The Great American Collection of Obscure Food Stores

With all the required material gathered, it is time to archive the obscurity of the Great American Food Stores.

PRATTSVILLE

• Dates Visited: March 1, 2018 and September 4, 2019
• Still Operating as of posting: Yes
• Operator: Jim Eisel, Jr.

This is not the original exterior. Was partially renovated after 2006 and before 2011. Originally looked like this.

Red Technibilt shopping carts from 2004 here.

Amazing that this vintage interior survived Hurricane Irene, considering the entire interior was flooded.

2007 Tote Cart Model 1212, originally from Slater's Marketplace. Source unknown.


WEST WINFIELD

• Date of Visit: May 21, 2018
• Still Operating as of posting: No. Store closed February 28, 2019. More on that in a future blog post.
• Operator: B&K

Former Commissary Technibilt, manufactured in 2008.

Foodking? What was it? It was clearly still around in 1995.

Dollar Zone of Best Yet products.

Great American Technibilt from 2005.

BOONVILLE

• Date of Visit: June 29, 2018
• Still Operating as of posting: No. Closed June 8, 2019.
• Operator: L.K.R. Enterprises (Lockwood Family)

Quite the Americana sign!

Express carts have red trim. Technibilt model 5341.

Regular carts have green trim. The model is 2638.

Sticker shows a date of what appears to be 2/16/10.

Sun shines on this child-sized cart, that is probably older than the Technibilt units.

Deli barn

Frozen foods

Dairy

Strange display for prepackaged baked goods.

SIDNEY

• Date of Visit: September 18, 2018
• Still Operating as of posting: No. Closed in November of 2022.
• Operator: B&K

Rather dark exterior shot.

The classic round air diffuser seen in several locations.

GREENE (VILLAGE)

• Date of Visit: September 26, 2018
• Still operating as of posting: No. Closed in April of 2023
• Operator: Unknown

This quaint little store has a nice postcard mural painted on the side of the building. Interestingly, this store has a massive parking lot despite its size. UPDATE: the pale yellow areas of the exterior were painted red and a Tractor Supply store was built in the back of the parking lot.

This Technibilt was manufactured in 2010.

WATERTOWN

• Date of Visit: October 11, 2018
• Still Operating as of posting: No. Closed November 5, 2019
• Operator: L.K.R. Enterprises (Lockwood Family)

This store was quite sad and run-down. According to people who commented on a news article relating to this store getting a barbecue and ice cream snack shack, this store originally opened as a Loblaws in the 1950s, and at some point, transitioning into Victory Markets/Great American.

STAR LAKE

• Dates Visited: February 6th and the 28th of March 2019.
• Still Operating as of posting: No. Closed November 5, 2019
• Operator: L.K.R. Enterprises (Lockwood Family)

This store is the newest in the Great American family. Was previously Padgett's, an IGA franchise which closed in April 2016 due to poor sales. The Lockwood Family, which owns the Boonville and Watertown locations, opened this store in July of the same year.

It is clear all fixtures from IGA were left behind, as evidenced by some of the aisle markers still having IGA logos.

The sign reads "'Butcher Block Meats."

This aisle marker has Great American decals on it.

Initially thought these were Tote Carts, but are actually old United Steel & Wire units. The cutout in the front is a good indicator. And yes, I am utilizing re-usable bags.

MFG. info, which lists the model and pat. no.

Aisle 5, also with Great American decals.

Bag Time!

Bags vary from operator to operator. Here is what I have so far:

Used by the B&K stores.

Used by the Lockwood-owned stores. Strange that the Best Yet nameplate even applies to shopping bags.

To wrap up this post, please feel free to comment! Feedback is greatly appreciated!

- Retail Regents