Advocates, Incorporated: Dine for Dollars

Fayetteville Tullys AI made from Unos

 Every month, Advocates Incorporated, a non-profit organisation that I've been involved with for the past couple years, partner with a different restaurant in Onondaga County, either a local business or the franchise of a regional or national chain, where if you mention the promotion or show it to them on your phone or tablet, the restaurant will usually match 20% of proceeds that are donated back to Advocates. They've worked with indies like King Davids, Home Run Pub and Stingers Pizza Pub; regional chains like diBellas, Tullys and Friendlys; and national ones such as Panera, IHOP, Red Robin (we've done two locations to get both sides of the county), and Texas Roadhouse (Clay, not deWitt). Tullys only want old school print, so you'd have to do it at home or work if possible, or go to the library or shipping place (I had to around the corner at the last minute after learning the hard way), yet they also do the same for our star players other cause, the local theatre company Front Row Players (last time, they were neck and neck). For me, if something doesn't get on with my stomach or budget, or is located too far for me to get to at that stage, then I just don't need to every month. We're not the Bob Geldof and Midge Ure (Band Aid) of Advocates, of course. We're just two complicated artists trying to find time for a coffee, mind (we eventually did, but that's a story for another day). Do check both NGOs' sites and socials for more information (FRP may only do this once or twice a year, and is otherwise unrelated to the monthly appeal). Is likely just tax deductible for the business, not the customer, yet it would be more relevant coming from a local place (you might know how that goes).

Special thanks Nicholas Courgi.

Caribou Coffee

Older Caribou Coffee in the Twin Cities Region. Courtesy Scott Beale/Laughing Squid.

 As if we need another coffee chain, Caribou Coffee, one chiefly in the Midwest and east coast south of the Beltway (those went to Peets, which I may do another day), was brought up by the floof group, led by another "Cervidae". I likely may have heard of it before in passing, but I'm not sure how, since it's from the Minnesota Capital Region. I could have even seen it in Chicago, where they'd be up against McDonald's McCafé. This is likely the very last post for 2025. Here's where Caribou could "rein" in:

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights Plaza, former Hofmann Hot Haus/Salt City Dogs (demolish building since it's too small and dated to be done up to Caribous standards and start fresh)

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

Oneida - NY 5, former KFC?

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

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

Syracuse (east side) - NY 5

Camillus - W Genesee St, former Friendlys/Second Chance Diner

Cicero - US 11 & Caughdenoy Rd, former Eckerd/Rite Aid/Walgreens

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

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20; Fingerlakes Mall

Fulton - NY 3; former Rite Aid/Walgreens

Oswego - NY 104

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

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

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 (opening in 2026) 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 womens clothing. 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. 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.

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 (former Cost Cutters officially proposed)

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.

Clay/Liverpool? - NY 31? (confirmed by chain, but it's hard to determine just where at this time. Shall include drive-thru and will open in Spring 2026)

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

Where to Hold Adult Prom in Syracuse

Kitty and Notsky are ready for the big night! (AI)

    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 just 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 didn'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 Labor 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/Armory Square

Palladian Hall; N Salina & E Water Sts (former OnBank/M&T Bank; part of the Treasury; Chittenango High School moved their prom there in 2026 so not to overlap with another school at the Marriott)

Maxwells, Hanover Square; E Genesee St (formerly Elbow Room; better for smaller events)

The Rail Line; S Clinton St (may not have hosted a prom, but there's a first time for everything)

McCarthy Mercantile; S Salina & E Fayette Sts (Victorian-era building with local businesses at street and lower levels that hosts events down cellar)

Sky Armory; 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; I only went to a charity prom for terminally ill little girl in March 2019 (didn't even need to get dolled up for it). Has room for up to three proms at once, yet that would be too much. Adult prom was held in the past, but was just too expensive for me.

OnCenter/Nick Pirro Convention Ctr (same, even though it's taxpayer property); US 11/S State, E Adams & Harrison Sts. I've gone on rare occasion over the past three decades since it had opened in 1996; most recently for RetroGameCon in October 2025.

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); was unavailable during the summer more than once because of renovations and when there are residencies. Not sure if the stage would be used like in Rome, which is smaller, of course. I was told by management in the past that they're a rental house.

Salt City Bar; S Salina & W Onondaga Sts, Salt City Market (official events held by coffee bar on New Years Eve and Pride, fulfilling both events for less. They can be booked for private events, however, as can the markets own community room in the back, which I've only gone to for Centro/SMTC seminars)

Hotel Onondaga; E Fayette & S Warren Sts (future luxury Hilton franchise with pending litigation that could hold it once cleared by court and even built)

Mizpah Towers; Montgomery & E Jefferson Sts, Columbus Circle; recently renovated and reopened after thirty years of vacancy. It's a wine cellar, restaurant and event center. I don't care for the wine, of course, yet there's no shortage of history in this building (ask OHA across the street once they finally reopen)

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 in the recent past)

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 2025-26; went for festive do last and this year)

Mattydale

VFW Post 3146; Truck NY 298 & leMoyne Ave (went for late Lent chippy and when moms car once broke down and we needed to ring for help)

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 in Fall 2026)

East Syracuse

American Legion Post 359; NY 290 (Halloween parties and fundraisers held there; other venue I wanted to hire up the street has closed where one of my NGOs used to be)

Silver Street Event Center; a block from W Manlius St sometimes used for punk shows and other smaller events

Onondaga Hill

SRC Arena, OCC, NY 173 & 175 (where I used to go to around the corner closed in September 2019)

Camillus (in name only)/Taunton/town of Onondaga

TK Tavern on the Hill; Howlett Hill Rd, Taunton (original location off NY 5 that is becoming Byrne Dairy had Salt City Collective prom twice; no relation to TK99/105)

Tipp Hill

Emerald Cocktail Kitchen (suggested to them and they will consider); W Fayette St & W Wilbur Ave (will have to wait until Spring 2027 to be in season and when owner returns from hiatus)

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 if held upstairs, being older and smaller, even though it may be in violation of ADA regulations. Could be held in theatre and lobby, but I was told it might be $3,000 to hire for the day when the floofs researched a venue for a separate event, but that's for another day)

American Legion Post #1276; NY 290 (former Friendlys; I was also trying to find a place for my birthday, and could even have the prom for my birthday party in August next year unless I am out of town or decide on something else locally)

Brewerton

Brewerton Centre for the Arts; US 11 (former church turned rental hall and community center; 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; also went for Mardi Gras); E Water St & Walnut Ave

SkyBarn; SU South Campus (Nottingham High School have their junior prom there)

Syracuse (west side)

Singers (last resort during the day if booked as a private event on a Saturday afternoon since nights are ruled out for right now, as they may only have their own during the season, so maybe next year on that)

Verona

Turning Stone Casino; NY 365 & CR 48A; the Grand Expo (although in Oneida County, it's the resorts new ballroom made for such a do. Even for a small town, I'm not certain that a regular prom could have been held there because of the age-restricted nature of gaming, limiting where students could go)

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.

 

Café Kubal

Eastwood location taken at short notice from the car

 Café Kubal in Syracuse are a local coffee chain now in their fourth decade. However, several locations have closed since then. Competition from both national chains and other indies alike, as well as the economy have been a challenge to Kubals business like anyones. The SU Hill store once had a deal with 3fifteen next door where you fill a bag with donations and you'd get a ticket for a free coffee, but they had fallen out in court, and that location is now local rival Salt City Coffee, while Kubal moved just a few blocks away to Golisano Childrens Hospital at SUNY Upstate, making it limited to visitors, staff and patients (not so much the kids, mind). The current downtown location is in the old Dey Brothers building, whilst the Creekside Commons one is just across Armory Square within walking distance. The near northside location is the roastery, which the Eastwood one once was, and the restaurant and bakery section reopened in September, and is once again the de facto flagship. The North Syracuse location on US 11 and W Taft Road at Sweetheart Corners was a onetime Tim Hortons. New locations are planned for the future as this is just as common with the big chains. The former leMoyne mock-Tudor firehouse was scheduled to become Kubal, but decided to become Salt City Coffee itself instead (still owned by the Jesuit school in a deal with SCC). May be too late for the other uni hill as their bridges may otherwise be burned as far as a regular location, and there are already a handful of other options on or close to campus now. No need for me to come up with new spots myself, since that's too easy, and of course, it's not my job anyway (I usually do this because that's my trademark, even though I can't really encourage someone elses). Also want to keep Kubal small. Here are where Café Kubal once were brewing:

Syracuse (downtown) - Marriott Syracuse Downtown (née Hotel Syracuse), S Warren St; previously Hardees; now vacant or just used by the hotel

Syracuse (east side/SU Hill) - Marshall Square Mall, Marshall St & University Ave; former uni bookshop and bar; now Salt City Coffee (that will get its own post shortly)

Syracuse (Eastwood) - NY 290, Eastwood Plaza; closed for rebrand, becoming Caffé Così this fall, according to building site permit posted in the window; former Thrifty Shopper; roastery formerly located in western part of old Sacred Melody (half that closed in early '00s that is also vacant, but also has a permit for liquor store/former Hooches Furniture/Carls?/True Value Hardware/future 3fifteen) (pictured above and below; sign on wall is now blank in real life, unfortunately)

Manlius - NY 92 & 257; former Bank of America; now Utica suburb Yorkville-based bakery Holland Farms' first location outside Oneida County; drive-up ATM remains

Auburn - Genesee St; only non-Syracuse area location to date; only open for two months' time, likely due to unfamiliarity of name in Cayuga County and economy overall (simplistic but valid reason, and it's a small town that I know enough)

North Syracuse - US 11 & W Taft Rd, Sweetheart Corners; previously Tim Hortons and former site of Sweetheart Market; now Zaman Coffee House, a Turkish style indie.

Fantasy future location, but not sure where to put it.

Caffé Così in former Eastwood location (OpenAI)

Rebuilding Ovid

Main St (NY 96A & 414) in Ovid in happier times. Very special courtesy Jo Zimny. CC-by-NC-ND 2.0.

 21 January is a day no one in the small Finger Lakes village of Ovid shall forget when an electrical fire broke out in a flat upstairs from Big M on Main St (once an IGA, according to one local resident), taking out four other local businesses and several other apartments. I wanted to use my AI skills that I've picked up this past year and try to come up with new versions of all five of these mom and pop establishments, which also included Uptown Diner (which needed more attempts than the others combined), Eva's Laundry, Italian Kitchen and Seneca Coffee House. Most of these buildings seem to date back to the Victorian and Edwardian eras, although some like this can go as far back as Regency. There are priceless memories attached to these places, of course, and not even I.M. Pei himself could truly replace these if he were still alive. It's still early days right now, but rebuilding is on the agenda once the debris is cleared and the weather is cooperative for a building site. Another restaurant that had been around much longer closed several years ago on the outskirts of town, but the two from Main St probably either don't want to be away from the rest of the commercial district, or because of events from years past which we won't get into here. There had been another fire a decade earlier, however.
 Seniors are provided a bus twice a week to go to Walmart and Tops to go shopping for the time being, since many don't drive anymore or won't go all the way to Waterloo or Wegmans in Geneva themselves (you're on your own there or if you're younger). Of course, small business gets taken for granted and you just never know. It can be months if not years before all these are back in new homes. If buildings like the ones lost could be designed, then new apartments could also go on top, given the housing crisis. Several ways to donate are available to show your support. We'll have to check on Ovid down the road to see how they come on like other places big and small that suffered disaster in recent memory.

'50s dinerette which may be too small, even for Ovid

This may be a bit more possible than a standalone.

Switched to Grok on X and got a more outlying result.

Retro Uptown Diner that won't work in winter!

The little local launderette. Don't know if Eva is.

The local coffee shop, or at least the roastery.

Big M, in a design that should fit on the block.

Italian Kitchen, my kind of restaurant!

A more possible scenario for todays small town.

Another Big M cornershop with Craiyon

Might be more fitting for Big M

Needed to create the outside of Evas Laundry

The real Big M in the early '90s (unknown)

New apartment building (harder to make)

Upstairs flats above storefront (too simplistic)

Ovid Arms, but I got two pastoral mock Tudor cottages

Ovid Arms, but a bit too posh and townie

These are also too upscale for a rural community

Haraz Coffee House

Future Syracuse location

    As I pointed out before, Shirt World on SU Hill will be replaced soon by Haraz Coffee House, a chain based in Dearborn, MI in the Detroit-Windsor area, founded by Yemeni immigrants. Not knowing the first thing about Mid-East coffee myself, this seems interesting, and I know this will do well once it opens. The only current locations in New York are in Buffalo (only one on their site so far) and SoHo downstate. Malls aren't really suited for this kind of place. You know the rule about properties.

New Hartford    NY 5A, former Blaze Pizza, Consumer Square

Rochester            NY 15, Strong URMC Ties Neighborhood (TBD) or NY 96, former Spot Coffee

Albany            US 20, former CVS/pharmacy if Kinney won't come

Syracuse            Marshall St, former Shirt World (pictured and confirmed)

Shirt World

One last look at Shirt World on SU Hill

 It's always a right shame when a local business closes, and certainly when one as unique and distinct as Shirt World on Marshall Street on SU Hill. After five decades in business, it has closed. Your one stop shop for all things orange (I despise the "s" word, and I don't mean Syracuse, of course). The owners have decided to retire from retail and transition to renting out the property. It has been confirmed that a chain are letting the space in the coming months, and I will update as soon as we know who they are. While they've had a good run, it seems like selling out when national chains take over college neighborhoods and other areas like this, making them devoid of their charm and personality. I can remember some other big names as well as other indies in the old days that have come and gone, but Shirt World had few peers. There may still be inventory left at the end of the last day, even with a long queue and marked down prices. However, most of the good stuff was still a pretty penny, too nice to be that cheap. I settled for one of those game day wigs I could work into my Halloween costume (story for another post, and that would make this too topical and dated) so I could say goodbye somehow. I still have a couple things I bought there, even though they were expensive. Much of what people got there likely wound up around the block at 3fifteen when they didn't need it anymore since it is a boutique charity shop targeting the Orange Nation if you like. On Game Day, both shops, as well as Mannys, Schine, and others would sell out and eventually replenish before the next one the rest of each season. Anyway, if charity isn't an option for these goods, even for tax purposes, I suppose these places would take it off of them, if it works that way. Dicks and Rally House wouldn't need any of the lot. Champs and Scholars downtown sell used goods from before 2000. Even online is too easy these days.

Schine Student Center in the bookshop; Waverly Ave., main campus on the promenade (recently acquired by Barnes & Noble College, who also run the leMoyne and OCC stores)

Mannys on the Hill, Shirt Worlds former main rival; onetime Charneys satellite store

University Sport Shop; Destiny USA, north side

Charneys; NY 5, deWitt (mostly mens, especially big and tall)

Papas Sports; NY 370, north side (likely anything they made that Shirt World bought wholesale)

Whatever happens, we wish good luck to the owners and staff on what the future may hold.

UPDATE: Haraz Coffee House, a chain from Dearborn, MI with ties to Yemen, will be opening in the space in the coming weeks. I expected something comparable as far as apparel, but this makes sense too, despite more national names on the hill than in the old days. Haraz could get their own post at a later time, even though I'm not familiar with the chain or Middle Eastern coffee myself.

Paris Baguette Café

Paris Baguette Café in Seoul, South Korea; 2015. Courtesy Choi Kwang-mo.

최광모, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 While looking for the next idea, I turned to one of my Facebook groups and found Paris Baguette Café, a South Korean chain which just opened in Franklin County (Ohio Capital Region). While I've gone to an indie where east meets west, and have Korean TV shows on at home all the time, this could work here too. I found them in the Commons in Ithaca, but didn't need to go there.

Syracuse - Marshall St; former Jimmy Johns or Pita Pit

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall; NY 5 & US 20

Colonie - Colonie Ctr; NY 5 & Wolf Rd

New Hartford - Sangertown Square; NY 5 & 5A

Rochester - NY 96; former Spot Coffee

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.

CosMc's

CosMcs screenshot taken from a TikTok (I was desperate!)

 McDonalds have just launched a new chain called CosMcs, named after a character from their kids' commercials from decades ago. It's supposed to be a coffee chain, competing with Starbucks and Panera. McCafé (the chain as opposed to the brand itself) is already a separate subsidiary outside the US, so the Chicago-based behemoth had to create another division with its own identity. The suburb Bolingbrook will have the flagship and ten will open in Texas. It won't be as big as the main chain, but maybe it could be franchised and work its way east. Closed McDs and competitors around the country can be putty in their hands. It's early days, so I couldn't even AI myself a CosMcs that I could use since I can't afford a flight to O'Hare or Midway right now. Some spots I put down would likely just be demolished and have the new store built from scratch, while others could be done up. A few things from the parent restaurants ménu like the quintessential Egg McMuffin will carry over to the new place while launching items exclusive to there.

Auburn - NY 5; former Tim Hortons

North Syracuse - US 11 and South Bay Rd, Northern Lights; former Hofmann Hot Haus/Salt City Dogs (would have to be demolished)

Oneida - NY 5; former KFC?

Cicero - Circle Dr; former Jimmy Johns

Cortland - NY 281; former McDonalds proper

Jimmy Johns: 40 Years On

Broward County location (Ft Lauderdale, FL)

 Jimmy Johns celebrate their fortieth anniversary this year. They were just sold to the owners of their biggest competitor Subway. Both have closed locations and are all but franchised, they couldn't be more different. While it's too easy to go to Subway (which now even outnumber McDonalds), Jimmy Johns are fewer by the day. All four Syracuse locations are closed (one became another coffee shop), while two in the region fifty miles away each in a small town are alive and well, but it's likely the classic case of the franchise owner and corporate falling out, or maybe slow sales. I go to the Utica one when I'm that way and have time, while I found the Ithaca store at short notice, which saved time in an area I don't know as well. Back near home, someone else could take over the local rights and have another go since no one else touched most of them since then, even though I suggested other chains in previous posts like I always do. They can also open in other vacancies around the area like anyone else. It may be too soon to come back. Only Binghamton has one even close that's about to be built in a new service station, but it's just a building site at this stage (as of June 2025).

Camillus - Township 5, former Brasserie Bistro & Bar

Syracuse - S Crouse Ave, South Crouse Apartments w/Dunkin' (now open, although that is already up the hill)

Cicero - E Circle Dr*

E Syracuse - NY 298 & Weighlock Dr (previously Starbucks)*

Cortland - NY 13, former Calios

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20, Fingerlakes Mall

Watertown - NY 3, Salmon Run Mall

Oswego - NY 104 & 3rd Ave, former Subway (near SUNY)

Oneida - NY 5, former KFC?

Clay - NY 31, former Subway

*former location

Other past locations in CNY*:

Syracuse (downtown) - W Fayette St; later Luna Food Lover; now Milano Bean Café

Syracuse (SU Hill) - Marshall St; previously various businesses; now Brooklyn Pickle 

Byrne Dairy 90th Anniversary

Former Liverpool store in 2007

 I've known Byrne Dairy my whole life and I'm a regular to this day. All but a few of their current locations have gas now. There are several in my lifetime that I know that are no more.  Ones that are long gone are too hard to find.  Older ones replaced by new stores like East Syracuse don't count.

Syracuse (Eastwood) 1 - NY 290 & 598; now Big Mikes

Syracuse (Eastwood) 2 - NY 290 & Forest Hill Dr; later Subway, now Luv Handlz

Syracuse (north side) - Grant Blvd & Butternut Dr; now Blueberry Market

Fayetteville/deWitt - NY 5 & 92; now Scolaro law firm

Liverpool - CR 57; now Tiny Bubbles Laundromat (pictured)

Geneva - NY 14; now indie gas station?

Chittenango - NY 5 & 13; now Quick Serve

Syracuse (west side/Tipp Hill) - NY 5; now Starbucks

New York Mills - Henderson St; TBD

Elmira - Walnut St; TBD

Hornell (1) - Seneca & State Sts; previously Elmhurst Dairy, TBD

Hornell (2) - Center St; TBD

Oswego - NY 104; TBD

Newark - W Union St; TBD

Ithaca - NY 13, 34 & 96; TBD

Spot Coffee

Rochester location on NY 96 over by NBC 10 WHEC (closed as of 2 March 2025)

 When I first discovered Spot Coffee in Monroe County last year (pictured), I assumed it was local. It's only recently that I learned it's a regional chain from Erie County sixty miles away from Rochester. They're even open as far east as Warren County! Since some of their competitors closed locations in between, Spot can find some new ones. (UPDATE: Spot in Rochester is now closed as of 2 March 2025, and has since become Eden Coffee and Co.).

Syracuse (east side) - former Red Lobster, NY 5

Various (Upstate NY only) - former Starbucks

Cicero - former Jimmy Johns, E Circle Dr & Horan Rd

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

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

Fairmount - former Subway, W Genesee St

Syracuse (north side) - former Against All Odds, Destiny USA (food court already has Starbucks and is full up anyway)

Liverpool - former Catherines or Verizon Wireless; COR Plaza, NY 31

Auburn - former Tim Hortons, NY 5; Kubal Coffee, Genesee St, downtown; and/or Fingerlakes Mall, food court; NY 5 & US 20

Weedsport - former Tim Hortons, NY 31 & 34

New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A

Colonie - Colonie Center, NY 5 & Wolf Road

Camillus - former Firehouse Subs, W Genesee St (instead of Fairmount)