Thursday, March 14, 2024

[UNY News] Syracuse Loses a Price Chopper









In this installment of Retail Regents News, we take a look at a Price Chopper in the Syracuse area that is soon to close.

The Price Chopper in Clay, NY, photographed on April 3, 2019. This store is due to close effective April 19, 2024, along with a store in Taylor, PA. No other Syracuse area stores are scheduled to close.



Monday, January 15, 2024

Short Tours: Save-a-Lot - Fort Plain, NY

Franchisee: unknown
Opened: 2007
Previous Tenants: Grand Union > Big M (up to 2006)
Location: 19 River St., Fort Plain, NY
Photographed: January 11, 2024


Today's post takes to one of the last Save-a-Lot stores in the 518 area.

This store was opened by franchisee John Hart in 2007, replacing a Big M Supermarket that was severely damaged from a 2006 flood in the area. Ironically this store would face severe damage from the Otsquago Creek flooding of 2013. The facade was updated, with a vestibule spanning the length of the facade being added in the ensuing remodel. The store re-opened on September 18, 2013.

Produce and bakery line the first aisle. While the walls were repainted into the current grey color scheme in 2022, the signage was not updated. I believe this signage came from the 2013 update.

Meat products and milk line the back wall. Also note the left side wall housing the rest of dairy and frozen foods.

This front wall is stark white compared to the rest of the interior walls. Also note the coffin-style freezer, a somewhat common feature in Save-a-Lot stores.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

[UNY NEWS] ShopRite's second market exodus from the Capital Region










In this feature, we will be taking a look at the closing of not one, but FIVE ShopRite stores throughout the Capital Region. In essence, all the stores in the area. ShopRite has stated "sale of business" as the reason for closing these stores, meaning sales were not sufficient in keeping these stores operating. The stores are to close no later than December 9th.

SPOILER: For this feature, only photo coverage of the first store will be the most recent; all others feature older photos from normal operations. No new trips will be made to any of these stores.


NISKAYUNA
2333 Nott Street
Exterior of the Niskayuna location, photographed on October 27, 2023. Store opened on October 2, 2011.

This one is the only previously-owned building out of the five, occupying a large 1990s Grand Union building. While they are closing by the end of the year, ShopRite still has eight years remaining on their lease, which leaves a few options for the town to refill the space, such as subletting the space or selling their lease outright.


Inside the store, most of the personal care items have sold out.


The Seafood department by this time has permanently closed.



Many of the empty produce coolers have been sealed off. Also a random patch of blue tile is noticeable.


The freezer section was still halfway full. And that will end our coverage here.


ALBANY
709 Central Ave
Exterior of the Albany location, photographed on November 17, 2017. Opened on April 26, 2012, and the first of four purpose-built locations.




Mostly blurry pictures, but you get the point as to how the store looks like and is laid out inside. This store has a right-hand layout, with the grand aisle on the left.


SLINGERLANDS
41 Vista Blvd
Exterior of the Slingerlands location, photographed on September 13, 2021. Opened on September 30, 2012.





COLONIE
1730 Central Ave

Exterior of the Colonie location, photographed on April 7, 2019. Opened on April 7, 2013.






NORTH GREENBUSH
102 Van Rensselaer Square

Exterior of the North Greenbush location, photographed on September 13, 2019. Opened on December 10, 2017, this is the newest and final ShopRite to open in the region.







As this is a newer store, it has a different decor package than the other stores in the region. This is one is more industrial and drab, with a lot of grey. Also uses plank flooring in the grand aisle.



So, what could be in store for these spaces when ShopRite moves out? Time will tell.

- Retail Regents

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Big Lots #5248

Opened: November 1, 2012
Location: 38 Dutchtown Plaza, Palatine Bridge, NY
Previous Tenants: Big N > Ames
Photographed: October 5, 2023


Today's post takes us to a different plaza-based Big Lots with a history.

This oddball was originally a Big N, the discount arm of the Neisner's variety store chain. After Neisner's was acquired by Ames in 1978, this became an Ames department store. After going out of business in 2002, this store sat empty for a full decade bearing white Ames signage until Big Lots opened in the left half of the building in November 2012. The right half is still vacant.

Inside the first set of doors is this unique corridor, giving Dutchtown Plaza a hallway mall kind of feel. It is not clear if there was anything separating this corridor from the Ames space before Big Lots moved in.

The interior is typical of Big Lots at the time, with alternating wall colors.

Almost the entire back of the store is dedicated to furniture.

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

A Concrete Concept: Richfield Springs Price Chopper

Our next post takes us to a slightly unique Price Chopper store in Richfield Springs, New York.

This 37,000 sq.ft. prototype store opened on May 17, 2005, designed to be more suited for smaller communities. It is a stripped down "Super Center" model, without a pharmacy and limited bakery section. A similar store opened around the same time in Delhi in Delaware County, but with a mirrored layout.

One very obvious difference between this store and others that opened at the time is that the flooring is bare concrete as opposed to tile. The Delhi store shares this same trait. 

Also of note is the concrete is dyed red in this section of the store.