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

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

Mattress Firm: 40 Years On

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.
UPDATE (3/5/26): Metro Mattress are now under new management, so some stores were reopened (just a couple in CNY so far, and that chain will get their own post at a later time), thus I had to delete them and find alternative locations.

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

deWitt - NY 5, former Charneys/Wheels; Empire Plaza

Syracuse (Fairmount) - W Genesee St; Fairmount Fair

Camillus - Township Blvd; Township 5* (instead of Fairmount)

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 JoAnn Fabrics; Riverside Mall

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

New Hartford - NY 5 & 5A, former Macys/Hess's/Kaufmanns; Sangertown Square

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 or NY 5 (Grant Ave)*

Colonie - Wolf Rd, former Barnes & Noble (although existing store is in Latham)

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

B. Forman & Co.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brighton - NY 31; childrens store

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

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

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

Henrietta - NY 252 & 15A, Marketplace Mall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*previously Flahs

McCurdy's

AI with fixed logo, and that's not Irish underneath!

 After my annual visit to Monroe County, I just had to cover McCurdys next, which I also just heard of in the past few months. They've been gone for three decades now since The Bon-Ton took over their stores, even though corporate were sold to May Department Stores, which already took over Sibleys, which I know from the old days was replaced by Kaufmanns. McCurdys later owned B. Forman, which was in my area that I vaguely remember and we'll get to next. While one could go to Wikipedia and the like, I'll just put it here the usual way so it's not as complicated. Also on opposite sides of Ontario County, and later Cayuga County across the Finger Lakes and Twin Tiers when they bought Iszards.

Rochester (downtown) - Midtown Plaza, NY 96; flagship; demolished 2018*

Henrietta - Marketplace Mall, NY 252 & 15A; now Dave & Busters and a go-kart track

Greece - Long Ridge Mall (later The Mall at Greece Ridge), NY 104; demolished and replaced with new stores

Irondequoit (1) - Irondequoit Mall (now Skyview at the Ridge)

Irondequoit (2) - Northgate Plaza*

Geneva - Town and Country Plaza, NY 5 & US 20*

Victor - Eastview Mall, NY 96; absorbed by von Maur expansion

Lansing - Pyramid Mall (now The Shops at Ithaca Mall), NY 34; previously J.W. Rhodes; now Cayuga Health centers

Big Flats - Arnot Mall, CR 35; previously Iszards; now vacant

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

*non Bon-Ton

The Yard

Doggy models what you could find at the Yard!

 I first heard of The Yard through the print edition of The Daily Orange. It's run by Andrew Rainbow and Steve Davis out of their house on Madison Avenue east of Syracuse University around the corner from Thornden Park. It's all used goods from mainly the '90s-'00s, but not strictly SU. Vintage shops are big now, and Syracuse has a few. However, The Yard only runs on weekends, but with the weather we have, they must be looking into a permanent store front and more convenient, central location closer to campus and accessible for students and townies alike, especially those of us who can't drive. Shirt Worlds closure last month left a void, even though they sold new merchandise, and there are still local options (the bookstore at Schine was just sold to Barnes & Noble, like the one at leMoyne a decade ago). Champs & Scholars downtown are The Yards closest competitor since they also specialise in second hand clothes, but primarily old school Orange, and they're not the cheapest, mind. Hungry Chucks last location on Marshall Street would have made a great spot when it was available and filled the vacuum in a way, even though the Yard was a rival to Shirt World too, and Chucks are now Dazed, a cannabis shop (not to be confused with donut shop Glazed & Confused if you're thinking of Zeppelin). Even the former Marine Midland Bank/Key Bank on East Adams Street might work since it'd be less red tape than another bank or restaurant. The old Bank of America on Nottingham and Tecumseh Roads past South Campus may be a longshot if right on the hill is not an option, but running it like a car boot sale just doesn't work all year, since out of town/state and overseas students from warmer climates learn the hard way how it works around here (same with townies). 

I have read, as well was told by a staff member at 3fifteens Camillus store (geared mainly towards older shoppers as opposed to the sister store in town) how at the end of each semester how students may leave behind goodies they only needed for the big game at the Dome (fast fashion CNY style). While the Yard may not want anything too new, it opens the door for finding recent purchases for less, since run of the textile mill clothes wind up getting binned, but ours are as desirable as Comfrt or Armani here. At least whatever's in tatters can be recycled now if it's too much a state to be fixed. Champs and Scholars even have a few things that look like my cats had a go at them (they know better) only because it's otherwise rare, and flaws are part of the charm, perhaps, since repairing it would make it look patchy. It's like on these shows about appraising and flipping everyday items for quick cash (that's more for the sister blog, although I don't care for that kind of show myself, or even watch much TV now).

Two nearby churches have started their own charity shops, and could also have some SU lying around, while competing with the Rescue Missions monopoly that dominates this third of Upstate. To think one would look for this many places in other cities. The Yard isn't a thrift store per se, rather a vintage shop also appealing to bargain hunters and collectors. I just hope I can afford to get something there at some point since I barely got a few from the other place over the past several years before they were gone.

A too-good looking and literal AI prompt pop-up SU sale

More of a nicked photo of a new goods sale on campus.

AI photos courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc. May depict actual people or buildings (my inner solicitor is making me tell you). Not to be confused with The Yard pub turned artist hub based in Manlius.

JCPenney

Destiny USA store with fake logo

 JCPenney were once one of the biggest chains in the country. Now they're suffering and becoming fewer by the day. It's easier to find latter-day and mall or plaza locations than downtown or rural ones from early days. Here are a selection of past locations around Upstate.

Albany - Westgate Shopping Center, NY 5; closed in 1984 after relocating to Crossgates Mall

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall; NY 5 & US 20

Camillus - Camillus Mall/Plaza; demolished in 2005 for Walmart

Cortland (1) - Cortlandville Crossing; NY 281

Cortland (2) - Downtown; Main St

deWitt - Shoppingtown Mall; NY 5 (demolition with 1975-2020 store pending for District East; first store from 1954 demolished in 1975 with most of original plaza)

Kingston - Hudson Valley Mall; US 9W

Latham - Latham Circle Mall; NY 2 and 7 & US 9; now plaza

Lansing - The Shops at Ithaca (formerly Pyramid) Mall; later Best Buy, Borders (closed 2011), Ultimate Athletics, Ulta Beauty, DSW and later Dicks

New Hartford - Sangertown Square; NY 5 & 5A

Oswego - NY 104; now Hobby Lobby

Plattsburgh - Pyramid Mall; closed and moved to Champlain Centre in 1987

Rome - Freedom Plaza; NY 46 & 49; now Hobby Lobby

Syracuse - Destiny USA (formerly Carousel Center; pictured). One floor now Mystery Bins as of 1 July 2025. Other floor TBD.

Watertown - Salmon Run Mall; NY 3 & CR 100

West Seneca - Shops at West Seneca; CR 91 & 137

Waldenbooks

Waldenbooks closing sale at Carolina Mall in Concord, NC; 2011

 Since we've covered past and present bookstore chains, here's one we haven't already. Waldenbooks had been a staple in downtowns and malls alike. The changing economy did them in too. We'll mainly focus on Upstate NY, but throw in other states. I'll mostly do ones I know.

Syracuse (downtown) - S Salina St

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

deWitt - Shoppingtown Mall, NY 5

Clay - Great Northern Mall, NY 31 & 481

Cicero - Penn Can Mall (now Drivers Village), E Circle Dr & S Bay Rd

Camillus - Camillus Mall

Fairmount - Fairmount Fair?

Utica - Riverside Mall; NY 8, 12 & 49

New Hartford - NY 5 & 5A

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20

Concord, NC - Carolina Mall (pictured)

Guilderland - Crossgates Mall, US 20

Colonie - Colonie Center, NY 5

Rotterdam - Rotterdam Square Mall (now Via Port), NY 337

Hanover, PA - Hanover Mall

Brownsville, TX - Sunrise Mall

San Francisco, CA - West Portal (one of several in the Bay Area)

Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Galleria, US 9

Kingston - Hudson Valley Mall, US 9W

Henrietta - Marketplace Mall, NY 252

Greece - Greece Ridge Mall, NY 104

Irondequoit - Irondequoit Mall (later Medley Center; now Skyview on the Ridge), NY 104

Victor - Eastview Mall, NY 96

Ithaca - The Shops at Ithaca Mall, NY 13 & 34

Watertown - Salmon Run Mall, NY 3

Oneonta - Southside Mall, NY 7 & 28, later Borders Express

Cheektowaga - Walden Galleria (no relation)

Williamsville - Eastern Hills Mall, NY 78

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble in Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah, GA

 Barnes & Noble seems like another one that's all over the country, but there are a few spots they could fill. They just opened a new store at Destiny USA, which I didn't expect, even though it's much smaller than the other two in town and other malls. Old rivals Borders were there when it was Carousel Center (people mix the two chains up to this day, and we'll do Waldenbooks another time). In Albany County, Barnes & Noble moved from their old store on Wolf Road in Colonie to the mall across the street, and the original spot is now a buffet. They're one of the few left despite stiff competition from amazon (who aren't just books now, of course).

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall, NY 5, US 20 and Clark St Rd; former JCPenney

Cortland - Cortlandville Crossing, NY 281; former kmart

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

Massena - St Lawrence Centre, NY 37; former Maurices

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!)

Borders

Palo Alto, CA (Bay Area) in former cinema

 When I had my Barnes & Noble tote the other week, someone confused it with Borders when it was in town (which B&N bought out remaining assets of, but that's not the point). Borders closed in 2011, and was followed by Waldenbooks. Even the few chains and indies can't all stay open and compete with Amazon. Borders had some items that the other place didn't have. I even remember Eileen Fulton of As the World Turns doing a book signing. Her character is my sisters namesake and Fulton is from where my other sister now lives (small world. Then there are a couple cast members of Krapopolis). The photo I took sadly has disappeared like the stores. Here's a selection of some of them:

Syracuse - Carousel Center (now Destiny USA); now canyon section/Dicks wing

Watertown - Salmon Run Mall, NY 3 & CR 100

Albany (Guilderland) - Crossgates Mall, US 20

Rochester - Hylan Dr, now Homegoods

Buffalo (Cheektowaga) - Walden Galleria

New York (1) - 122 5th Ave

New York (2) - 461 Park Ave

Orchard Park - NY 179 (other WNY store)

Wappingers Falls - US 9 (forgot it was there when I lived up the road)

Oneonta - NY 7 & 28, Southside Mall; Borders Express; previously Waldenbooks

Arlington, VA - Hayes St (last one I remember going to after mine closed during DC hols. Only non-NY one I'm putting since we're focussing on NY)

Tried to get it outside, but got the inside instead.

Looks fairly close to the real logo.

AI meant for another chain re-adapted for Borders.

Spirit of Halloween

Farmington, CT store (former Sports Authority location)

 Usually, pop-up chain Spirit of Halloween have temporary leases on vacant properties by now. There are usually an abundance of them in any given area, certainly in CNY. Several years ago, I wrote about their competitor, Halloween Express.  One location they had in recent years, the former P&C/Bed, Bath and Beyond in Fairmount Fair, is set to become an Old Navy, so that means for west of Syracuse, it's either Westvale or Camillus.  Also must make sure it's not too close to sister store Party City if it can be helped. I went to look for the latest here, but the closest so far are downstate, so I'm surprised at them for not being Upstate already. The internet can't replace going in person for everything. UPDATE: The site just didn't recognise my location properly as it did from the desktop, so all is not lost.

Mattydale - US 11, former kmart (confirmed)

Liverpool (Clay/Bayberry) - NY 31, COR Plaza; former Bed, Bath and Beyond

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20, Fingerlakes Mall, former Great Outdoors (confirmed)

Cortland - NY 13, former kmart

Ithaca (Lansing) - NY 13, next to Best Buy (confirmed)

New Hartford - NY 5 & 5A, Sangertown Square, next to Spencer Gifts (confirmed)

Amherst - NY 78, former Best Buy

Valu Home Centers: 55 Years On

Hornell store

 Valu Home Centers are a DIY and another WNY chain just as easily found in CNY (maybe WNY should get its own tag since the T-word does). They're not as large as the big box, and have the convenience of the smaller hardware stores. Even they could open up some more. Not to be confused with True Value Hardware, even though both are now part of Do It Best.

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

New Hartford - New Hartford Shopping Center, former Herb Phillipsons

Auburn - NY 5; former Real Deals

Fulton - NY 481; former kmart, River Glen Plaza

Oswego - NY 104, former Big Lots

Canastota - NY 5 & 13 and CR 25; former Family Dollar

Herkimer - former kmart

Colonie - former Barnes & Noble

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

Troy - US 4; former Price Chopper, Lansingburgh

Former locations:

Syracuse - Shop City Plaza; previously Ames; now Factory Direct Furniture Outlet

Cortland - NY 222; former Tops

Owego - NY 17C

North Hornell - Seneca St

The Paper Store

Fantasy location due to lack of free image

 I heard of The Paper Store through another sponsored Facebook post, and it seemed like the next idea for the blog. The closest one is in Buffalo, and the Tri-state a close second. This is more like Hallmark stores and they used to be in CNY (one remains). There's also The Paper Source (which could get overlapping locations not chosen by their competitor). Both chains have entered administration because of Pandemicoras Box (a blog post all its own). We used to have The Paper Cutter (see later post), which was sort of close, but that also had office and school supplies before OfficeMax and Staples moved on in. The Paper Store would work in Upstate NY east of WNY.

North Syracuse - Northern Lights, US 11 (pictured)

Canastota - former Family Dollar, NY 5 & 13 and CR 25

Westvale - former Tops/P&C, NY 5

deWitt - former Bed Bath and Beyond; Marshalls Homegoods Plaza, NY 5 (UPDATE; 13/9/25: Sister chain Uncharted are now open in the former Party City, as well as Long Island downstate, so we'll see where this all leads) or former Charneys/Wheels; Empire Plaza (as of 1/11/25)

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall, NY 5 & US 20

Irondequoit - Medley Center, NY 104

Henrietta - South Town Plaza, NY 252

Cortland - former flea market, Riverside Plaza, NY 13

Oswego - former Peebles/Gordmans, NY 104

New Hartford - former JoAnn Fabrics, New Hartford Shopping Center, Genesee St

Colonie - former Barnes & Noble, Wolf Rd

Williamsville - former Best Buy, NY 78 (far enough from existing locations of both chains on US 62)

Gabe's Stores

Clark's Summit, PA store

 Gabes Stores are new to me.  Someone brought a bag from out of town, and it looked like the next post for here.  It could replace Gordmans in some areas as it's that kind of chain.  Western New York is getting three (now open in Cheektowaga), so they may work their way across the state.  Just can't have them too close to their competitors sister stores TJ Maxx and Marshalls, which are similar in scope to give you an idea.

Oswego - former Gordmans/Peebles, NY 104

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

Camillus - former Bon-Ton/Chappells, Camillus Commons

North Syracuse - former Staples, Media Play or Michaels, Northern Lights, US 11 (below)

Albany - former Barnes & Noble

New Hartford - former Herb Phillipsons

Syracuse - former Nordstrom Rack, Bon-Ton or Forever 21; Destiny USA

Cortland - Riverside Plaza, NY 13

Ithaca - South Meadow Plaza; NY 13, 34 & 96

deWitt - District East (née Shoppingtown Mall), NY 5

Henrietta - former Tops, NY 252

Fulton - former kmart, NY 481

Mattydale - former kmart (if North Syracuse not chosen), US 11

I believe this was the old Staples in North Syracuse.

Half Price Books

Cedar Hill, TX store (DFW area)

 There just aren't enough places to buy books anymore. Too easy to go to the a-word, who have two facilities in my area, or Barnes & Noble, who also never have what I need anymore. This is long overdue in the Northeast.

Albany - former Barnes & Noble/ShopRite, Wolf Road

North Syracuse - former Media Play, Northern Lights, US 11

Auburn - former Dicks, Fingerlakes Crossing, US 20 & NY 5

Cortland - former kmart, NY 281

Ithaca - South Meadow Plaza, NY 13/34/96

Henrietta - former Tops, NY 252

Geneva - former Tops/CheriBundi/RealEats, US 14A

Oswego - former Gordmans/Peebles, NY 104

Clay - former Jo-Ann Fabrics, NY 31

New Hartford - former Herb Phillipsons

deWitt - former Bed, Bath and Beyond, Marshalls Homegoods Plaza, NY 5

Cheektowaga - former Bed, Bath and Beyond, Union Consumer Square

Amherst - former Best Buy, NY 78

Savers

Woonsocket, RI store. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

One more for the road. There are another charity shop chain to cover and this time it's Savers. What makes this one different is that they're for-profit and each location or region is assigned to a different charity, which receives the donations that the chain buys in what can be a confusing, misleading, and sometimes controversial business model. I've seen one in Rochester (in the suburb Henrietta, but it has since moved to Webster) as well as near Buffalo, and went to sister chain Value Village across the border in Niagara Falls, ONT (also the name used in Washington State, while known as 2A (2nd Ave) Thrift Superstore in the Philadelphia area). They too could expand their footprint as there are several non-profit organisations that could use Savers. St Josephs Hospital/Franciscan Services could be the Syracuse designée as their own shop closed ages ago, or even an upstart like one to provide driving lessons and cars for the needy just about anywhere these days, or FloofAid, my registered charity for getting fursuits and trips to furcons for those who can't afford them. An existing NGO that I've been involved with could also look into signing a deal with Savers to rebuild their office that was gutted by a fire, as well as to continue their services, given other recent events (2025). Savers would have to challenge the Rescue Missions monopoly over this portion of the state, which already outnumbers other multinationals if not indies in Onondaga County alone. It's just about time for another option in the region, flippers notwithstanding.

Northern Lights with text logo from phone

North Syracuse - former store in Northern Lights Plaza (TBD, above and below), US 11 & S Bay Rd

Auburn - former Real Deals or Big Lots, NY 5

Liverpool (Bayberry) - former Raymour & Flanigan Clearance Center, The Shops at Seneca Mall, CR 57/Oswego Rd

Nedrow - former kmart/flea market/Grants, US 11 and Southland Dr

Canastota - former Family Dollar, NY 5 & 13 and CR 25

Cortland - former Rite Aid, NY 222 & 281

Ithaca - former Hobby Lobby, South Meadow Plaza, NY 13/34/96

Oswego - former Gordmans/Peebles, NY 104

Albany - former Barnes & Noble, Wolf Road

Utica - former Rite Aid/Fays, Genesee St

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

Elmira - former Ames

Watertown - former Big Lots, NY 3

deWitt - former Bed Bath & Beyond; Marshalls Homegoods Plaza, NY 5 (below) (former P&C/Tops on NY 92 & Jamesville Rd is becoming the other place)

Fantasy location in North Syracuse

Composite deWitt location with current logo

Savers in Canastota with logo added.

Fantasy store in former deWitt Tops

Prototype store in Liverpool Plaza in former Fays/Thrifty Shopper

Kinney Drugs in the Capital Region + 4 in CNY + 1 in WNY + 1 in VT

Syracuse north side location

Kinney Drugs cover roughly a third of Upstate New York, but have yet to enter the Capital Region. After hearing of the closing of two Walgreens stores in Albany County, and even some CVS ones, it got me thinking. Kinney are unknown east of the Mohawk Valley, while CVS stores are few and far between until you get through the Finger Lakes. The Albany paper says that the two that just closed are inner city and it would be inconvenient for seniors, the disabled, those without cars and who rely on CDTA. The acquisition of many Rite Aids by Walgreens caused some overlapping and less profitable stores to close. Kinney was formerly a franchise of Rexall, which is still a chain across the St Lawrence in Canada, while the brand is only at Dollar General in the US. Kinney is the last chain based Upstate after Carls, Fays and Freddys were absorbed by large chains. Kinney will never go the way of their competitors, staying here in the Northeast. Also threw in Vermont to boot, being the only other state to have Kinney to date. Rochester isn't on since Kinney won't go west of the wine belt at this time (I know they're in Skaneateles, albeit right next door to CVS [ex-Brooks/Revco] [small town]).

Albany (downtown) - 17 N Pearl St (NY 32)

Albany (Pine Hills) - US 20 (former CVS as of September 2023)

Albany (near UAlbany) - US 20 (same as above as of November 2024)

Albany (NY 5) - 153 Central Ave (former CVS as of January 2023)

Menands - 444 N Broadway (NY 32)

Cohoes - 308 Ontario St (NY 470 & 9R) (pictured below)

Albany (south end) - S Pearl St (NY 32)

Halfmoon - US 9

Colonie - former Barnes & Noble, Wolf Road

Albany (Beverwyck) - 581 Central Ave (NY 5) (pictured below)

Schenectady - 1044 State St. (NY 5)

Schenectady - 2009 Broadway (former CVS)

Guilderland - Crossgates Mall or Western Ave., US 20 (former CVS or Rite Aid/Goodwill)

Latham - 711 Troy-Schenectady Road (NY 7)

Manlius - former store (NY 92) (nobody touched it since it closed; as it just needs better promotion)

Canastota - former Rite Aid/Walgreens (NY 5 & 13) (pictured below)

Utica - former Rite Aid, Genesee St (former NY 5/8/12)

Syracuse - former Rite Aid/Walgreens (W Onondaga St.)

Pittsford - former Fays/Eckerd/Rite Aid (NY 31)

Burlington, VT - 158 Cherry St (previously Grand Union and Eckerd)

All former Walgreens and/or Rite Aid unless indicated.  Last five are in CNY, WNY, or VT.

Cohoes location (wrong shape for highway sign)

Canastota location (empty car park and pavement)

Albany location (not that ICE)

Albany location, second design

Blink Fitness

Unknown location

Blink Fitness are part of Equinox, a downstate company with a number of other brands.  They have locations in North Syracuse and Westvale, but have yet to expand more Upstate.

New Hartford - former liquor store/pharmacy or Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A
Auburn - former P&C
Canastota - former Family Dollar, NY 5 & 13
Colonie - former Barnes & Noble
Fulton - former kmart, NY 481

Watertown - former Planet Fitness, NY 3

UPDATE (5/9/25): Blink Fitness have left CNY due to the local franchise breaking ties with corporate and going indie as Evolution Fitness, parallel to Elevate Fitness severing their licence with Gold Gym. Blink Fitness will just have to open in other parts of the state where they don't already operate.

Books-a-Million!

Store in historic Williamsburg, VA

After having little to work with for a period, I finally stumble upon something new to write about.
Since the departure of Borders in 2011, Barnes & Noble is the only bookstore chain around.  Books-a-Million have a store in Northeast Pennsylvania and could now work their way up I-81:

Syracuse - former Bon-Ton, Destiny USA
Westvale - former Tops/P&C, NY 5
Rochester - former Tops or Macys, NY 252
Auburn - former JCPenney, Fingerlakes Mall, NY 5 & US 20
New Hartford - former Macys, Sangertown Square, NY 5A
Liverpool - former Price Chopper, CR 57
Fulton - former kmart, NY 481 & CR 57
Cicero - former Burlington Coat Factory, Drivers Village (ex-Penn Can Mall)

Mattydale - former kmart, US 11

North Syracuse - former Media Play, Northern Lights, US 11 (if above two aren't picked)

Oswego - former Gordmans/Peebles, NY 104

Poughkeepsie - former JCPenney, US 9

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