Goodwill Halloween Pop-Up Store

Goodwill Halloween Pop Up Store

 I don't have too much time for this one, so I have to put this in here straight away. While the proposed new Goodwill in deWitt remains in property purgatory, just a couple miles away, there is yet another property that might also stay vacant at this rate. Goodwill could get the former Charneys on Erie Blvd E in Empire Plaza if it's still available in one years time. The Mid-Michigan Bureau launched a Halloween Pop-Up Store to compete with Spirit of Halloween and Halloween Express in Birch Run, MI. Their counterparts in the Finger Lakes, based in Rochester, whose market area covers a third of Upstate and includes Syracuse, would have to consider it. These pop-ups have mainly open in outlet centres owned by Simon Property Group, who have one in Waterloo, which would also work, but right here in CNY is where more people live and would want such a place. While regular locations have a section for new and donated goods, the pop-up is exclusively for Spooky Season. Of course, AI is not always right and everything is not out of doors like a car boot sale, mind. I get the gist, and maybe the concept will reach this end of the Great Lakes next year. If the regular store finally pulls through, then perhaps the former Jo-Ann Fabrics in either Fayetteville or Clay or Goodwill don't compete with themselves or Spirit too closely (although the Clay one would be in Marketfair North, which has the Spirit for that end now, and you can't have both, although COR Centre down NY 31 have no qualms with Ross, Sierra, and T.J. Maxx altogether, but that's different). For used costumes, it will keep them out of the skip and tip.

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

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; now Dollar Tree

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

The UPS Store in CNY

Fantasy Eastwood store in Syracuse

 The UPS Store are the shipping giants retail arm and successor to Mail Boxes, Etc. in North America. They provide direct UPS services and rates, and most Amazon.com and other online returns. When you can't get to the post office, much but not all of what they do is available for a bit more. However, some locations in CNY have closed over the years, while new ones should be opened. The latest is downtown or the north side of Syracuse. I'll just have to reach into the memory vault or look up old and new spots as always. Here's what the brown lorry delivered:

Past locations:

Syracuse (Eastwood) - Shop City; now Appliance Parts

Syracuse (downtown) - S Warren & E Jefferson Sts; now boutique shop/CommonSpace

East Syracuse - NY 290; now RISE medical cannabis dispensary

Baldwinsville (Moyers Corners) - CR 57 & NY 31, Kimbrook Plaza; TBA (current store across CR 57)

Syracuse (east side) - Nottingham Rd, Julian Pl & E Colvin St; now Café Kubal (moved up Nottingham Rd next to Kinney Drugs)

Auburn - Genesee St (only just closed)

Penfield - NY 441, Bay Towne Plaza (also closed for now, but found while looking up locations)*

Pittsford - NY 31, Pittsford Plaza*

*Rochester area

Future locations:

Syracuse (Eastwood) - NY 290 & North Ave; former PostNet/Daws Drugs/Walgreens (20th Century) (AI pictured)

Liverpool - Electronics Pkwy & Old Liverpool Rd; former Big M/Carls Drugs/Fays Drugs/Thrifty Shopper/Palm Market; Liverpool Plaza (there'd be room for sorting packages)

Syracuse (Fairmount) - Fairmount Fair

New Hartford - NY 5A; former similar business

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)

3fifteen Expansion

3fifteen in Liverpool Plaza with updated sign

 3fifteen have three locations on SU and Elm Hills, the second being in Camillus, and Eastwood Plaza after a near-three decade absence of the Rescue Mission as described just earlier, and now a fourth location in the upcoming Mission Landing by their headquarters in the Mission District that has just started building, making it the flagship by default by the end of next year, close to where there had been a Thrifty Shopper before that has since closed, much like Eastwood. Yet maybe it could happen again in Liverpool in my late dads plaza. Thrifty Shopper had been in the former site of Big M, Carls and Fays until 2020 when it moved to the former Herb Phillipsons up CR 57 in Bayberry for more space. 3fifteen is more of a boutique that needs less room. The short-lived Palm Market left after several months due to lack of interest. A 3fifteen there would be closer to the Rescue Missions warehouse on Henry Clay Blvd, which becomes Electronics Pkwy past Vine Street and W Taft Road. Some people miss Thrifty Shopper on Old Liverpool Road, let's just say. However, another NGO/registered charity's donation bin would have to be removed from the car park, not just because there are those who dump junk at those (dad hated it when that happened in the back, as those skips aren't free, mind). I already made a list of past and future locations for Thrifty Shopper, yet this is it for 3fifteen since that's more of a niche by comparison which holds it own. Liverpool would have to be distinct from the rest so it's not as cookie cutter, if you like, or just history repeating itself. The confirmed new store is being done from scratch as opposed to an old store front being done up, which I like to first before having to start a new building site or even demolishing an old one unless it's beyond repair and/or unfeasible. I just hope the official new store and this concept comeback has more variety than the new James St one, which was mainly womens clothes and other things that just didn't appeal to me and just wasn't the same as even the old guard. Each 3fifteen if not Thrifty Shopper proper has its own unique character. (UPDATED: 7/11/25)

Magnolia Studios

Edited sign taken by me at old shop before moving.

 While it may seem to make this blog too CNY-centric, Eastwood Hair & Beauty Co. have moved from the outskirts of Syracuse to the village of Liverpool several miles away after their lease with Skinner Realty was not renewed (it has now been confirmed that it was because of a row over HVAC, and my family also no longer deal with this landlord either, who is the Mr Fischoeder of Eastwood, and no relation to Principal Skinner for that matter). They are now be called Magnolia Studios on 200 Salina St (not to be confused with the one in the city). One stylist will now be at Self Care Club in the same plaza. Adelines Barber Shop on 1st and Tulip Sts next door to Nichols is now another salon. Magnolia are just blocks from NY 370 and CR 57, close to Heids, Onondaga Lake Park, Amazon (to a lesser extent), the library, and parkway (no lorries allowed!). It's just too bad they couldn't stay in Eastwood anymore, losing the convenience for me, taking my bike in warmer months (it doesn't usually leave a three-mile radius of the house, mind), as well as for older customers, perhaps. Also, they won't get to be near the new coffee shop and charity shop in the old plaza (one still isn't done yet, and they're not missing much with the other). Ikigai Holistic Care will open in the former space in 2026 after other deals fell through. Magnolia Studios are not likely associated with Magnolia Nails around the corner. (UPDATED: 13/12/25)

The old shop before closing up. Watch this space.

New sign fresh from the printers, next to the settee.

Magnolia Studios, now by the railway.

Not to be confused with Magnolia Studio & Co. in Keyser, WV.

3fifteen Eastwood

Original photo with pasted sign and my bike locked up

 3fifteen, Rescue Missions boutique arm, which is more or less specialised compared to Thrifty Shopper, are opening a 3rd location (that was intentional) in Eastwood Plaza. I was told a few months back on Facebook that the Mission were opening there. Could have meant the unrelated Mission Syracuse, who are in Destiny USA, since I didn't expect the Rescue Mission to ever return to Eastwood after closing their original store in 1999 and reopening in East Syracuse at the former Leo & Sons Big M (formerly owned by NewsChannel 9 WSYRs Christie Cascianos family). The old Thrifty Shopper would later have Café Kubal and Sacred Melody, which have both closed. Caffé Cosi (opening in 2026) and Eastwood Home are there now. Around the corner, the old Sacred Melody on the left would have True Value Hardware and Hooches Antiques and Furniture, which was always a state and made Thrifty Shopper look like Harrods. While it would be nice to have the Rescue Mission a bit closer to home after nearly three decades, I'd be torn between there and the SU flagship, wanting my Orange (I loathe the "S" word) and Salt City Coffee. The Camillus store often gets the over-60s and people who live out that way. Also, Eastwood Hair & Beauty Co. have moved to Liverpool because their lease with Skinner Realty was not renewed, so I followed them there (I'll cover their spot another day). 3fifteen brings Rescue Missions legacy in Eastwood full circle after a short lived outlet in Shop City had failed to catch on long term. What will make this location different is more of a focus on womens clothing. With this new emphasis, it won't take away from either SU or Elm Hill any more than near Bridge St. It does show the Rescue Missions impact on the region and staying closer to home after expanding to a third of Upstate New York in recent years. To boot, the Rescue Mission broke ground on a new building site in the Mission District for the new Mission Landing complex, which will include the fourth location of 3fifteen, which will open by late next year and become the de facto flagship. More as this develops.

FloofAid

Edited poster for FloofAid (fake future website)

    Coming after the founding of Furacuse comes the arrival of FloofAid (FurAid, a rescue centre for real cats and dogs, was taken, even though many furry conventions support those), the worlds first registered charity for helping the less fur-tunate afford tickets and travel to cons across the country, including to Furacuse, which will raise money for FloofAid, which seems ironic, having a con to benefit having people get to other cons, but also fursuits, since life these days is expensive enough, let alone floof. Cons are usually non-profit and thus an organisation or two registered with the IRS is the way to go, yet I don't know the first thing about this myself, and I just don't want to become the Willie Nelson or Bob Geldof of furries. I'd have to find others to run this with in order to get clearance.

    For now, you can contribute to my usual outlets at Ko-Fi (see earlier post), GoFundMe, PayPal, Venmo (@Sposato120, the only place I can accept cryptocurrency, which I'm not wholly familiar with myself, but can convert to real cash there), and CashApp ($Sposato2024). This is not another scam. It comes from me not being able to get to Eufuria, FurPoc, Furrydelphia, Fluffalo, Anthro New England, Anthrocon, or any con for that matter. I just want to pay it forward and help others who deserve it just as much, from young kids to those on disability like myself to others in a bad place that want to be a part of the fandom. While it is a luxury like fine jewellery, it's just not as grandiose per se. Even buying materials to make your own fursuit can cost just as much as having someone else do a commission or getting a premade. FloofAid can even help with that. You'd be surprised how many call themselves furries, but have little to show for it. Even those just starting out their own lives are just getting by.

    While AI is looked down in the community, I have made it my medium for designing. While Canidae are dominant, I put in three dollies and even threw in a Dutchie (rainbow dragon) and I'm not sure what that is (grey floof). I got them from the CNY Pride parade when using ChatGPT to create this from previous images. I didn't want just canines and felines because that's too easy. I even have a couple of hyenas, as well as deer, rabbits, birds and bears in the local group (we've only discussed the furcon).

    Once both NGOs are officially established, I will look into events such as Dougs Fish Fry or adult prom, to opening a Savers that has FloofAid as the local partner in Syracuse, despite Thrifty Shoppers regional dominance over two other national chains combined. Fursuits occasionally appear at Goodwill or other charity shops in random parts of the country, and we'll accept ones that are unsellable for even dirt low prices. We could provide a tax receipt, despite only one out of ten donors even bothering to itemise because it's barely takes off of most peoples taxes. Paul Newman didn't believe in write-offs and the estate continues that policy. Maybe Newmans Own or Warren Buffett could send a few bob over! Also, if you live outside CNY or can't come by, you could ship the fursuit Ground Advantage, but it might not be Savers' policy, yet the diehards will come looking for us to get some rock bottom deals.

    When Furacuse gets going, maybe FloofAid will too, but for now, you can contribute this way. The name FurryCuse may also have been suggested.

Salt City Coffee

Notsky the dog furry in Pamplona mode on a Valentine (Open AI)

 Salt City Coffee are one of the largest local coffee chains in town, giving even Café Kubal a run for their money, now with five locations (near west side flagship, downtown bar, SU Hill, east side, and Fayetteville), one Salt City Coffee got after the other place had a rift with next door neighbor 3fifteen and its owner the Rescue Mission, if not the Willowbank Company, the landlord of Marshall Square Mall, which they run in partnership with SU. Salt City Coffee could open a few more stores without selling out and staying true to their name, since CNY or any given area these days has no shortage of local coffee shops to compete with the big chains.

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

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights Plaza; former Hofmann Hot Haus/Salt City Dogs (unrelated business) (pictured below)

Syracuse (north side) - 1 Walsh Circle (off NY 370), Regional Transportation Centre; former Dunkin'

Liverpool - CR 57, Glenn Crossing Plaza; one of two former restaurants TBD

East Syracuse - NY 298 & Weighlock Dr; former Starbucks and Jimmy Johns (between Carrier Circle, Northern Blvd, and Collamer across from Kinne St off Thruway exit 35)

Fantasy location in North Syracuse

Original Valentine with Notsky and added logo

Revised Ghibli Valentine with added logo and edits

Café Kubal

Eastwood location taken at short notice from the car

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Caffé Così in former Eastwood location (OpenAI)

Rebuilding Ovid

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

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

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

This may be a bit more possible than a standalone.

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

Retro Uptown Diner that won't work in winter!

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

The local coffee shop, or at least the roastery.

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

Italian Kitchen, my kind of restaurant!

A more possible scenario for todays small town.

Another Big M cornershop with Craiyon

Might be more fitting for Big M

Needed to create the outside of Evas Laundry

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

New apartment building (harder to make)

Upstairs flats above storefront (too simplistic)

Ovid Arms, but I got two pastoral mock Tudor cottages

Ovid Arms, but a bit too posh and townie

These are also too upscale for a rural community

Big Lots! Part 2

Marion, OH store; February 2022.

JBTHEMILKER, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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

Auburn - NY 5; former kmart*

Buffalo - S Ogden St; South Ogden Plaza

Cortland - NY 281; former Real Deals

deWitt - NY 5; former Price Chopper; now Spectrum

Elmira - Lake St*

Kingston - US 9W*

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

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

Middletown - NY 211; Walkill Plaza

Oswego - NY 104*

Plattsburgh - NY 3; former Big Lots

Poughkeepsie - Burnett Blvd; former Caldor

Syracuse - Onondaga Blvd; former Fays; now Goodwill

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

Watertown - NY 3*

*Outgoing

AM&A's

AI AM&A's with long corridor. Courtesy Meta Platforms, Inc.

 I've only recently heard of Erie County chain AM&A's since they were sold to the Bon-Ton thirty years ago, just as Chappells were in CNY and Hess's in Twin Tiers and Pennsylvania. WNY had AM&As to themselves from the Victorian era until the mid-'90s. Wikipedia lists all the locations, but I put them into one neat list and did the usual pattern. All were later the Bon-Ton except *.

Buffalo (downtown) (1) - NY 5, original flagship; acquired former Hudsons (predecessor of Marshall-Fields and Target) during the Great Depression; now Main Place Mall*

Buffalo (downtown) (2) - NY 5, second flagship; former J.N. Adam & Co.; later Taylors; now a hotel

Buffalo (Kenmore/near UBuffalo) - NY 5 & Kenmore Ave; now Tops?

Amherst (1) - University Plaza, NY 5; now Tops*

Amherst (2) - Northtown Plaza; formerly Hens & Kelly; supposed to become Station 12 (new to me; same script, different cast)*

Amherst (3) - Sheridan Plaza, NY 324 & Delaware Rd; now Tops

Hamburg - McKinley Mall, NY 179; TBD

West Seneca - Southgate Plaza, NY 277; now Jamestown Mattress?*

Tonawanda - Sheridan Plaza; US 62 & NY 324; now Savers and O'Reillys*

Lackawanna - L.B. Smith/Abbott Rd Plaza; now Valu Home Center*

Cheektowaga (1) - Airport Plaza, NY 277

Cheektowaga (2) - Thruway Plaza/Mall, NY 240; now Walmart*

Cheektowaga (3) - Walden Galleria; now Dave & Busters (moved from Eastern Hills) and others

Lockport - Lockport Mall, NY 78

Olean - Olean Center Mall, NY 16*

Wheatfield - Summit Park Mall; now The Summit

Clarence/Harris Hill/Williamsville - Eastern Hills Mall, NY 78; now Raymour & Flanigan

AI fantasy with real logo placed over botched one.

Lechmere

Danvers, MA store outside Boston in the '80s. Courtesy Salem State University

 Lechmere were a department store with electronics, appliances, jewellery and more. By the late '90s, they were gone after a few years under Montgomery Ward (I started putting locations under that post, but now I have enough for this one). There were only seven stores outside New England, with most of them here in Upstate NY, as well as one in Mecklenburg County in North Carolina.

Syracuse (north side) - Carousel Center (now Destiny USA) - later Circuit City and DSW; now Hobby Lobby

Danvers, MA - Liberty Tree Mall; now Target, Staples, Dollar Tree and Best Buy (pictured, non-NY)

Cheektowaga - Walden Galleria; later JCPenney Home; now DSW

Albany - Northway Mall, NY 5; now Target, Marshalls and Jo-Ann Fabrics

Henrietta - NY 252; now Amvets?

Poughkeepsie - Poughkeepsie Galleria, US 9 (also had Wards proper)

Utica - Riverside Mall, NY 5/8/12/49; now Walmart and Bass Pro Shops (also had Wards proper)

Big Lots! Part 1

Manchester, CT store. Courtesy Mike Mozart/Flickr/Creative Commons.

 Big Lots are one of several chains closing in the coming year as part of the so-called Retail Apocalypse, cause by the events of the past five years. They have had a number of stores in CNY since the late '90s at the earliest. Ocean State Job Lot or even Japanese chain Daiso could replace some of them. I haven't gone to Big Lots myself in a period, but it is always troubling when this happens.

Current locations

Mattydale - US 11; former Tops/P&C

Oswego - NY 104; former Fays?

Utica - NY 5; former Chicago Markets/Great American

Auburn - NY 5; former kmart

Liverpool - CR 57; The Shops at Seneca Mall; former Price Chopper

Cortland - NY 281; TBD

Oneida - NY 5 & 46; Glenwood Shopping Center; former Price Chopper

Past locations

Syracuse - Onondaga Blvd, Wegmans Plaza; former Fays; now Goodwill

deWitt - NY 5; former Price Chopper; now Spectrum

Hudson - US 9; TBD (non-CNY)

W.T. Grant Co. in CNY

Nedrow store with replica sign made with my phone

 Now for something entirely before my time, yet I've heard of from the over-60s and historical sources. W.T. Grant Co. were a department store chain that started in the Edwardian era outside Boston that was the next level after the five and dimes, but cheaper than local competitors Filenes and Jordan Marsh. Grants closed in 1976 after seventy years' time because of bankruptcy, mismanagement, and not keeping up with those times. They were common in Syracuse and around the country, mainly the eastern seaboard. Here's where they were here and two other spots, so I don't binge again, yet people may have taken the store for Grant-ed back then! (I have such cheesy puns!). Because of how long ago the company existed, I can't always put down what came after, even in my own neck of the woods.

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd; Northern Lights Plaza

Nedrow - US 11 & Southwood Dr; Green Hills Plaza; later kmart and flea market; now vacant (pictured)

Vails Gate - NY 32; later Caldor and kmart; now Goodwill (non-CNY)

Albany - NY 5, Westgate Shopping Plaza; closed by 1974; TBD (non-CNY)

Camillus - Camillus Plaza (now Camillus Commons)

deWitt - NY 5; Shoppingtown; original plaza demolished by 1975 when converted to mall before chains closure; store replaced by Woolworths in 1978; closed 1993 and replaced by Media Play, which itself closed in 2003 and was later Black Mamba and then vacant again; mall to be levelled for District East

Syracuse (downtown) - S Salina St; demolished in 1985 for the Galleries, which opened in 1988

Of course, this is the only way we'll ever see it now

The Yard

Doggy models what you could find at the Yard!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stop & Shop: 32 former stores

2014 usual store, likely in Connecticut, courtesy Mike Mozart (we love you, Mike!).

 Stop & Shop have closed a whooping thirty-two locations in the tri-state, New England and New Jersey that were considered underperforming. Others have already closed in the recent past, with a few vacant to this day, while former sister chain Tops* bought several in the Hudson Valley that overlapped with Hannaford after the Ahold Delhaize merger in the Benelux, while Weis acquired some Food Lions in DMV/Delmarva that were too close to Giant (Landover)* and other chains had in the mid-Atlantic (some stores were likely from another former Ahold division, BI-LO, which we covered a while ago). I remember seeing a Food Lion in Maryland leaving DC a couple times heading home from hols on coach trips, which would be a Weis by now. Back up north, only a handful of S&Ss have been taken over by others like Food Bazaar. Here in New York, it's more downstate, with Coram, Long Island being one that became a casualty. It's too exhausting to submit that many closing stores to Bing and Google since it's not automatic, although some locations are already marked, being in a big area.

I've only gone to Stop & Shop when I lived in Dutchess County in the mid-Hudson Valley on occasion, as well as when I last visited. They bought the newer ShopRite in Hyde Park a year after I left, and later built a new Stop & Shop across US 9 where the old ShopRite was. It wasn't right near a Hannaford, yet the Rhinebeck store up the road near the old Grand Union* was considered to be and was sold to Tops (Hannaford was across the bridge in Kingston in the old days, initially as a Shop 'n Save franchise), as was Wappinger Falls going the other way. It was a nice, big store on US 9 (south of Poughkeepsie), while Arlington (east of Poughkeepsie) was a bit smaller. Never went to Stop & Shop on either of my Boston trips since there was no time and Star Market near the Pru (sister to Shaws) was much more convenient since I was on another package bus deal (same group as the beltway stay, as well as WNY and the tri-state, but not for the public), which is much less expensive than a flight to Logan Airport.

The chain are just one of many businesses that have suffered over the past five years. To make it worse, Stop & Shop are a union shop to boot, so it'd be better to come up with another to fill the vacuum if one isn't nearby already. While a new local store would be even greater, it's more uphill to come up with that, especially in an area which you don't know personally, so I'd just have to think of chains that serve each region, whether they're still expanding or not. It's more Stop than Shop now, you could say.

Acme* (tri-state/NJ)

Market Basket (Massachusetts and Connecticut)

Big Y* (Connecticut stores)

ShopRite*/Price Rite (same as Acme)

PathMark* (see earlier post)

Whole Foods/Amazon Fresh/Amazon Go (all areas where one or the other isn't yet)

Wegmans (even though they usually only do up other peoples buildings in big cities with tight infrastructure, only open so many a year, and have recently expanded beyond the Northeast)

Tops* (just the two heading up the Hudson. Carmel is the closest store to the City [post-merger])

Thrift stores (if another supermarket is off the table, then this is a plan B)

Food Bazaar (tri-state indie with multicultural selection)

Indies/local business (missus in Maryland would love that one)

*UFCW Union Shop