Retail Absurdities: Lost in Time at Shaker (Ace) Hardware of Latham, New York

It would be hard to believe that not only the fixtures and/or décor were outdated, but how about the merchandise? While this isn't the first hardware store I encountered outdated merchandise on the shelves, this store takes it to a whole new level!

Pictures were taken at several different times in 2020. Photographed on 5th and 8th of August and 28th of December.

Exterior. This building consists of three units; this store being the tenant in the left-most unit.

In the back right corner of the store is a beige colored toilet, bathtub standing on end, and a two-piece pedestal sink.

This Artesian-branded toilet, as well as the bathroom fixtures behind it do not appear to have ever been installed. Most likely something that had never been purchased within the past 35 or so years. It is not clear if the insulation inside the tank is meant to be removed upon installation.

Older Rehrig shopping carts bearing the Shaker name, most likely from the 1970s or 1980s. These definitely predate their Ace affiliation.

Older ceiling fans on the display. From top to bottom: Encon Monarch, Westinghouse Swirl,  Encon Casanova Supreme, and an Encon Crusader. UPDATE: As of 2022, the Westinghouse Swirl has been removed from the display.

Baskets. The Rehrig in the top picture is paired with the shopping carts; not sure about the ones seen in the bottom picture.

Back of the store, with a sloped ceiling.

Various boxes of older ceiling fans at the top shelves. A few of the boxes are empty as they are ceiling fans that hang on the display. While the staff said they don't sell ceiling fans anymore, I still managed to buy a few with a some assistance. Wonderful staff!

All in all, it was a rather fun experience with this store despite the absurd outdated merchandise that had not sold in decades. It does make for a unique experience.

-Retail Regents

FLASHBACK: Price Chopper in the Mall

In this edition of FLASH BACK, we go back to August 5, 2017 to view full coverage of a mall-based Price Chopper.

The facade and layout seen here were from a 2006 expansion. The awning color and Food & Pharmacy byline were changed around 2012-13 (it previously had a Super Center byline). By the way, this was originally a Loblaws which was sold to Price Chopper around 1976. Located in the fractured Johnstown Mall in Johnstown, New York.

Vestibule is abnormally oversized by Price Chopper standards.

I believe this was the Bakery area pre-2006.

But hold on a minute...

FLASH FORWARD!

Photographed in January 2021, this is Price Chopper's mall entrance. Not really much of a use for one. Given the fact the 2006 remodel gave it this mall entrance, it is safe to say the Market Café area inside was additional mall space. This however, wasn't the first time Price Chopper displaced mall space due to expansion; they previously expanded their store circa 1988, which displaced the original Fay's Drug store, forcing them to move into an addition on the other side of the mall.

[MINI-POST] A Tale of Two Walgreens (Hudson Falls, NY)

One thing I was not aware of is that Walgreens moved out of the converted Rite Aid building on Dix Avenue in Hudson Falls and replaced it with a smaller building on Burgoyne Avenue.

Walgreens #17960, pictured in August 2019. This was formerly Rite Aid #458. This building is now empty.

Fairly recently they moved to this smaller building, located at 3739 Burgoyne Avenue, store #17365. The front of this building faces Michigan Avenue. The size suggests this is a pharmacy-only building.

Quiet Liquidations: Save-a-Lot - Gloversville, NY

One of the more particularly bothersome things to cover are liquidations that are not publicly announced, nor have any obvious indications of liquidating. Here's one of them, the Save-a-Lot Food Store in Gloversville, New York.

Doesn't it look like it's still operating as normal? Just wait until we get inside...

The produce case is empty. It appears they have stopped shipments and just let the shelves empty out.

All grocery shelves were empty except what few endcaps and pallets were on the floor.

Some merchandise still left in the meat coolers

Plenty of bread still on racks. Probably the last thing to go.

It is not apparent when this store will close, but my assumption is it will be emptied within the next few days or so. Whether the signs stay up or removed is yet to be decided.

UPDATE 10/08/2021: New information has come out, revealing this store is in fact closing, this time on 10/13/21.

Apparently the original closing date was pushed forward from 10/16 to 10/13. Knowing how little is left in the store, it would not be surprising if this closing date is pushed up even earlier.