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).

Hess's in CNY+

Kitty used instead of someone elses photo

 Hess's Department Stores were a chain from Lehigh Valley dating back to the late Victorian era. The flagship would have A-listers make in-store appearances. They worked their way to Upstate NY from acquiring other chains, but would gradually be bought out from the late '80s through the mid-'90s. They were unrelated to Hess Oil Company (which still exist, but are just not directly accessible to the public anymore). I can remember them being in CNY in the old days.

Clay - Great Northern Mall, NY 31; later Chappells and the Bon-Ton; soon to be redeveloped now that Micron have been approved for their building site a few miles away so the mall is one for a new lifestyle center and modern village (we'll delve further as soon as we know more if others don't already)

Fayetteville - Fayetteville Mall, NY 5; later Sibleys and Kaufmanns; now Towne Center (TBD)

New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A; later Kaufmanns and Macys; now vacant (shown below)

Allentown, PA (downtown) - flagship; later The Bon-Ton; now offices (too many others to list)

Poughkeepsie - South Hills Mall, US 9; later Burlington; TBD (only non-CNY store within the state I'll do because I used to be up the road, but that's for another day)

Rotterdam - Rotterdam Square Mall (now Viaport), NY 337; later Filenes and Macys; now NYS Taxation call center

Camillus - Camillus Plaza/Mall; previously Witherills; later Chappells and the Bon-Ton; now St Josephs Health, Empire Dermatology and vacancy (last surviving building from mall at Camillus Commons)

AI depiction of sidewalk sale at Lehigh Valley OG store

AI creations appear courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc./Facebook. No real people or buildings are shown.

New Hartford location (not AI for once! Just copy and paste!)

AI mall store with improved sign. Courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.

Byrne Dairy Bottlenecked

The last one with milk for a while.

 In a rare move, Byrne Dairy became the latest retailer to be short of something. This time, it's their glass bottles, but rather being able to get milk into them. I went to my two usual locations on Thompson Road (NY 635) and in East Syracuse (NY 290) and they were all out. Even if I went all the way to Gates, Endicott, Central Square or North Utica, it'd be no different. Corporate said the equipment had to undergo maintenance and would not have everything back to normal until the end of the month at best. I enquired as a customer rather than a journalist going into a right panic. We've all learnt the hard way the past five years that things just don't replenish overnight. Pittsford Farms in Monroe County, Stew Leonards (which we just covered), and several others around the country still offer glass. In other areas, people may assume it went away generations ago. Milkmen were even in business in the UK as recently as thirty years ago with the smaller glass bottles that the over-60s grew up with. Also, glass is naturally BPA-free, reusable, washable (dishwasher safe in the bottom rack), and keeps plastic and waxed paper out of the ecosystem, which is Gretas way. I'll have to settle for plastic until it comes back, and maybe even get it at other stores. No one else is reporting this nor are the company themselves. It's up to me.

Wheels Discount Auto Supply

Fairly close AI fantasy location. Courtesy Meta.

 Fays Drugs had Wheels Discount Auto Supply, where you could get parts for your car at the lowest prices. When the parent company were sold to JCPenneys Eckerd, Wheels locations went to other chains naturally. Had to challenge myself again because I only know a couple current ones myself. Penneys (my family still used that name) close competitor Sears' Western Auto (forgot about them) bought Wheels' assets by 1996 prior to the pharmacy chains sale (so much for Sears, but we did them). Wheels later acquired National Auto Supply and Whitlock (new to me), yet it was in vain as all three chains would be no more. There were a total of 36, but I'll be lucky to find half of them (small towns and/or areas I know are easier to guess).

Syracuse - Shop City; previously National Auto Supply, now Advance Auto Parts

deWitt - NY 5; now Charneys (see previous post)

Manlius - NY 173

Fayetteville - N Burdick St?

Cortland - NY 13, 222, and/or 281

Cicero - E Circle Dr

Erie and Kingston, PA - previously Whitlock

Buffalo - Niagara St, now Advance Auto Parts

Gates - TBD

Auburn - NY 5

Fulton - NY 481

Oswego - NY 104

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96

Watertown - NY 3

Fairmount - W Genesee St

Troy - TBD

Plattsburgh - TBD

Malone - US 11

Albany - NY 5, Westgate Shopping Plaza

Ilion - NY 5S

Utica - NY 5

New Hartford - NY 5A

Rome - NY 46

Oneida - NY 5

Mattydale - US 11?

Waterloo - NY 5 & US 20

Former Price Chopper locations

Syracuse east side store, which is doing just fine

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

Framingham, MA 

Schenectady (Sheridan Plaza) 

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

Albany*/** (earlier store; previously ***)

Oneonta* (NY 7)

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

Mechanicville*/*** 

Pittsfield, MA*/*** 

Glens Falls*/*** 

North Troy */**

Lansingburgh (US 4)

Green Island*/** 

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

Shrewsbury, MA* 

Oneida (NY 5 & 46) - later Herb Phillipsons, now Oneida Indian Nation offices* 

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

Saratoga Springs* (earlier store)

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

Northampton, MA 

Baldwinsville? 

Fulton (NY 3)* 

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

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

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

West Boylston, MA 

Willowbrook 

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

Plattsburgh* 

Scranton, PA (apart from Taylor)

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

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

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

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

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

New Hartford* (NY 5A)

Gloversville (as of 10/1/26)

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

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

*moved

**As Public Service Market

***As Central Markets

More locations TBD

Price Chopper/Market 32 vs ShopRite

New location in Colonie (collage of two Wiki-snaps)

 After a months time of agonising over the future of five shuttered ShopRites in the Capital Region, we learnt that their competitor Price Chopper/Market 32 have acquired them. There has been mixed reaction. While it's great that the properties won't be empty for long, others slated the sale for the Rotterdam-based company for having a monopoly by keeping out other chains (namely union ones, which ShopRite are). The Niskayuna and North Greenbush stores will be the first to become Market 32 stores in 2024 since they're not overlapping existing stores too closely. The Slingerlands store off NY 85 will sublease since there's a 32 a stones throw away (I've gone to both, but only the latter under the old name). The two on NY 5/Central Ave in Colonie and Albany proper will be the biggest challenge yet. Northeast have to sort it out with the owners of the ShopRite parcels. It's confirmed that Price Chopper have moved out of Colonie and Westgate Plazas respectively and down the road. That opens of the possibility of rival retailers replacing real estate easily. It'd be nice if Grand Union came back to the immediate area after two decades away (more on putting them in other counties nearby in previous posts) so there'd be a UFCW employer again after a year of labor upheaval around the globe. The gas stations will be sold. Unless one is nearby each, a Sunoco franchise would make sense because of the longtime FuelAdvantedge scheme at Price Chopper/Market 32 (there was Mini Chopper at the Pine Hills store decades ago).  While in the rural communities after buying remaining Grand Unions in 2013, Tops are unlikely to be brought in to either the old or new sites since Northeast may not want both chains at close quarters again like in Central New York and the Mid-Hudson Valley.

Now when I visit again, there'll only be a couple places I don't have near home yet (Hannaford have their own fish to fry in Fayetteville). At least it won't be like other vacancies that sit untouched for years or even generations. To think Rachael Ray has known Price Chopper forever and recently appeared at an event downstate sponsored by ShopRite!

UPDATE: All four Market 32s are now open as of 14/6/24.

Former ShopRite locations

Former Colonie store. Courtesy Tyler A. McNeil/Wikimedia Commons.

 I heard of ShopRite when I was younger through adverts on NYC TV stations on cable when they were indie (more on that on our sister blog). I didn't realise they were in the Capital Region in those days, being loyal to Grand Union, as well as being in Price Choppers backyard. It wasn't until I was away at school in between when I finally went on a regular basis. When I came back to CNY for good, I would later discover non-union sister chain PriceRite (covered years earlier here). I would go to ShopRite in the Tri-State the last two times I went before they were back up the Hudson over a decade ago. I just received the stunning news that a handful of O&Os in Schenectady, Albany and Renssalaer Counties are closing by the end of the year (the nail on the coffin lid was hit on 18 November, with Price Chopper/Market 32 getting those stores just ten days on). People started in on the W-word and all that lot (wouldn't fit anyway, and they said it's not on). If I do go to New York City again, I'll just go in that area, despite the plethora of competition in the boroughs alone. This is just a small list of NY and NJ stores as there as dozens more that aren't around any longer. I put most of these on the later PathMark post, since that chain spun off of a franchise decades ago.

Montague, NJ - NJ 23

Wayne, NJ - CR 504

Slingerlands - NY 85; TBA

Ellenville - US 209; becoming Tops in June 2025

Drexel Hill, PA; moved to new store next door; sister chain The Fresh Grocer based here

Albany (1) - US 20; closed by late '80s

Albany (2) - NY 5; now Market 32

Colonie (1) - Wolf Rd.; closed by late '80s; later Bed Bath and Beyond; now vacant

Colonie (2) - NY 5 (pictured); now Market 32

Rotterdam - 1426 Altamont Ave; closed by late '80s; may not have been Great American; now plaza

Menands - NY 32; previously Great American; later Price Chopper; now offices

North Greenbush - US 4 & NY 43; now Market 32

Niskayuna - NY 146 & Nott St E; previously Grand Union; now Market 32

Cortlandt Manor - US 9

West Nyack - NY 59; previously Grand Union

Vestal - NY 434 & Rano Blvd.; later Giant (local chain, not Ahold Delhaize one); now Weis

Poughkeepsie (Arlington) - US 44 & NY 55; TBD

Newburgh (Balmville) - NY 32; now Ocean State Job Lot (current store down the road in Vails Gate)

Hyde Park (1) - US 9 ; plaza store closed in 1998; demolished along with former Jamesway and restaurants and is now original Stop & Shop in Hyde Park Mall

Hyde Park (2) - US 9 & CR 40A (opened 1998; became Stop & Shop in 2001 and closed in 2012 when new store opened across the road. Old site demolished and is now park space. Meanwhile, ShopRite opened in North Poughkeepsie in 2021 at Hudson Heritage, past Culinary Institute of America and the City of Poughkeepsie across US 9 from Marist College. I left the Hudson Valley in 2000 and last visited in 2010, so I'm just catching up!)

Great American/Victory Markets

Margaretville Victory store, 1976. Courtesy John Margolies/Library of Congress.

 I remember Great American and Victory Markets from the old days. Wikipedia has no official mention that the Leominster, MA-based Victory was not connected with Norwich-based Victory Markets and Great American, which had stores from the Southern Tier, CNY, North Country, Adirondacks, Central Leatherstocking and Capital Regions, Mohawk and Hudson Valleys and close to the Catskills. Some had a distinct shape that can easily be recognised by those of a certain age group. Others still are open today or only just closed in recent memory while some are long gone. Hannaford and Big Y bought Victory (Leominster) locations in New England. Back in Upstate NY, at least one Victory (NY) or Great American had been and another now is a Grand Union as well. More of them would be primarily in small towns. When they left, they would become rural food deserts (which can be worse than urban ones, being further away from anything comparable). Competition from P&C, Price Chopper, Tops and other chains meant Great Americans, like so many mom and pop operations (the latter day stores like Big M, Save a Lot, IGA and ShopRite are franchises [Victory acquired several ShopRite franchise stores in Albany and Warren Counties in late 1988, while ShopRite returned to the District in the 2010s with O&Os, but were sold in 2023 to Price Chopper/Market 32]), were becoming fewer by the day.  I will list as many as I can, but only put highways for areas that I know because it can take all day, even for smaller ones. There may be even more, but this is the gist of it. Many have been lost to obscurity (and I don't where they all are, yet our partners at Groceteria have a treasure trove, and I just can't catch up!). Victory even owned Carl's Drugs from 1988 until 1991 when it was sold to Fay's. Great American replaced many Loblaws east of I-390 and Lake Ontario to the MA/VT/CT state lines when the Canadian giant left the US in the late '70s. Even a few Grand Unions were taken over by Great American by that point. This may be as complete as it gets, but more always comes up. An Australian company once owned Victory. Other Victory Market chains in California, Alabama, Pennsylvania (Alleghany County); Florida, NY (which had to be renamed Big V, later a ShopRite franchise and property company, because this Victory opened nearby and went to court), and Michigan were also unrelated (that'll go in the other post now). This is exhaustive, so it will change periodically. Even in my own area, current status of most locations are unknown unless indicated due to apparent age of stores.

Bridgeport (NY 31 & 298) - only one I ever went to as such; closed by 1996 and mostly vacant since

Fayetteville (NY 5) - just Victory; later Super Duper, now dance studio (still has distinct design) and vacant restaurant (formerly Kirbys; pictured below)

Manlius (NY 173) - later Smiths, now Dollar Tree

Fort Plain (NY 80) - later Grand Union and Big M, now Save-a-Lot

Canajoharie (NY 5S) - now farm equipment business? (old store now demolished)

Port Jervis (US 6 & 209) - now Price Chopper

Port Leyden (NY 12)

Sidney (1) (BK5, recently closed)

Sidney (2) (demolished; now Town Plaza)

Greene – Victory Market – South Chenango Street (Victory that later became Great American BK5; now closed)

Groton – Victory Market – 1980 Main Street (Victory; never a Great American) (NY 38)

Guilderland – Great American – 1235 Western Avenue (US 20) (formerly ShopRite) - now diBellas Subs and Uncommon Grounds in University Plaza

Hamilton – Victory Market – 11 Eaton St (Victory that became Great American); now Waynes Market

Hartwick – Victory Market – Main (NY 205) & South Streets (became a Peter Pumpkin; TBD)

Hancock – Victory Market –95 East Front Street (NY 97) (became a Great American; now Marinos Outdoor World)

Hankins (NY 97) – Victory Market; never a Great American

Herkimer (1) – Victory Market – 232 West Albany Street (NY 5 & 28) (became a Great American) - later Herb Phillipsons; now Harbor Freight Tools

Herkimer (2) - Great American - (NY 28) - formerly Loblaws and P&C; now Hannaford

Hinsmans Corners (Binghamton) – Victory Market – 1318 Upper Front Street (US 11) - never a Great American; now Lowes

Homer – Victory Market – (never a Great American) (US 11)

Horseheads – Great American – 3300 Chambers Road (now Arnot Event Center)

Star Lake (NY 3)  - previously IGA; demolished; now Dollar General

Syracuse (Eastwood) (NY 290) - Victory Video; later James Flowers; now vacant (information on this division is even rarer, so maybe for another day)

Oriskany Falls (NY 12B & 26)

Owego (Bodle Hill Rd) - likely demolished

Norwich (flagship and 82 N Broad St [NY 12]) former now ALDI?; latter now Walgreens

Norwich (cold storage warehouse on E. Main St.; later Tops and Grand Union; closed as of March 2026, even though a replacement is being sought)

Utica (then-NY 5/8/12 and Bleecker St) - now various businesses

North Utica (NY 5) - previously Chicago Markets, later Big Lots; now closed

Walton (204 Delaware St/NY 10) - now Big M

Fulton (NY 481) - later Fays and Eckerd; now doctors office

Rotterdam (Altamont Ave) - previously ShopRite; probably demolished

Gloversville (NY 30A) - previously Chicago Markets and Loblaws

Glenville (NY 50 & Glen Ridge Rd) - Mayfair Shopping Ctr; previously Grand Union and ShopRite; closed 1992

Gouverneur (1) (US 11 & NY 58) - Victory only

Gouverneur (2) (US 11 & Rawley St) - Great American and Loblaws

Morris (NY 23 & 514)

Monticello (NY 42)

Milford (NY 7)

Mt Upton (CR 37)

Stamford (NY 10 & 23)

Ellenville (US 209) - later ShopRite?; now Tops?

Potsdam (1) (NY 56) - Great American; now Price Chopper

Potsdam (2) (NY 11B) - Victory; later Big M; now IGA

Lake George (US 9)

Mexico (NY 104) - later Big M; now Tops?

Glens Falls (Upper Glen Rd) - previously ShopRite

Bainbridge (NY 7) - now vacant (on an album sleeve from indie band Empty Country)

Cobleskill (NY 7) - closed in 2002

Middleburgh (NY 30) - initial plans to open as Great American in 2015 changed and eventually opened as Valley Market instead, which is sister to surviving Prattsville store in the region

Unadilla (NY 7)

Red Creek (NY 104A)

Locke (NY 38 & 90)

Moravia (NY 38 & 38A)

Malone (US 11 & NY 30) - previously Loblaws

Painted Post (1) (NY 17C) - Village Square Shopping Center; previously A&P, now Valu Home Center

Painted Post (2) (NY 415)

Corning (1) (NY 415/W Pulteney St) - previously Loblaws, later Salvation Army Thrift Store and Byrne Dairy; now vacant

Corning (2) (Conhocton St)

Ithaca (Adams & 2nd Sts) - previously Loblaws; likely demolished

Massena (NY 37) - TBD

Sayre, PA (US 15) - later P&C, now Tops

Waverly (NY 17C) - previously Grand Union

South Waverly, PA (CR 1070) - Valley Plaza; previously Grand Union; now CVS?

Erwin (NY 414)

Margaretville (NY 30) - pictured above; Victory, now the Catskill Mountain Christian Church School

Schoharie (NY 30)

Oneonta (NY 7 & 28) - Southside Mall, later OfficeMax; now Michaels (inside shown on an '80s Instagram account)

New Berlin (NY 8 & 80)

Worcester (NY 7)

Binghamton (Main & S Washington Sts)

Prattsville (NY 23) - last surviving GA store with ties to the chain (not counting any unrelated stores outside Upstate NY [specifically west of Twin Tiers/mid-Finger Lakes] due to generic nature of name)

West Winfield (1) (NY 51) - now Dollar General

West Winfield (2) (US 20 & NY 51) - TBD

Oxford - now Dollar General

Watertown (1) (NY 3) - Nichols Plaza; previously A&P; outgoing Big Lots

Watertown (2) (NY 12) - previously Loblaws; now a mental health facility

Marathon (US 11 & NY 221) - later Peter Pumpkin

Boonville (NY 12) - now vacant

Cairo (NY 23) - now Hannaford

Adams Center (US 11) - later store; now Adams Center Market

Alexandria Bay (NY 12) - now Price Chopper?

Millerton (US 44) - previously Grand Union and Trottas

Apalachin (NY 17)

Amsterdam (NY 30) - previously Chicago Markets/Bag 'n Save and Loblaws

Camillus (W Genesee St) - Camillus Plaza; later P&C; now Tops

Canastota (NY 13)

Barneveld (NY 365)

Camden (NY 13)

Catskill (NY 32)

Chadwicks (Main St [now Oneida St?])

New Paltz (NY 299)

Afton (NY 7)

Cooperstown (1) (NY 28 & 80) - later P&C and Grand Union; closed as of March 2026

Cooperstown (2) (NY 28) - Ar-De's Great American until 2010; now Price Chopper

Delhi (NY 10)

Sherrill (NY 5) - later P&C and Tops; now Grand Union

Fonda (NY 30A) - now Cumberland Farms

Laurens (NY 205)

Liberty (1) (NY 52)

Liberty (2) (S Main St) - later Liberty Market and Ideal Food Market; now Lemonade Kosher Supermarket

Lyons Falls (NY 12)

Sherburne (NY 12) - now Big M

Richfield Springs (1) (US 20 & NY 28) - both chains; now Price Chopper

Richfield Springs (2) (CR 22) - just Victory; TBD

Tully (US 11 & NY 80) - now Nightingales Tully Lakes Hardware

Ilion (NY 5S)

Whitesboro (1) (NY 69) - Great American; previously Loblaws; now storage center

Whitesboro (2) (Main St) - Victory; now audiologists office

East Greenbush (US 9 & 20)

Hudson (US 9) - now ShopRite?

Little Falls (NY 5 & 169) - previously Loblaws; later Big M

Catskill (US 9W) - later Grand Union?; now Tops? (small town, you know)

Colonie (Wolf Rd) - previously ShopRite; later Bed, Bath and Beyond; now vacant

East Stroudsburg, PA (US 209) - formerly Genettis (last non-NY store)

Westvale (NY 5) - Victory; previously Johnsons, later IGA; now dry cleaners?

Jordan (9 Mechanic St) - later Big M and Tops; now Family Dollar

Elmira (1) (Lake St) - Diven Plaza, now demolished

Elmira (2) (William St) - previously Loblaws; later ValueWay; now Save-a-Lot

Elmira (3) (Erie St) - now vacant

Big Flats/Horseheads (CR 35 & 43 off I-86/NY 17) - Arnot Mall; previously Loblaws; absorbed by expansion

Syracuse (east side) (NY 5) - likely demolished by the '80s

Syracuse (south side) - (S Salina & Tallman Sts.) (Victory now building site; Great American now demolished)

Jamesville (NY 173); likely kitty corner across from Apulia Rd near Jamesville Rd/North St; now various businesses including Sunoco

van Buren/Seneca Knolls (NY 48) - now Big M flagship (may be confused with next one up the road)

Baldwinsville (NY 48) - later ValueWay; long gone

Baldwinsville (Downer St) - Tri-County Mall; long since demolished; now over-60s flats

Dryden (NY 13 & 38) - later Great American, Eckerd, and Rite Aid; now demolished (pictured below)

Grand Gorge (NY 23 & 30)

Clinton (NY 12B)

deWitt (NY 5) - levelled by the '80s

Smyrna (NY 80)

Ogdensburg - Park Plaza; previously Loblaws; now demolished

Chittenango (NY 5 & 13) - later Smiths, now Kinney Pharmacy

Syracuse (east side) - Victory; previously Acme

Syracuse (east side) (NY 5) - Victory only

Syracuse (east side) (NY 5) - Victory; previously Giant Food (not chains from Southern Tier/MD/PA) and Johnsons

Syracuse (north side) (NY 298) - Victory; previously Johnsons; later Big M; now Diamond (cornershop)

Syracuse (NY 92) (1) - Victory; previously Red & White (brand still exists)

Syracuse (NY 92) (2)  - Victory; previously Market Basket (not New England chain)

Cazenovia (US 20) - first store; later P&C, now Tops

Cincinnatus (NY 26) - later Peter Pumpkin (spinoff chain)

Cherry Valley (US 20) - previously Oneida Supermarkets (1968-?)

Oneida (NY 5 & 46/Wilson St) - Ames Plaza (then); now Oneida Indian Nation headquarters

Clayville (NY 8)

Saugerties (US 9W)

Schenevus (NY 7)

Endwell (800 Hooper Rd./CR 33), Park Manor Plaza; previously Grand Union [until 1995] and Giant; now Raleigh Baseball Institute (bigger Giant turned Weis opened across plaza)

Roscoe (off NY 17) - now IGA

Oswego (NY 104) - later Green Planet Grocery, now demolished

Rome (NY 46) - previously Loblaws; now Market 32

Conklin (NY 7)

Cortland (1) (NY 13 & Main St) - Great American and Victory; now CVS?

Cortland (2) (NY 41 & US 11?) - Victory only; later P&C; now Dollar General

Cortlandville (NY 281) - also both

Deposit - Elm & Monument Sts.

deRuyter (NY 13) - now Big M?

Phoenicia (NY 28)

Eaton (NY 26)

Edmeston (NY 80)

Jeffersonville (NY 52)

Kingston (US 9W) - Kings Plaza; later Weis?; now Marshalls

Whitney Point (US 11)

McGraw (NY 41)

North Syracuse (US 11) - Victory; previously Market Basket (not New England chain)

New Hartford (1) (NY 5) - TBD (address provided changed)

New Hartford (2) (NY 5A) - Tehan Plaza; now Hannaford; previously Chicago Markets and Tops

Syracuse (north side) - 1st North & Pond Sts; later Wegmans, now Tops

Menands (NY 32) - previously ShopRite, later Price Chopper; now offices

Great American AI rendering with close enough later logo

Fayetteville today with replica logo (neither AI nor borrowed) 

AI of Dryden store with '70s car

AI of Fayetteville store with Kirbys and 2010s Jeep

Weis Markets

Fredericksburg, VA location (ex-Bloom/Food Lion [due to Ahold Delhaize merger])

 Weis Markets are a chain from Susquehanna Valley. I first heard of them when I was in the mid-Hudson Valley, but they left just after I did! To boot, they had acquired Albany Public Markets up the river years before, and perhaps I went to one of those (that would be a post all its own), although some of those became Grand Union (see earlier article). They had entered the Southern Tier when they'd bought out  trailblazing local indie chain Giant in Broome County (not the same one owned by Ahold [Delhaize]), bringing them back to New York. I was in Binghamton on a bus layover between Ithaca and getting back to Syracuse. Knowing ahead of time I could squeeze it in (although I had to use a cab and Uber because I wouldn't have enough time for the local bus in an area I don't know that well), I decided to head across town after two long decades. It was a "Weis" choice. While they may not go north of 607, they could expand around the area code and Pennsylvania (I scrambled on Bing and Google, but some spots I found at first wound up being too close to existing locations and competitors, which explains why they're vacant, but I can only go so far with areas that are I may never be 100 miles of again, and other chains would have to fill that vacuum). Hope they do try to get at least one or more of these to materialise so there are at least 200 locations total. I would finally make it to Weis again in late 2025 in Vestal, just near Giants offices, which still let some of the stores they sold to Weis. The Elmira store in Twin Tiers is the only non-Giant store left in the state today, and with their own gas to boot, while just  across the region, you'd have to go to the Sunoco in Johnson City for their rewards savings (the one in Endwell/Endicott only works for the other place). Now to bring everything to these communities:

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96, former Hobby Lobby (not the one shown below)

Owego - NY 17C; former P&C, Tops and Grand Union (fills gap between Elmira and Vestal)

Cortland - US 11 & NY 41 - former Dollar Bazaar, NY 222 & 282 - former Grand Union (G-d forbid, even though it's a small town, and there are rumours of it closing, but I'm not the Baz Bamigboye of retail, mind)

Sidney - CR 23, former BK5 Great American

Horseheads - S Main St, former Ames (although it's 5 miles from existing store in Elmira proper)

Greene - S Chenango St, former Ardees Great American

Somerset, PA - 313 Plank Rd & PA 31, former Bi-Lo (the former sister chain to P&C, not Tops [see earlier article on that BI-LO])

Johnstown, PA - 2449 Bedford St, former Ideal Market, downtown

Taylor, PA - S Main Ave; former Price Chopper (below)

Select former locations:

Delmar - Albany Public Markets, NY 443; closed mid-'80s (vaguely remember, even though I was young, and just able to confirm today)

Kingston - Kings Plaza, US 9W; closed fall 2000; now Marshalls (visited May-June that year)

Binghamton - NY 7; previously Giant (not the one shown below)

Vestal - NY 17C (likely underperforming and too close to the two other stores)

Albany County - Albany Public Markets; 1967-86? (only recently rediscovered on Facebook)

Fredericksburg, VA - previously Food Lion (not the one shown above)

Former Giant in Binghamton with added sign and CVS

Fantasy Scranton area store is well between two real ones

Former Tops in Ithaca had become a Dicks instead

Last three images under fair use. No AI was used, or even Photoshop. Just cheap OG MS Paint!

Sears Oil Co.

Sears Oil service station in Rome in 1983

 I remember there being what was a regional chain of gas and service stations called Sears Oil Co. from Rome (unrelated to Sears department stores and their own auto shops).  They were gone by the late '90s.  I needed more than a handful before I could do this one (I just know Onondaga County more).

Rome - N James St

Rome - Bruce St

Rome - NY 46 (HQ/refinery)

Utica - NY 5S

Herkimer - NY 5

New Hartford - then-NY 5/8/12 (pre-arterial)

Oneida - NY 46 & 365A

Rome (downtown) - W Liberty & N George Sts; a replica museum remains

Syracuse (Eastwood/E Syracuse) - NY 290 & 635; now Wendys

Syracuse (downtown) - NY 5 & US 11; later Hess and Speedway, now Mobil

Fayetteville (village) - NY 5; same as downtown Syracuse (not to be confused with corner of N Burdick St Speedway or Lyndon Corners Mobil at NY 92 [one-time Express Marts])

Fairmount - W Genesee St; now Delta Sonic

Formerly in CNY, who's still around?

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

 There are a number of chains and indies alike that resonate with the over-60s in and/or from CNY (primarily those who grew up in Onondaga County). While not everyone knows half of what I do, sometimes a name can bring you right back to a simpler time. It's easy to assume that many of them outright belong to the ages now and have for decades, but that's not always the case. It's common for people from older or pretty much all generations to move away from their hometown (human migration has occurred since before antiquity), and we all don't catch up or travel that far. Here's a rundown of what I can gather:

Loblaws - left area by mid-'70s; owned National in the Midwest until the mid-'90s; now part of conglomerate in Canada

Acme - left here by the mid-'70s as well; still in Tri-State (pictured), NJ, PA, Delmarva/DMV (not the same chain in Ohio)

Optivision - formerly in Western Lights; still in Cortland and Ithaca

A&P - left after the '60s; gone by 2011

IGA - see earlier article

Grand Union - several articles on blog

Foodland - briefly in CNY; still in South and Pittsburgh area

P&C - see earlier articles; now in Cortland and Ithaca

Big M - see past posts; more sporadic in recent memory

Rexall - now sold at Dollar General in US and are still a chain in Canada; Kinney Drugs were formerly a franchise in the North Country before going independent and expanding

JCPenney - some stores remain around the country

Volunteers of America - once in Auburn

St Vincent de Paul - once on Syracuses North Side and Cicero

Pathmark - Super Drug briefly in deWitt; remained in Tri-State, sold to A&P and closed in 2011; see later article

Texaco - left by '70s

BP - left by mid-'90s

Arco - left by late-'80s

Amoco - left by late-'80s

Church's Chicken - left by '80s

Getty - left by 2000s after Lukoil merger; still active in Capital Region, Hudson Valley and Tri-State

Carrolls - converted to Burger King franchisee by '70s; chain name spun off in Finland by Hesburger; US franchise sold to corporate in 2024 and operate under Restaurant Brands International umbrella

Big Lots - more recent departure; just left the state; reopening in several other states, while Ocean State Job Lot will acquire several locations such as Liverpool

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

Fay's Drugs: 65 Years On

Composite of Eastwood (1991-97) store (no real photo)

 Fay's Drugs were a chain based right in CNY. They never even had a 40th Anniversary. It started in Fairmount in 1958 and grew from there. They bought the founders relatives' rival chain Carls Drugs in 1991. Fays Cornerdrug were a line of smaller locations in tight communities, especially small towns, that were once indies bought up by the chain, such as Key Drugs in Rochester. In 1996, JCPenneys Thrift Drug bought Eckerd, then Fays, and as mergers and acquisitions can take up to a year or so to materialise, Fays were no more by the fall of 1997. Here's a list of stores, mainly in their home territory, and what they are now (it will never be a complete list 'cos it's just too much).

Syracuse (Eastwood) - NY 290; originally Loblaws, Peters IGA and Foodland, then Carls; was Fays from 1991-97, Eckerd from 1997-2010, Rite Aid from 2010-19, vacant from 2019-22 and is now Family Dollar (montage pictured)

Syracuse (Lyncourt) - Shop City; Eckerd moved to part of former Ames after ceiling collapse, old store later Valu Home Center; now Factory Direct Furniture Outlet

Cazenovia - US 20; now Walgreens

Syracuse (north side) - Lodi & Butternut Sts; later Dollar Tree; soon to be Westside Family Pharmacy

Syracuse (east side) (1) - Nottingham Rd & E Colvin St, Skytop Plaza; originally Drumlins Pharmacy (Fays affiliate); later Fays Cornerdrug; now Walgreens

Syracuse (east side) (2) - Irving & Madison Aves; Madison Irving Medical Center; Fays Cornerdrug (likely due to being a smaller store inside a doctors office complex); absorbed by various practices/businesses after 1997 sale to JCPenney/Eckerd

Hannibal - NY 3; plaza with Tops (former IGA and Valero); now Walgreens

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown; now closed and set for demolition pending court approval for District East; may have been CVS/pharmacy after 1975 prior to '80s (did have Walgreens and Carls before that)

Fayetteville/deWitt (Wegmans Plaza) - NY 5 & 92 - demolished in 1994 for current Wegmans

Fayetteville (Mall) - NY 5 & N Burdick St; previously Carls; demolished by 2001 for Towne Center

Fayetteville - N Burdick St; now Walgreens

East Syracuse - Kirkville Rd; originally Church Leader Drug; now Walgreens

Syracuse (south side) - NY 175 & 80; Turnpike Centre; later Dollar Tree; now vacant

Syracuse (west side) - S Geddes St; later Save-a-Lot, now Wilson Dental

Poughkeepsie - US 9, Poughkeepsie Plaza; TBD (was on the way out when I moved in up the road)

Fairmount - W Genesee St; former flagship/original store; now Dollar Tree

Camillus - Camillus Plaza; later Rite Aid; now vacant

Gloversville - N Main St; now Dollar General

Elmira - TBD

Albany - New Scotland Ave; Fays Cornerdrug; later For Petes Sake charity shop? (run by St Peters Hospital across the street); TBD

Springfield, MA - previously Genovese (which Eckerd later acquired in the tri-state in 1998 and rebranded in 2003); some were later CVS/pharmacy

Hartford County, CT - same as above; what didn't become CVS otherwise closed

Cohoes - NY 470?; TBD

Albany (Delaware Area) - NY 443 & US 9W; later Save-a-Lot, now vacant

Albany (Uptown) - NY 5, Westgate Shopping Center; later Rite Aid; now vacant

Utica - Genesee St; later Rite Aid, now vacant

Pittsford - NY 31; later Walgreens, now vacant

Cortlandville - NY 281

Waterloo - US 20 & NY 5; now AutoZone?

Cortland (1) - NY 222; later Dollar Foods, now vacant

Cortland (2) - NY 13, Riverside Mall; now vacant

North Syracuse (1) - Pyramid Mall, E Taft Rd; TBD/later the DMV?

Baldwinsville (between NY 690, 31 & 48) - Tri-County Mall; Downer St; replaced by original Eckerd in 1997; later Rite Aid; now vacant (Rite Aid are now set to close, and in this region, Walgreens acquired their prescriptions except for the former north side store in Syracuse)

Auburn (1) - Seminary St, TBD (billboard survives)

Auburn (2) - NY 5

Auburn (3) - Genesee St

Greece - NY 18, Parkway Commons Plaza; previously Key Drugs; now Bingo World?

Binghamton - US 11; Northgate Plaza

Herkimer - NY 5

Endwell - Hooper Rd; later Eckerd and Rite Aid; now vacant

Vestal - NY 17C

Painted Post - NY 17C

Horseheads - NY 14

Athens, PA - PA 199

Towanda/Wysox Township, PA - US 6

Dunmore, PA - PA 347; later Dunmore Drug Store and Medicap Pharmacy; now closed

Amsterdam - NY 5 & 67

Ilion - NY 5; Ilion Mall

Greenville/Spartansburg, SC - previously Crafts Drugs; later Rite Aid (even opened that far south)

Charleston, SC - previously Berkeleys; later Rite Aid (decades before they bought old stores here)

Sayre, PA - PA 199

Nedrow - US 11, Green Hills Plaza; now Planet Fitness

Saugerties/Vails Gate - NY 32 & 94, Simmons Plaza; later Eckerd and Rite Aid, now Walgreens 

North Syracuse (2) - US 11 & W Taft Rd, Sweetheart Corners; previously CVS, later Rite Aid (standalone); now vacant

New Paltz - NY 299; now Walgreens

Middletown (1) - NY 211; TBD (closed when Eckerd opened in nearby Scotchtown)

Middletown (2) - NY 17M; now Market Fresh

Wilkes-Barre, PA - S Main St; later Eckerd, now closed

Luzerne, PA - PA 309; TBD

Perinton/Fairport - NY 31; Perinton Square Mall; previously Key Drugs; later Rite Aid; TBD

Rochester (1) - Southview Commons; previously Key Drugs; now restaurants and medical offices

Irondequoit (1) - Stutson Bridge Plaza; previously Key Drugs; now various businesses

Rochester (2) - E Ridge Rd; Ridge Seneca Plaza; previously Key Drugs; now Family Dollar

Rochester (3) - Dewstone Plaza; previously Key Drugs (would have been small; thus likely another Fays Cornerdrug); now various businesses

Rochester (4) - Lake & Driving Park Aves; previously Key Drugs

North Chili - NY 33; Fays Cornerdrug; previously Key Drugs

St Johnsville - NY 30A; now vacant (pictured below?)

Chili Center - Fays Cornerdrug; previously Key Drugs

Williamson - NY 104 & 21; Fays Cornerdrug; previously Key Drugs; later Rite Aid; now vacant

Ontario - NY 104 & 350; Fays Cornerdrug; previously Petersons Drugs; later Eckerd and Rite Aid; now vacant

Irondequoit (2) - E Ridge Rd; Georgetown Plaza; previously Key Drugs; demolished

Gates (2) - NY 204; Westgate Plaza; previously Key Drugs; now demolished

Scranton (1) - Luzerne St; later Eckerd and Rite Aid; now vacant

Scranton (2) - Keyser Oak Shopping Ctr; now Gerritys Corner Drug Store

Clarks Summit - US 6

Old Forge, PA - S Main St; TBD

Eynon, PA - US 6

Ithaca - NY 13, 34 & 96

Endicott - NY 17C & 26; later Eckerd and Rite Aid; likely the last Fays ever built; now Walgreens (pictured below)

Cobleskill - Main St; TBD

New Hartford (Washington Mills) - Kellogg Mall, CR 24 & NY 8; later Rite Aid

Edwardsville, PA - US 11; Mark Plaza; now vacant

Fairport - NY 31F; previously Key Drugs

Victor - NY 96; Eastview Mall; previously Key Drugs

Mattydale - US 11; then kmart Plaza; later Dollar Tree, now vacant

Cicero - US 11, Marketplace Mall; demolished by 2000s (now various businesses)

Baldwinsville (Moyers Corners) - NY 31 & CR 57, Kimbrook Plaza; later Rite Aid, now Planet Fitness

Baldwinsville (village) - NY 31 & 370; now Dollar Tree (new store built; confirmed by chain as former Eckerd)

Manlius - NY 173, TBD (perhaps Dollar Tree, which may be in former Smiths)

Canastota - NY 5 & 13; now Dollar General

Oneida - NY 5 & 46 (not quite sure, but it is a small town)

Syracuse (Westvale) - NY 5; now Family Dollar

Syracuse (Onondaga Blvd) - now Goodwill

Oswego - NY 104; now demolished

Fulton - NY 481; now Taco Bell (old store demolished and restaurant built on site, of course)

Watertown - NY 3, Stateway Plaza (also had a liquor store); now vacant

Liverpool (Galeville) - Liverpool Plaza, Old Liverpool Rd & Electronics Pkwy; later Thrifty Shopper and Palm Market; TBD (likely more of a flagship in later years as headquarters were up the road on Henry Clay Blvd, which was later the regional office for Rite Aid until fall 2024 following their final bankruptcy)

Liverpool (Bayberry) - CR 57; Seneca Mall; later Eckerd, now vacant

Niskayuna - NY 5 & Ballstown Rd; Mohawk Mall; now Mohawk Commons

North Syracuse (Sugarwood Corners) - Buckley & Bear Rds, Sugarwood Center; now various businesses

Moscow, PA - PA 435 & 690; Fays Cornerdrug; later Eckerd and the Medicine Shoppe; now Pivot Physical Therapy

Tonawanda - US 62; Fays Cornerdrug; previously Jet Drugs; later Rite Aid; now vacant

Massena - NY 37 & 420; Fays Cornerdrug; now Walgreens (since Kinney Drugs are from St Lawrence County, it's obvious in this small North Country town that the old store was demolished and there was a typo on the outdated but needed source page)

Wellsboro, PA - PA 287; Fays Cornerdrug; later Shabby Rue; now vacant

Amherst - NY 263; Fays Cornerdrug; now Lucky Dragon Food Market

Buffalo - Elmwood Ave & North St; Fays Cornerdrug; previously van Slyke Pharmacy, now Elmwood Market

Would-be location in Nedrow made with AI

Swan song store in Endicott from Facebook

Twin Tiers AI store with oversized logo

Montgomery County store with Mexican restaurant

Montgomery County store with combined logo

Montgomery County store with block letters

Eastwood store filled out with Magic Eraser app

Montgomery County store with fake logo

Composite of Liverpool store (Galeville)

North side store in Syracuse

Wilson Farms

Collegetown location in Tompkins County

 Wilson Farms was a chain of convenience stores located across CNY, WNY, Twin Tiers, and the North Country (later as Sugarcreek after buying those out).  Tops had started them in 1969 (they previously had B-Kwik, which were simply smaller stores).  When Tops left Onondaga County in 1986 (brought back in 2010 after buying most of P&C and Quality in WNY from Penn Traffic), Wilson Farms was the only way to get Tops brand products in Syracuse, and under Ahold ownership, then-sister brands Finast and Giant.  Tops Xpress began in 2001, and Wilson Farms were spun off, eventually sold to 7-Eleven.  Sadly, very few are still 7-Eleven in CNY.  Some are indie cornershops and others vacant or even demolished.  Price Chopper once had Mini Chopper in the Pine Hills section of Albany, but now pair up with select Sunocos (many are now 7-Elevens themselves).  Here's what I can dig up (I won't find them all because it's too painstaking, but you get the gist). Wilson Farms also operated stores under the name Sugarcreek in the North Country and Twin Tiers (especially after separating from Tops).

Syracuse (Eastwood) - NY 290 & Forest Hill Dr; now Foods 4 Less (pictured below)

Syracuse (north side) - US 11 (N. Salina St.); now NSC, once had gas station

Syracuse (north side) - US 11 (Wolf St.), previously Big M, later Dollar Tree, but not 7-11; now vacant

Syracuse (north side) - Grant Blvd; now indie

Syracuse (south side) - NY 175 & 80; now Ocean 11

North Syracuse - US 11 (only non-petrol 7-Eleven left in town)

Cortland - US 11 & NY 41 (only other gas-free location in region)

Auburn - NY 38, now Lucky 7 (may have closed as 7-Eleven due to merger with Speedway, which is down the street; not to be confused with indie cornershop in Lyncourt)

Fulton - NY 3; now vacant

Liverpool - CR 57; now demolished (never became 7-Eleven)

Ithaca - Collegetown (pictured above); TBD

Almond - NY 21; now 7-Eleven

Pavilion - NY 19; now closed

Dansville - NY 36; now 7-Eleven

Watertown - NY 12F; now closed (may have been Sugarcreek)

Elmira - 709 W Gray St.; now 7-Eleven

Niagara Falls - NY 384; now 7-Eleven (just one example in WNY)

Rochester (1) - NY 31 (Monroe Ave.); now 7-Eleven

Rochester (2) - Park St.; now 7-Eleven

Composite image in lieu of free one

Shake Shack

DC location courtesy Mike Mozart (he's the king of these kind of snaps!)

 Downstate based chain Shake Shack are coming Upstate, but mainly on the NYS Thruway, from the bedroom communities of Sloatsburg and Ramapo to the WNY small town Angola, replacing McDonalds and other chains, along with Chick-Fil-A, Applegreen and Starbucks.  While we have the GA Capital Region and King County (albeit fewer in recent years) chains in CNY, Shake Shack are new 200 miles northeast of NYC.  With my new crystal ball (I finally got one that seems to work, but it's not all like it is on TV), I asked it what will be in the food court at Destiny USA where Popeyes used to be, and I wrote it down in a semi-trance like I was drunk (and I'm a teetotaller, mind), and I got Shake Shack of all things.  I'm still just going to do this like I have been, since it's more creative and speculative than trying to be the Walter Mercado of retail! Back on I-87 & 90 meanwhile (switching off in Albany, like I've known forever), some are open now and being slated (heavily criticised), while others are being built and slated (planned) to open later this year or next year.  Henrietta in Monroe County is confirmed so far.  I'm focussing on malls, plazas, and other run-of-the-mill locations in town.

Syracuse - Destiny USA; former Cantina Loredo

New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A or former Boil Shack

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall, NY 5 & US 20

Watertown - Salmon Run Mall, NY 3 & CR 100; former Titled Kilt

Camillus - former Firehouse Subs, W Genesee St

deWitt - NY 5 & Bridge St; former Friendlys (confirmed for 2025; Rachels Mediterranean Grill deal cancelled)

Amherst - NY 78; former restaurant (name TBD)

Oneida - NY 5; former fast food chain (name TBD; perhaps KFC)

New Trailways counter at Regional Transportation Center in Syracuse

Adirondack Trailways bus in Ulster County, which is really near the Catskills.

 Trailways and Greyhound ended their partnership after 25 years time, and in New York State, the regional franchise in Hurley, just outside Kingston (I used to live not too far from there), will no longer pool with their competitor, so if your destination is only served by one of them, you can only book with that one or an app that has it.  At the Syracuse station, the split is made clear with a separate counter being built for Trailways where Dunkin' used to be (which indirectly moved around the corner to NY 370/Park St.).  This may confuse some people, as you'd be directed across the hall if one doesn't cover a certain route and time.  Having both companies available will make it easier for last-minute travellers, seniors, those with older or no mobile phones, the disabled, and those who live in well off-the-grid type communities (I sometimes see Amish families and occasionally Mennonites).  This could happen at Boehlert Union Station in Utica where there's a closed takeaway that could be converted, yet the Greyhound counter has been closed, leaving customers having to use the app or pay when they get to their stop if it's a bigger area (paying somehow, of course), and then in Rochester, there has been talk of merging bus operations with the Louise Slaughter Amtrak Station across the street as the Trailways station is old and small (even for there) and only meant to last so long.  You have to wait for Greyhound or Megabus downtown right now not far from where the station used to be at a mere stop as if it were a small town, which makes no sense in a larger city and when the elements take over.  Port Authority downstate must have something planned, while in Albany, CDTA have considered building a new hub for both theirs and intercity, which would include the two lines, along with Peter Pan and Yankee Trails.  Greyhound and FlixBus are now sister companies, yet have different management, and back in CNY, you get FlixBus a mile away from the station at Pilot, where you'd have to be dropped off by someone you know, a cab or rideshare.  I just wish I could get to Rochester and Ithaca in my time frame and price range having no access to a private vehicle going out of town (one can relate), and gas prices are making more people use buses and trains instead or car and planes.  However, bus and airline companies alike are having staffing issues at this time.  Just hope this works out for everybody.

UPDATE: Trailways' ticket counter moved down the hall to where the video games once were and they have formed a new alliance with Greyhound and FlixBus through a third party company in Jackson County, making it easier for riders, yet where to get the bus can keep changing, and worse, it can be out of doors, in a smaller building or the outskirts of town, even in larger areas, which is not good for vulnerable populations, yet Syracuse remains streets ahead of most cities with a one-stop shop for most bus lines (OurBus go to SU and the airport only) and Amtrak with a building to keep everyone safe, warm and dry that's not too hard to find or get to. As for what will go in the east end of the building, more as this develops, since I'll try to get on the road again despite changes in my own life.

Piggly Wiggly

Typical store in Alabama

 In a bizarre twist of fate, trailblazing southern chain Piggly Wiggly, which I heard of years ago through someone I used to know who may have once lived in Georgia, I believe, is opening in Watertown, NY (the first outside the South and Midwest; not to be confused with an existing store in Watertown, WI) according to CBS 7 WWNY, buying one of the two Tops stores in Jefferson County in the North Country, with the other going to Grand Union because of Tops' merger with Price Chopper and the overlap in a dozen small towns. Both Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly are part of C&S now, but have competed in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast generations ago. Piggly Wiggly have a midwestern division now, but have now worked their way east across the Great Lakes to the Thousand Islands region of all places. Since they can now be seen in these parts like they say down there in the south, they could work their way further up the eastern seaboard. A segue after the last article was about another past competitor. I've got to come up with a different kind of post next time as I'm the Flickinger of blogs now (of Super Duper legacy)!

Greene - former Great American BK5

Gloversville - former Price Chopper (as of 10/1/26), N Main St

Syracuse (Westvale) - former P&C/Tops, NY 5

Mattydale - former kmart, US 11

Oswego - former Peebles/Gordmans, NY 104

Bridgeport - former Victory/Great American, NY 31 & 298

Lyons - former Tops, NY 31

Fulton - former kmart, River Glen Plaza, NY 481

Phoenix - former Sharon Chevrolet, CR 57

Wayne, NJ - former ShopRite, NJ 504

Sidney - former Great American BK5

Geneva - NY 14A, Pyramid Plaza; former Tops, Cherribundi and RealEats

Paramus, NJ - former Grand Union/Stop & Shop/Acme, NJ 17

Various (southern states) - former BI-LO (see previous post)

Troy - former Price Chopper, US 4 (Lansingburgh)

Binghamton - former Weis/Giant (as of 3/3/24), NY 7

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

Warrensburg - former Grand Union/Tops, US 9

Cooperstown - former P&C/Tops/Grand Union, NY 28

Norwich - former Victory/P&C/Tops/Grand Union, NY 990L

Owego - former P&C/Tops/Grand Union, NY 17C

Shell

Bethel, CT location

 Shell may be a multinational big oil conglomerate with a reputation, but they pulled out of CNY by the time I was born. Lately, Planet Fitness has a promotion for 25¢ off a gallon for members, but the closest US locations are in Ulster and Susquehanna Counties, so the deal is as useless for most members in Upstate NY as the Tops one would be in Yates, Rensselaer and Greene counties, which don't have Tops Xpress (for Price Chopper's, there would have to at least be a participating Sunoco somewhere in the vicinity). I haven't been to Kingston, NY since 2000 when I lived across the river, and the only other Shell I've seen in recent memory is in Niagara Falls, ONT. Maybe now is the time for a return to the region. With Speedway locations overlapping Sunoco/7 Eleven/A Plus locations as the merger plays out (some have become Mobil already), there are spots they could open. Just hope the promotion isn't expired by the time one of these exists (Advance Auto Parts has their own as well).

North Syracuse/Cicero - former Mobil, US 11

Syracuse (east side) - NY 5

Fairmount/Westvale  - former Sunoco, NY 5

Syracuse (Eastwood) - former Valero/Conoco/Seniora, NY 635

Fulton - former Wilson Farms/7-Eleven, NY 3

Cazenovia - US 20

Times Union Center

MVP Health Arena

 Here's a post from the sister blog since several retailers with ties to the Capital District are listed.

Tim Hortons: Come Back to CNY

Newer Franklin County (Columbus/Central Ohio Capital Region) location

 Canadas coffee and donut king Tim Hortons left CNY in 2015, likely due to stiff competition from Dunkin' Donuts and other factors. Delta Sonic in deWitt, Fairmount and North Syracuse have truncated versions of Tim Hortons, but it's just not the same or enough, of course. Tops even had the coffee self-serve for a period in Syracuse. Only in or near the border community and/or Monroe County can I have it full fledged, as well as northeast Pennsylvania, even if I use the app and have takeaway delivered just to save time. I've already listed what happened to the former locations several years ago, but it's been long enough since then, that the chain could be given another chance, as some here assume it's like fellow Canadian giant Loblaws, which left the US altogether decades ago staying home since as not everyone in the States goes there, even in normal times. Their main rival acquired several locations, and others got the rest, or no one touched a few. A new franchise owner could do what the last one may have gotten wrong.

Syracuse (west side) - former Subway, Onondaga Blvd.

Syracuse (east side) - former Jimmy Johns, Marshall St. (SU Hill)

East Syracuse - former Starbucks/Jimmy Johns, NY 298

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

Cortland - former Rite Aid; NY 281 & 222

Auburn - NY 5 (past location)

Syracuse (downtown) - Marriott Syracuse Downtown [née Hotel Syracuse] (former Café Kubal/Hardees)

Fulton - NY 481 (former Nestlé site)

Oswego - NY 104 (former Ponderosa site)

Mattydale - US 11 (former Friendlys)

Oneida - NY 5 & 46 (former KFC?)

Manlius - NY 92 (former Kinney Drugs)

Cicero - E Circle Dr (former Jimmy Johns)

Syracuse (south side/downtown) - S Salina St (former Burger King)

Clay - NY 31, former Subway