Homesense

HomeSense store in Willimantic, CT

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

 HomeSense are part of the TJX conglomerate, even though they're originally from the boys' area. They have yet to come to mine. They are a bit different from US sister chain HomeGoods, which either stand alone or are in a combo with Marshalls. Also had to even out the number of posts again and I've been meaning to do this one for a period, so time to make some sense of this and bring it closer to home without too much overlap with TJ Maxx either. I'm still waiting on Sierra, but we've covered them earlier. Might just be mainly CNY or North Country as usual, but I can always just add on, of course.

Fayetteville - NY 5 & N Burdick St, Towne Center; former JoAnn Fabrics

Clay - NY 31, Marketfair North; former JoAnn Fabrics

Cortland - NY 281; former Big Lots or kmart

Syracuse - Destiny USA; former JCPenney, second floor

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

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

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

Leader Drugs

Church Leader Drugs in East Syracuse (AI replica)

 Leader Drugs is a brand found at and consortium of indie drug stores. I remember it from the old days, yet I just discovered that they are alive and well today at a few thousand mom and pop pharmacies across the country. This may be a bit tricky to find past or present affiliates in New York or any other state, yet it was and to this day is what you'd find at a local chemist when their national competitors are struggling (David and Goliath again). I'll just show you a number of yesterday and todays* Leader Drug Stores in CNY and WNY that I can remember (near me anyway) or dig up (just need enough to post).

Oswego - Wayne Drugs; NY 104 (still going strong, and where I learnt that Leader lives)*

Fulton - Wayne Drugs; E 1st St; sold to Kinney, which opened new store around the corner; now vacant

Syracuse (downtown) - Harrison Center Pharmacy/G&L/Kress (successor to classic north side store); Almond, Harrison & E Adams Sts; later sold to Kinney; now Upstate Medical Offices

Syracuse (south side) - Figs & Olives Pharmacy; NY 173 & E Brighton Ave; sold to Kinney, which opened new store across the street; demolished for Tim Hortons, which is now Dunkin'

North Syracuse - US 11; now Sammys NYC Deli and Grill

Manlius - Harveys Pharmacy; NY 92 (later Eckerd and Rite Aid, then Unplugged Gaming, now Dollar General)

Syracuse (east side/foot of SU Hill) - Harveys Drugs; NY 92 (same owners as above; now cornershop)

Syracuse (east side/near SU southeast campus) - Drumlins Pharmacy?; Skytop Plaza (later switched to Fays Cornerdrug; became Eckerd and Rite Aid; now Walgreens)

Henrietta - NY 15; now Brighton Health Center (Strong Ties URMC)

Liverpool/Bridgeport/Phoenix/Tully - Tri-R Drugs? (see previous post)

Buffalo (present) - Kents Leader Drug; NY 354*

Buffalo (past) - Bergs Leader Drug; 1540 Genesee St (now vacant lot)

Depew - Save Rite; NY 78 & US 20 ? (later Fays; TBD since I just don't know Erie County that well myself)

Syracuse (north side) - Kress Drugs; Butternut & Park Sts; late Victorian building survived well into 1990s; business moved to site off I-81 (soon to be BL-81); now demolished

New York (Midtown Manhattan) - 235 E 22nd St (even found a downstate one)*

*Leaders own site doesn't list their locations at this time, making it a wild goose chase to find them.

Dunk & Bright Furniture

AI version of the original Dunk & Bright Furniture

 After a month without any new ideas, I decided to cover Dunk & Bright Furniture (O'Dunk & O'Bright during St Patricks season to reflect the founders' Irish roots). The original store on S Salina St and E Bright Ave on Syracuse's south side will be closing in the coming weeks. Many people assume the business as a whole is coming to an end, not realising that a new store has opened in the former Great Northern Mall in Clay where Sibleys, Kaufmanns and Macys had been. To boot, Dunk & Bright have gone outside CNY to the Rochester area and opened in South Town Plaza on Jefferson Road (NY 252) in Henrietta, where Burlington, kmart, Freddys, and PriceRite used to be. It's new to most people there, and they're pessimistic about another furniture store there, with Marketplace Mall down the road being closed, and brick and mortar retail in general facing decline in recent years between online dominance and the economy. It's not uncommon to fear the unfamiliar. Hometown rival Raymour & Flanigan are in WNY and have expanded across the eastern seaboard, so it can be done. Dunk & Bright might just stick to the two stores at this stage. I don't think they want to be a big chain like that.
 I've only gone to the flagship once decades ago. It seemed to take time to look at everything, being the largest furniture store in the whole state, tucked into a part of town that now doesn't have as much money. With Dunk & Bright entering their 100th year, it had opened in a more innocent time. The fire department are said to be buying some of the building. Staff and remaining stock will be moved up the new I-81 (still I-481 for now) and NY 481 to the new store, where the mall is being done up in the wake of Microns building site just a few miles away. It's a slam Dunk and the future looks Bright for one of the areas oldest local businesses. There's also outlet store A. Bright Furniture in Westvale Plaza, which had moved several blocks from Wegmans Plaza on Onondaga Blvd from the former Chase-Pitkin and Big Lots turned Goodwill. So much for Goldbergs and Besdins (one from before my time I looked up).

AI version of store's early days nearly a century ago

The Return of Rite Aid

 

Former Canastota store with logo added

    Just when you thought Rite Aid were dead and gone, it turns out they are an online-only entity, now under new management. I got a tip on Facebook, and they now will fill prescriptions virtually, and provide health-care information. Instead of new stores, they have partnered with over two-thousand labs across the country. However, the site is hard to manoeuvre and I can only get jab labs in Scranton, PA, where the original chain began as Thrift D Drugs. I did see Quest Diagnostics, however; my closest one of which is near where Rite Aid used to be blocks from home, but at Quests old location a mile away, they couldn't accommodate my particular needs, so I go to a competitor for that instead. As for scripts, Rite Aid said you could look for your old one from a couple years ago if it wasn't binned, or just ring your new chemist to transfer it  once Rite Aid are set up to be a ghost pharmacy, if you like, competing with Amazon, Express Scripts, and Rex MD. While it can be convenient for both busy people and those who can't get out too much or at all, the post is not always convenient or safe, and it's just part of a growing trend of shifting business online. Rite Aid scripts were eventually acquired by nearby area  Walgreens, CVS/pharmacy (if not through Target), or indies, while customers could simply choose to move them to another chain, online, or a local pharmacy in their area. These competitors would have signs saying they welcome Rite Aid customers either way so they have a new place to pick up meds.
    By the time Rite Aid enter their sixty-fifth year this fall, everything should be in place. Like other shuttered chains that came back as e-tailers like Wards, it's just not the Rite Aid that we grew up with.

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

Maplewood Bar & Grill

AI of Maplewood Bar & Grill in Mattydale Plaza

 Maplewood Inn started as an indie hotel on 7th North St in Liverpool after Days Inn had moved a mile away, in a part of town with lodging off of I-81 and the Thruway with proximity to the airport. Then it became a franchise of Holiday Inn Express after the full-fledged one had left the once-again Randolph House on Electronics Pkwy (previously Sheraton, later Ramada, and now sister chain Wyndham) and the later original Comfort Inn on Buckley Road (previously covered). Either corporate or the franchise shut down the restaurant section over a year ago. Not too far away in Mattydale, the flagship Zebb's in the former kmart Plaza on Brewerton Road (US 11) had closed, so the owners bought it and we're still waiting for it to open. Mattydale, Hinsdale, Pitcher Hill and Northern Lights Plaza have all fallen into decline in recent years like many part of the country as far as business goes. The ongoing I-81 Project has also caused concern for the hotel owners. The economy overall worries everyone these days.
 I went to the original Maplewood once for Halloween a few years ago when looking for somewhere to go on the night (we'll cover that later before then). I've eaten at Zebb's on occasion over the years. That chain once stretched from Rochester to the Mohawk Valley. There isn't much left in that plaza, even with their neighbor across the street making an effort to prove presenter Dave Portnoy wrong. He must have slated Mattydale Plaza as well if he bothered to look at that, but much of these places were nice once. As for Maplewood, their menu is quite good, and they focus more on local artists like Ronnie Leigh, John McConnell and Tom Chick (seen a couple of them at other places, not sure if two have played the old guard, and I don't typically or specifically see area performers like I would for national artists). My idea is when they have events for specific holidays and annual traditions. After three recent  attempts at Mardi Gras, only to find it's not like the other holiday as in the South with a Cajun twist, maybe the end of Carnival could have some resemblance to Orleans and Jefferson Parishes next year, and a Zydeco, Dr John type (he did OCC for Jazz Fest), or other band could play (this should be on the sister blog). I'll have to go through the year like Stevie Wonder to determine which ones would work. St Valentines Day, then Fat Tuesday if not the same day, St Patricks Day (perfect for the local), also an Easter Sunday buffet and community-focused get-together for those of us with nowhere else to go or no one to go with), Adult Prom (that was inevitable, but it's big enough from what I remember as Zebb's), Fourth of July with this years milestone, even my birthday since some people hold a public birthday bash, Labor Day if that's a thing for a show, the H-word, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve. Getting there by bus at nights and weekends may be an issue. Open Jam and something else are going to be a regular occurrence. It's still early days just finishing up everything. I really would like some small-time yet international names to come here once in a while without pushing out CNY ones like Jess Novak, Prof Mark Zane (his day job is at OCC), and Paul Davie (seen them too). I love supporting small and local business, even if I go to see hometown people per se to a lesser extent. I'm looking forward to the new Maplewood Bar & Grill and their continued success in the future.

JoAnn Fabrics: Former Locations in NYS

JoAnn etc store in Connecticut courtesy Mike Mozart

 JoAnn Fabrics closed this past spring, leaving Michaels and Hobby Lobby the last chains of their sort left in the country. AC Moore had previously gone out of business years ago. Michaels did acquire some of JoAnns stores in areas where they did not overlap, which makes sense, and perhaps, Hobby Lobby got some of the others. I'll just focus on the ones in the regions that I know.

Syracuse - Destiny USA (then Carousel Center); now Burlington (closed long before recent events)

Fayetteville - Towne Centre, NY 5 & Towne Dr; now vacant

Clay - Marketfair North, NY 31; now vacant (should become Michaels with Micron coming and not right near existing store)

Cortland - Riverside Mall, NY 13; now Area 51

Vestal - Parkway Plaza, NY 434; now vacant

Big Flats - CR 35 & 75; becoming Burlington in 2026

Ithaca/Lansing - Cayuga Shopping Ctr, N Triphammer Rd

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall; US 20 & NY 5

New Hartford - New Hartford Shopping Ctr, Genesee St

Henrietta - South Town Plaza; NY 252 & 15

Watertown - NY 3

Colonie - Northway Mall, NY 5; becoming Ulta Beauty in 2027 (moving from Colonie Ctr across road)

Clifton Park - Village Plaza, off NY 146; now Goodwill

Kingston - US 9W

Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Plaza, US 9

Middletown - Dunning Rd

Malone - US 11

West Babylon - NY 27A

Commack - Garet Pl

Bohemia - NY 27

Amherst - US 62

Blasdell - NY 179

Williamsville - NY 78

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.

Media Play/On Cue

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amherst - NY 79; later FYE; now Hobby Lobby

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

Niagara Falls - US 62 & NY 265, Milpine Plaza

Hamburg - NY 179, McKinley Mall

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

Henrietta - NY 252 & 15, South Town Plaza

Niskayuna - NY 5, Mohawk Mall

Greece - NY 104, Ridgemont Plaza

Cheektowaga - Walden Place; now Ollies Bargain Outlet

Former Burlington locations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Big Flats - CR 35 & 75, Arnot Mall; moving to former JoAnn Fabrics by late Spring 2026

Ace Hardware

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

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

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

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

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

Chittenango - NY 5; former Rite Aid/Walgreens

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

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

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

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

Mattress Firm: 40 Years On

Future 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

Former CVS locations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

North Syracuse - US 11; now Harbor Fright Tools

Cicero - Penn Can Mall; now Drivers Village

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

Delmar - NY 443 & 335; now medical office

Albany - NY 443; now vacant

Manlius - NY 173; now various business

Camillus - Camillus Mall; now demolished

Colonie - NY 5; Colonie Center

Mystery Bins

Fantasy location in Sangertown Square in New Hartford

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

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

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

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

Albany - Colonie Centre, NY 5; same as Watertown

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

Williamsville - NY 78; former Best Buy

Binghamton - US 11; former Giant/Weis Markets

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

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

Where to Hold Adult Prom in Syracuse

Kitty and 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 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 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 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 Summer 2026)

East Syracuse

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

Onondaga Hill

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

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'm also trying to find a place for my birthday, and could even have the prom for my birthday party in August)

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)

Service Merchandise

If Service Merchandise were open now. Courtesy Meta AI.

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

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

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

Huntington

Massapequa - Sunrise Mall

Montgomery - NY 208; now Staples

Lawrence

Nanuet

Woodhaven

Lake Grove

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

Schenectady - NY 5

Wilton - Saratoga Mall, NY 50 & CR 102

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

Henrietta - NY 252

Irondequoit - US/NY 104

Greece - US/NY 104

Kenmore - NY 384

Plattsburgh - Champlain Centre, CR 26

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

Kingston - US 9W

Poughkeepsie - South Hills Mall, US 9

New Hartford - NY 5A

CVS lite

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Former Dollar Tree locations in CNY

Forgot that I had taken this one myself. Glad that I did now that it's gone. Valley store, March 2010.

 The closure of the Dollar Tree on Syracuses south side prompted not only this post, but the last one on Acme, which was there generations earlier, according to Syracuse.com. To boot, I was fortunate to have preserved the store on camera, just I have several others because you never know these days. The fact that it's not in the best part of town only makes it worse, and the sister store up the hill left a year or two earlier. Inflation ended "Everything's $1.00" forever, just like five and dime went away long before that. It's also why smaller competitors with the same price point became fewer by the day, and now you just have to run it as a chain with low prices, but that's just not enough anymore. Here's where they fell:

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall; we'll leave it there (take Doris Days advice); moved to former Seamans Furniture/Record Theatre up the road

Syracuse (north side) (1) - Butternut & Lodi Sts; previously Fays; now Westside Family Pharmacy/Syracuse Drugs (second location of local indie across from closing Rite Aid, which competed with Fays)

Syracuse (north side) (2) - US 11; previously Big M/Wilson Farms/Dullys; now Dollar General

Syracuse (south side/Valley) - NY 173 & 80; Turnpike Centre; previously Acme/Carls/Fays (pictured)

Oswego - NY 104; TBD

Mattydale - US 11, Mattydale Plaza; previously Fays (next to kmart)

Clay - NY 31 & 481; Marketfair North Plaza; Only One (subsidiary later absorbed by main chain; moved to COR Plaza in Liverpool down the road; later Tuesday Morning?)

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20, Fingerlakes Crossing; now vacant

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

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)