Schlotzskys

Clark County location (las Vegas area)

 Meant to do this one sooner.  Schlotzskys are another chain from the south I know from telly, which started in the Texas Capital Region and are now based in the Georgia one, and are working their way up north, so they could replace some of their competitors and others' old spotskys!

Cicero - former Jimmy Johns, E Circle Dr

E Syracuse - former Jimmy Johns/Starbucks, NY 298 & Weighlock Dr

Syracuse (east side) - former Jimmy Johns, Marshall St (SU Hill) and/or former Red Lobster, NY 5

Syracuse (north side) - former Margaritaville or Cantina Laredo, Destiny USA

Syracuse (south side) - former Subway, US 11 & NY 173

Syracuse (Lyncourt) - space next to new Fish Cove, Swansea Dr, Shop City

Syracuse (downtown) - former Jimmy Johns/indie restaurant

Cortland - former Naples Pizza, Riverside Plaza, NY 13

Camillus - former Firehouse Subs, W Genesee St

Syracuse (south side)/Nedrow - Green Hills Plaza, US 11 & Southland Dr

Rochester (downtown) - former Subway, E Main St

Rochester (east side) - former Subway, NY 96

Utica - former Subway or Popeyes, Genesee St

Canastota - former Jreck Subs, CR 25

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall, US 20 & NY 5

Ithaca - former Starbucks, Collegetown

Rensselaer - former Burger King, US 9 & 20

Albany - former I Love NY Pizza, US 9

Delmar - former I Love NY Pizza, NY 443 & 140 (Four Corners)

Clay - former Subway, NY 31

Grocery Outlet

Typical design Eugene, OR location in the Pacific Northwest. Courtesy flickr.

 With so many people having to squeeze pennies these days, Bay Area-based Grocery Outlet could help save hundreds of dollars. They have yet to open here in New York State (shock, horror). There is an indie store in Lyncourt in the former Pfaltzgraff/Syracuse China outlet store, but while there's a number of lesser known brands and surplus goods from out-of-town/state chains, they carry too many expired (even though the "best by" date can confuse people and works differently for each kind of product) items like some cornershop, despite a recent article saying how some can still be alright while others should be binned. The chain are a different animal to the type that ALDI and PriceRite are, but nonetheless keep money in your pocket. I can mainly just come up with Upstate spots that I know, even though there are likely tonnes of them downstate (I could only snag a few on the outskirts of the region so it doesn't go too far), with Hamilton Township, NJ being even the closest one to the Tri-State right now. Off we go then.

Henrietta - Former PriceRite, SouthTown Plaza, NY 252 (plans for Hylan Dr store fell through)

Wayne, NJ - Former ShopRite

West Nyack - Former Grand Union/Stop & Shop or ShopRite, NY 59

Troy - Former Price Chopper, Lansingburgh, US 4

West Babylon - Former ShopRite, NY 109

Auburn - Former Real Deals, NY 5

Cortland - Former Save-a-Lot, NY 281 & 222

Albany (Delaware Area) - Former Save-A-Lot, US 9W & NY 443

Albany (Uptown) - Former Price Chopper, Westgate Shopping Center, NY 5

New Hartford - Former Herb Phillipsons

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

Fulton - Former kmart, River Glen Plaza, NY 481

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

Westvale - Former P&C/Tops, Westvale Plaza, NY 5

Mattydale - Former kmart, US 11

Cicero - Former Green Planet Grocery, NY 31

deWitt - Former Bed, Bath and Beyond; Marshalls Homegoods Plaza; NY 5 (former P&C/Tops is taken and couldn't be another grocery store)

Greene - Former Great American BK5

Sidney - Former Great American BK5

Rensselaer - Former ALDI, US 9 & 20

Poughkeepsie - Former Natures Harvest, US 9

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

Buffalo - Former Save-a-Lot, 999 Broadway

Lancaster - Former Save-a-Lot; Aurora St

Syracuse (north side) - Former Save-a-Lot/Chicago Markets/Peters; Butternut St

Fantasy deWitt location in former P&C/Tops

Might be in Pennsylvania (composite)

Rite Aid in CNY, WNY et al

Glenolden, PA store (edited due to different laws there)

 Since Rite Aid sold a number of stores to Walgreens in 2019, they have had fewer locations in CNY (there were still six left in Onondaga County alone) and virtually none in the North Country. They've closed some in other parts of the nation, but could still make a comeback over here, while their competitor closed several of the stores they took over since, some in recent weeks. A few of them Rite Aid should get back as many are where there is no close alternative for people without private transport. Also fill in vacancies that the others won't. Rite Aid also left downtown Albany, but we covered that (see second list). However, Rite Aid are under administration, so they and their competitors are closing stores left and right at this time. As of 4 October 2025, all remaining stores have been closed.

Syracuse (west side) - W Onondaga St (former store and Walgreens)

Canastota - NY 5 & 13 (former store and Walgreens)

Manlius - NY 92 (former Kinney Drugs)

North Syracuse - US 11 (former store and Walgreens in village, although located roughly between Sweetheart Corners and former Cicero stores)

Pulaski - US 11 & NY 13 (former store and Walgreens)

Auburn - Genesee St (same as above, although both chains are still on NY 5)

Rochester (19th Ward) - Thurston Rd. & Brooks Ave. (former store and Walgreens; near airport, UR and Wegmans HQ; non-CNY)

Past locations:

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights; later Freddys? (defunct rival chain from Rochester); later Party City? (both chains in the same sinking boat in 2025)

Syracuse (Eastwood) (1) - NY 290 between Grant Blvd and North Ave; now Walgreens (built 2006)

Syracuse (Eastwood) (2) - NY 290 and Homecroft Rd; former Loblaws/Peters IGA/Foodtown/Carls/Fays/Eckerd; now Family Dollar (see earlier post)

East Syracuse (1) - Kirkville Rd; former Church Leader Drug/Fays/Eckerd; now Walgreens

East Syracuse (2) - NY 290; now Family Dollar

Syracuse (downtown) (1) - S Salina St; original store (Rite Aid had acquired local chain Daws Drugs in the late '60s, bringing them to CNY); later Record Town and Dollar Wise; now vacant

Syracuse (downtown) (2) - S Salina & E Fayette Sts; 1979-2019; former Woolworths; now DGX

Syracuse (downtown) (3) - S Warren & E Fayette Sts; Discount Center (likely regular store before 1979 when other one opened a block away); demolished, now corner park

Syracuse (Valley) - NY 80 & 173 - former Eckerd; now DG Market

Syracuse (south side) - US 11; later Walgreens; now vacant

Syracuse/Nedrow  - US 11; former Eckerd; now Walgreens (almost Fays with a drive-thru until 1997 acquisition by JCPenney; pictured below)

Hannibal - NY 3; former Fays/Eckerd; now Walgreens

Fulton - NY 3; later Walgreens; now vacant

Oswego - NY 104 & 481; former Fays/Eckerd; now demolished

Cortland - US 11 & NY 41; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Cortlandville - NY 222 & 281

Glens Falls - NY 9L

Ransomville - NY 93 & CR 17

deWitt - NY 5, Shoppingtown Mall; former CVS?/Fays/Eckerd; now vacant pending demolition for District East

Manlius (1) (village) - NY 92; former Harveys Leader Drug/Eckerd; now Unplugged Gaming

Manlius (2) (Buellville) - NY 92; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Fayetteville - N Burdick St; former Fays/Eckerd; now Walgreens

Cazenovia - US 20; former Fays/Eckerd; now Walgreens

Canastota - NY 5 & 13; later Walgreens; now closed

Chittenango - NY 5; later Walgreens; now closed

Cicero (1) - US 11 & Caughdenoy Rd; now Walgreens

Cicero (2) - NY 31 & Thompson Rd; now Ace Hardware

Auburn (1) - US 20 & NY 38A; now VA Health Clinic

Auburn (2) - NY 5

Albany (Colonie) - NY 5 & CR 156; later Goodwill; now Ace Hardware

Baldwinsville (1) - Downer St; now Powerhouse Gym

Baldwinsville (2) (Moyers Corners) - NY 31 & CR 57; former Fays/Eckerd, Kimbrook Plaza, now Planet Fitness

Liverpool (Bayberry) (1) - CR 57; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Liverpool (Bayberry) (2) - CR 57; the Shops at Seneca Mall; former Eckerd, now U-Haul

Liverpool (Galeville) - Old Liverpool Rd; former Eckerd; now Family Dollar

Liverpool/North Syracuse - Bear & Buckley Rds; former Eckerd; now Dollar General

Mattydale - US 11 & Malden Rd; former Eckerd; later Walgreens; now closed

North Syracuse (1) - US 11; now Syracuse Lash & Beauty

North Syracuse (2) - US 11 & Centerville St; now vacant

Central Square - NY 49; now closed

Watertown - NY 3; former Fays/Eckerd; now closed

Norwich (1) - NY 12 & E Main St; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Norwich (2) - NY 12; now Dollar Tree

Norwich (3) - NY 12; now Aarons Rental Purchase

Syracuse (Tipp Hill) (1) - NY 5 & Avery Ave; later Walgreens; now vacant

Syracuse (Tipp Hill) (2) - W Fayette St; now Modular Comfort Systems

Syracuse (east side) (1) - Westcott St; now convenience store

Syracuse (east side) (2) - NY 92; former site of historic home; later Walgreens; now vacant

Syracuse (Fairmount) (1) - W Genesee St; Fairmount Fair Mall; demolished by late '80s, now plaza

Syracuse (Fairmount) (2) - W Genesee St; former flagship Fays/Eckerd; now Dollar Tree

Syracuse (north side) (1) - Grant Blvd & Butternut St; now AutoZone

Syracuse (north side) (2) - Butternut & N McBride Sts; now Family Dollar (Rite Aid moved across street)

Syracuse (north side) (3) - Butternut & Lodi Sts (briefly); former Eckerd (unnecessary after acquisition with existing store right there, yet now vacant as of Fall 2025); now Dollar General

Syracuse (north side) (4) - Butternut & Lodi Sts (final)

Syracuse (Skunk City) - Onondaga Blvd & Avery Ave; former Eckerd; now Walgreens

Syracuse (near west side) - W Onondaga St; later Walgreens; now vacant

Syracuse (east side) (3) - E Colvin St & Nottingham Rd; Skytop Plaza; former Drumlins Pharmacy/Fays Cornerdrug/Eckerd; now Walgreens

Camillus - W Genesee St, Camillus Plaza/Commons; previously Carls, Fays and Eckerd

St Lawrence County - US 11 et al; now Walgreens

Endwell - Hooper St; previously Fays; now closed

Endicott - NY 17C & 26; previously Fays' last new store; later Eckerd; now Walgreens

Binghamton - NY 7; now closed

Whitesboro - NY 69

New Hartford (Commercial Drive) - NY 5A

New Hartford (Washington Mills) - CR 26 & NY 8, Kellogg Mall; previously Fays and Eckerd

Rome - NY 46 & 49

Oneida - NY 46

Utica - Genesee St

Buffalo - 29/9/25: ABC 7 WKBW announced that a total of 16 locations in the city had shuttered, affecting many low-income neighborhoods and overwhelming other chains. They were all on:

NY 5/Main St. (2)
Niagara St.
NY 384/Delaware Ave.
Elmwood Ave.
Sheridan Dr.
Tonawanda St.
Connecticut St.
US 62/Bailey Ave.
William St.
Genesee St.
NY 16/Seneca St.
W Ferry St.
Abbott Rd.
E Lovejoy St.
NY 324/Sheridan Dr.
NY 240 & William St.
US 62 & NY 130; previously Eckerd

Dryden - NY 13 & 38; previously Victory Markets, Great American, and Eckerd; now demolished (pictured below)

Nedrow store with AI weather change (former Eckerd)

Dryden store with classic logo (AI)

Impacted by Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

 

This is where I live. Done up since then.

This is very personal. Please support my appeal. I don't usually do this, but I must get the word out there.

UPDATE: Susan Sposato 1949-2023

Still need support to tie up loose ends.

Shoe Carnival

Hattiesburg, IA store

 I just discovered Shoe Carnival in a coupon book that covers national chains and local businesses alike.  Some of the chains they have that we don't in my area yet were already covered here, so here's one that hasn't.  This one's bigger than I thought, so now it's back to finding bigger spots.  We always get stuff late around here!

Syracuse - former Against All Odds, Destiny USA

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

New Hartford - former Macys, Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A

Camillus - former Bon-Ton, Camillus Plaza

Cortland - Riverside Plaza, NY 13

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

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall, NY 5 & US 20

Amherst - former Best Buy, NY 78

Henrietta - former avenue, NY 252

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

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

Colonie - former Barnes & Noble or Bed Bath and Beyond/ShopRite, Wolf Road

Baltimore City and County (Towson/Columbia) - former Shoe City locations where there is no overlap (where chain were based) 

Food Desert on Syracuse's South Side

The store months before it closed up.

 Please sign this petition and be part of the solution! Don't let this be another statistic. I suggested Grand Union, Big M, Lidl, IGA, Hannaford, Grocery Outlet or Save-A-Lot go in there. It was even an A&P and Acme decades ago. This is an all too familiar scene around the nation in rural small towns and inner city neighborhoods alike, particularly communities of color. One food desert is one too many.

UPDATE (7/10/25): Tops' competitor in Buffalo, Super Imperial Market, will open their first non-WNY location there in May 2026. It is a combination of Imperial Market and Super Price Choppers (no relation, but are also in Erie, PA). Turns out they carry Best Yet like their soon to be rival down the road, Green Hills Farms, even though it's one of the most common private labels in smaller and indie stores.

Spot Coffee

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

 When I first discovered Spot Coffee in Monroe County last year (pictured), I assumed it was local.  It's only recently that I learned it's a regional chain from Erie County sixty miles away from Rochester.  They're even open as far east as Warren County!  Since some of their competitors closed locations in between, Spot can find some new ones. (UPDATE: Spot in Rochester are now closed since 2 March 2025, so I will have to come up with something else for that property, and it puts this post to bed).

Syracuse (east side) - former Jimmy Johns, Marshall St (SU Hill) and/or former Red Lobster, NY 5

Various (Upstate NY only) - former Starbucks

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

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

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

Fairmount - former Subway, W Genesee St

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

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

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

Weedsport - former Tim Hortons, NY 31 & 34

New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A

Colonie - Colonie Center, NY 5 & Wolf Road

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