and the feature became dated and obscure anyway. I just know I was still running riot with retail when I was in town. It has come on even more since like anywhere, despite all the stagnation and stagflation across the country these days.
    Because of my limitations, I doubt I'll ever get a hundred miles of there again. Haven't even made it to the tri-state proper since 2009, several months before halfway north to Albany, which I'm lucky to even get to once a year as it is. Just as people from my hometown or local alums who live elsewhere now can't all make it over yet once any time of year because of the costs and/or current routines. Maybe someday, I'll make it back. If I do go to events in the NYC region, I could stop along the way once I have my driving licence and own car, although I'd have to sort out the city itself (you know how it is).

Big Lots! Part 1

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)

Pathmark

Former Hackensack, NJ store on NJ 17

 Another chain with a history in the Tri-State and beyond has returned. This time, it's Pathmark. I heard of them way back from New York TV like a couple of their competitors, and they were briefly in CNY on NY 5 in deWitt in the '80s as Pathmark Super Drug; the store sold to Woolworths Rx Place later in the decade. One of Pathmarks old rivals, A&P (which also had been Upstate), bought them later, but went bankrupt and closed. While it may be too late for A&P, Pathmark was sold to a new company, but just have one store in the middle in Brooklyn so far. The chain replaced a ShopRite franchise when they were founded. Like so many others, Pathmark had undergone a financial rollercoaster (haven't we all?).

Stop & Shop are now closing numerous stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, and downstate, as well as Massachusetts and Rhode Island (those two will have to find other chains to fill the vacuum) because of declining sales. Pathmark could buy those and return to Connecticut after nearly three decades. Any other closed stores in the boroughs, Long Island and New Jersey, be it ShopRite or something else could also be acquired. Maybe even the old Price Choppers on NY 5 in Albany County so that a union chain can return to the immediate area, although I don't think the drugstore even made it up river in the old days, while it went further up the Thruway to my end, as well as a cart more recently and strangely.  I won't be listing past locations since it's tiring enough with other chains and speculative future ones, but archive.org and Groceteria should have what you're looking for (main chain only) for most areas where Pathmark had made their namesake. The new Pathmark will carry Best Yet, bringing that brand back to some of downstate after Best (Yet) Market were mostly sold to Lidl several years ago (as of 6/5/26). It is now owned by Allegiance Retail Services, a co-op who also own Foodtown and Gristedes.

Closing Stop & Shops unless indicated:

East Meadow - NY 24 & 106 (Pathmark Daily now at former Super Foodtown on 625 Merrick Ave)

Ansonia, CT - Division St

Danbury, CT - Newtown Rd, Beaverbrook

Milford, CT - US 1 & CT 162

Stamford, CT - US 1

Torrington, CT - High St near JCPenney

Carlstadt, NJ - Paterson Ave

Edison, NJ (1) - Inman Grove Shopping Ctr

Edison, NJ (2) - US 1

Jackson Township, NJ- CR 526

Piscataway, NJ - Stelton Rd

Pt Pleasant Beach, NJ - NJ 35

Ringwood, NJ - CR 692

Howell, NJ - US 9

Phillipsburg, NJ - US 22

Franklin Township, NJ - NJ 27

Poughkeepsie/Arlington - US 44 & NY 55; former ShopRite

Brooklyn - Cropsey Ave

Greenvale - NY 25A; Wheatley Plaza

West Haverstraw - US 202; Samsondale Plaza

Wilmington, DE - DE 9; former Great Valu (pending)

Coram - NY 25 & 112

Mt Vernon - E Sandford Blvd

Hempstead - NY 102

Wayne, NJ - former ShopRite

West Nyack - former Grand Union/Stop & Shop/MetFresh or ShopRite, NY 59

West Babylon - former ShopRite; NY 109

Albany (Uptown) - NY 5; former Price Chopper; Westgate Shopping Center

Montague, NJ - former ShopRite; NJ 23

Cortlandt Manor - former ShopRite; US 9

Ellenville - former ShopRite and Tops (as of 2/10); US 209

The Paper Cutter

If The Paper Cutter were still cutting it today with AI.

 Fays Drugs had The Paper Cutter division with office, party and school supplies until the main chain were sold to JCPenneys Eckerd subsidiary in 1996-97 (auto parts chain Wheels would go to other chains, but that'll have to wait for another day). I could only remember a couple off the top of my head. People on Facebook recalled others in town, so this required some digging like many of the chains that have only closed in the past few decades (even some of those before our time that are regional have a spreadsheet). Staples, OfficeMax/Office Depot (now out of CNY), Party City (now in the same boat), and today amazon (go figure) would make The Paper Cutter almost impossible now (we've done The Paper Store earlier).

The one thing I have with the real logo.

Camillus - Camillus Plaza; long since demolished and was over where Walmart are now next to Goldbergs, Hills, Price Chopper (which closed in 1982), and other chains that belong to the ages now

North Syracuse - North Plaza, US 11 & Lawrence Rd E.; later Real Deals, now Dollar General

deWitt - NY 5; Empire Plaza; later Maines, now Ollies Bargain Outlet

Clay - NY 31 & 481; Marketfair North

New England - possibly Vermont and Massachusetts

Syracuse (downtown) - S Salina St; later McDonalds, formerly The Syracuse Trust Company, now vacant

deWitt (2) - NY 5, Shoppingtown (not everyones memories are accurate or from my lifetime)

Fairmount - Fairmount Fair (was in mall, which is now a plaza)

Capital Region - TBD (I don't remember seeing them there)

Glens Falls - TBD

Rome - NY 46 (Black River Blvd. since I know it wasn't downtown)

Guilderland - US 20 (another wild guess since the retail corridor that way from Crossgates to 20 Mall is obvious having gone to Albany County forever)

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96 (would have to be since it's the main drag for most larger retail in the area)

Mohawk Valley - TBD

Horseheads - Grand Central Plaza, NY 14

Cortland - Riverside Plaza, NY 13 (small town hunch since Fays proper were there too)

Philadelphia area/Southern NJ/Lehigh and Delaware Valleys - TBD

Albany (Uptown) - NY 5, Westgate Shopping Center (found thanks to a tip)

Gates - TBD

WNY - TBD

Amherst - NY 324, Sheridan Centre Plaza; now Monster Mini Golf

Auburn - NY 5

Southern Tier - TBD

Susquehanna/Wyoming/Lackawanna Valleys, PA - TBD

If it were small in the mall down the hall (channelling Dr Seuss!)

ShopRite to open in Slingerlands - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Close enough looking Tri-State location, courtesy Mike Mozart

ShopRite to open in Slingerlands - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

UPDATE: When this and four others in the Capital Region closed in Fall 2023, this was the only one not to reopen as Market 32 when Price Chopper bought them since they have one already around the corner off NY 85 & 140 (I haven't been to either since some of my relatives passed, so I don't get to that part of town anymore when I come to the area).

UPDATE (1/11/26): The Center of Disability Services will open a new school at the site in 2027.

Food Club: 80 Years On

Ft Knox tin of Food Club Brand Chefs Blend Coffee from the '50s (saw an even older one on Pinterest)

 Food Club brand used to be sold all over CNY at P&C, Big M, Great American/Victory Markets (an Instagram post from an '80s account taken in Otsego County got me going) and Hometown Markets. I wrote about Topcos arrival in the area in 1993 years before when Penn Traffic retired Commander Foods (which P&C had since the '60s at least if I'm not mistaken). While their other brands remain at Tops, Price Chopper, Grand Union and other chains in limited form, Food Club has been elusive here in recent memory. When Tops took over Penn Traffic in 2010, C&S acquired Big M and brought in Best Yet. As with many generics, some products level up to the brand names, while others not so much (you know how it is). It was founded in 1945 by the end of WWII as the economy was to rebound again.

Food Clubs site only lists Long Islands King Kullen and Weis Markets in the Southern Tier/Twin Tiers (to a lesser extent since they have their own store brands of most staples) as the only chains in the state that carry it today. Non-profit indie Brady Market on Syracuses near west side in the former Nojaim Bros (which carried it in the old days as the last surviving Hometown Market, Nojaims having just closed the Marcellus store and buried two family members) is the last holdout here, although it's likely Piggly Wiggly in Watertown of all places could have it too since the Midwestern locations do (the North Country store used to be P&C, then Tops, and is part of that division via the Great Lakes).

If the non-profit store in Uticas West End Bargain Grocery doesn't have a private label partner, I suppose they could also get a deal. Don't know if Topco will offer Food Club à la carte like with the sister brands. Wegmans discontinued their soft drinks (the seltzer and sparkling water remain), and Food Club could replace them, yet I remember Wegmans WPop ('90s branding) being streets ahead of the other generics (you probably don't get that in Consumer Reports, but sometimes on random websites now). A few Food Club items wound up on the bargain shelf at one Tops store, likely because of common manufacturing facilities. Then it could happen that the current P&C Fresh could carry Food Club since P&C and Grand Union are both in Cortland and have Best Yet (along with a small place in Homer), while Ithaca just has P&C and not the other in generations unless they or Weis buy the former Tops across town. I used to have less trouble getting the even rarer Hy-Top, which was at Chanatrys in Utica (Bargains only full-sized locally-owned competitor) and Shop 'n Save (that's one for another day). Now Chanatrys have switched to Food Club along with the sister brands that their former immediate competitor had carried in the past (they're too far apart now). I picked up my fizzy water to show you (P&Cs Commander Foods used to have Party Club for sodas, which is mentioned in the old article. It was once a store in its own right).

It would take someone starting their own place and getting all Topco to bring Food Club back to our backyard more often, but it could be down to warehouses/wholesalers. Now Tops have a few Food Club items with a new logo (pictured bottom), bringing the brand back to many stores that had it under the old guard. It goes to show how something can be on every corner one day and piecemeal or gone the next. Their social media tries to glamourise their products as a far cry from the austere or even plain text bargain label products of the '70s and '80s. These days, any generics will do as people try to stretch their dollars wherever they can.

UPDATE (3/9/26): diOrios Supermarket in Old Forge have ended their decades-long affiliation with IGA and now carry Food Club as well. Happened to come up in my feed. It's been a whole year already.

Food Club today in a one litre fizzy.

New logo with new address to boot.

Bakery Outlets

Entenmanns outlet in Georgetown downstate (not Leatherstocking or DC)

 Freihofers Bakery Outlets had just closed stores suddenly in the Northeast, including CNY, the Finger Lakes, Mohawk and Hudson Valleys, Capital Region, New England and the Tri-State. Even the employees themselves had the rug taken off from under them. While stores big and small worldwide have been suffering the past few years, even these did not make it. Bimbo Bakeries USA, well known to Pati (Jinich, who heard of the parent company back in Mexico), and based near Patti (laBelle, who lives in Wynewood and has to limit her carbs) made the decision to close them. I put sister brand Entenmanns in Brooklyn since that was the closest thing I could find (one of several former sister brands to Loblaws that Bimbo bought), although Freihofers were headquartered in nearby Totowa, NJ, yet Bimbos acquisition brought them back to the Philadelphia area in some way, where Freihofers were founded in the Victorian era in the city proper. You can always just go to any big store to get it now.

Rivals Wonder Hostess (now part of Flowers Bakeries) used to have their own outlets in Syracuse on Court Street Road, East Molloy Road (likely not at the same time since it's a mile away) and South Bay Road in North Syracuse. The first two are a short drive from Freihofers Lyncourt store, which had Bimbos brands, as well some lesser known ones, plus institutional packages, store brands like Price Choppers PiCs and Big M (formerly made by later Penn Traffic division Penny Curtiss [name inspired by Betty Crocker based on P&Cs initials] around the corner), and some non-baked items. Those stores are quite small and you'd be lucky to fit a cornershop in them. Before my time, there was even the Millbrook Bakery Thrift Store (an early local Wonder Hostess franchise) on Spencer and N Clinton Sts on the north side of Syracuse, which is long gone and new to me. You learn something new everyday. A dying bread, I mean breed! You'd think it would still work now, saving people money, but so much retail and other things have not recovered from the past five years (you know how it is).

DG Market

New Syracuse store in the Valley

 While Dollar General only came to CNY in the late '90s, subsidiary DG Market is even more late. Syracuse.com merely mentioned one of the two that opened on the south side, which is one of far too many food deserts across the country affecting vulnerable populations, much of whom lack personal transport (you know how it is). The one the site mentioned on S. Salina St. (US 11) and E. Brighton Ave. turned out to be the former Big M (closed in the '90s) and Factory Direct Furniture Outlet (competed with the flagship Dunk & Bright across the street and thus just moved to Shop City) and nothing at this writing just yet on the other one only a few miles away at the corner of W. Seneca Tpke. and Valley Dr. (NY 173 & 80; pictured) in the former Eckerd/Rite Aid/Walgreens. While many would like the old A&P/P&C/Tops in Valley Plaza down the street from the former and around the corner from the latter to become a DG Market as well (as of 2025, the former Tops will become an indie instead), it may be too close to both and DG proper will close (although in an older, smaller space). Across town in Mattydale, the Walgreens there is on the way out, and there hasn't been a grocery store there in thirty years time since P&C (previously Tops until 1986, where Big Lots is today) moved up Brewerton Road (also US 11) to the former Channel Home Center in Airport Plaza in North Syracuse (now Tops as well). Regular DG is at the corner of E. Molloy Rd. where arch-rival Family Dollar (currently about to close 1,000 stores, after spinning off of Dollar Tree) had been. We all know these chains are all over the place these days, and as for DGs competitors, it's a classic case of too many stores along with recent events, yet DG have been thriving when much of the public hasn't. DG Market offers items that the main chain or even DGX (the downtown division; mine in the old Woolworths/Rite Aid) doesn't. Even Trafalgar, IN is getting a DG Market (which I discovered whilst trying to do my research), as well as the North Country back here (albeit at the expense of a nearby small town mom-and-pop). Now we should come up with the usual list of locations of where to put one, even though it may be a copout and sellout at the same time with a big name like this. I'll throw in a couple from out-of-state. Turnover is normal in the chain industry, and in 2025, Dollar General closed a hundred stores, while planning on opening over 450 in 2026, with the potential of around 110,000 over time, gradually acquiring other chains' vacancies nationwide. Here's just where to put DG Market as the regular kind is too easy (maybe in Camillus).

Binghamton - NY 7, former Giant/Weis

Greene - former Great American BK Five

Sidney - CR 23, former Great American BK Five

North Syracuse - US 11 & Chestnut St, former Rite Aid/Walgreens (confirmed for 2026; DG proper up the street at Bear Rd will close when the lease runs out)

Albany (south end) - NY 32 or US 9W et al

Renssalaer - US 9 & 20; former Aldi

Schenectady - NY 5 & 7; former Aldi/Grand Union

Troy (Lansingburgh) - US 4; former Price Chopper

Taylor, PA - former Price Chopper (as of 19/4/24)

Utica - Genesee St.; former Fays/Eckerd/Rite Aid

Fulton - NY 481; former kmart, River Glen Plaza (regular DG in former last surviving CNY Woolworths downtown up the street)

Hubbard, OH - former Save-a-Lot (closed due to right rent rise and roof row)

Albany (Delaware Area) - NY 443 & US 9W; former Save-a-Lot/Fays?

Former Price Chopper locations

Syracuse east side store, which is doing just fine

Here's where Price Chopper used to be (all NY unless indicated): 

Framingham, MA 

Schenectady (Sheridan Plaza) 

Watervliet*/** (NY 32; previously Fays and Eckerd, now Dollar Tree)

Albany*/** (earlier store; previously ***, including Westmere on US 20 [likely demolished by '80s])

Oneonta* (NY 7)

Albany (New Scotland Ave.; Mini Chopper only; main store now Market 32) 

Mechanicville*/*** 

Pittsfield, MA*/*** 

Glens Falls*/*** 

North Troy */**

Lansingburgh (US 4)

Green Island*/** 

Poughkeepsie (South Hills Mall) (US 9) (now ShopRite)

Shrewsbury, MA* 

Oneida (NY 5 & 46) - later Herb Phillipsons, now The Electic Chic* 

Oswego (near Fort Ontario)* (now medical building)

Saratoga Springs* (earlier store)

Saratoga Springs (Price Chopper Limited downtown; now indie store)

Northampton, MA 

Baldwinsville? 

Fulton (NY 3)* 

deWitt (former Hechinger Plaza) - NY 5; later Big Lots and Stickley Clearance Centre; now Spectrum* 

deWitt (kmart plaza; now Erie Canal Centre) - NY 5; later OfficeMax, now Dicks Sporting Goods* 

Liverpool (1)* (CR 57, Seneca Mall; later Big Lots; now Ocean State Job Lot)

West Boylston, MA 

Willowbrook 

Colonie* (original store; later Colonie Plaza; store closed when Market 32 opened in former ShopRite down NY 5 and is now Walworld International Supermarket)

Plattsburgh (US 9)* 

Scranton, PA (apart from Taylor)

Niskayuna (NY 5 & Ballstown Rd) (Mohawk Mall. Replaced by older current store at Mohawk Commons. New store at former ShopRite on NY 146 & Nott St E)

Syracuse (Western Lights)* (original store; current one at former Chappells/OptiVision)

Syracuse (South Side; NY 173)* previously Loblaws; TBD/later Carls/Fays/Dollar Tree?

Liverpool (2) (NY 31 as of 19/4/24); will become Ross, Sierra and Boot Barn (all long overdue)

Taylor, PA (as of 19/4/24)

New Hartford* (NY 5A); now atHome

Gloversville (as of 10/1/26)

Albany (Westgate, NY 5)* (closed when Market 32 opened in former ShopRite down NY 5)

Camillus (became Hills in 1982, then Ames in 1999 until chains demise in 2002; building and most of old mall and plaza demolished; Walmart Supercenter opened in 2006)

Newington, CT (US 5 & CT 15) as of 26/6/26*

*moved

**As Public Service Market

***As Central Markets

More locations TBD