Absurd Placement: Dollar General of Sharon Springs, NY

In this morning's mini post, we take a look at an oddly-placed Dollar General store.

The most amusing part of where this store is located is that is RIGHT OUTSIDE of the Walmart Distribution Center in the background of this image. The store was built in 2014 on the site of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.

Inside is a fairly typical Dollar General interior. This was probably among some of the last new-builds to have a drop ceiling.

 

Do you have an absurdly-placed Dollar General store in your area? Feel free to leave a comment!

- Retail Regents

Tops #723

In another early-morning post, we are taking a look at another set of archived photos of a Grand Union turned Tops not located in the Adirondacks.

Welcome to the Tops of Hudson Falls, New York! Not surprisingly, this store had the facade switched from shingling to metal during the switch over from Grand Union to Tops.

Judging by the green tile border separating the aisles from the corridor, it appears Grand Union last remodeled this store in the 1990s.

Expanded: Voorheesville Hannaford

Opened: unknown (sold to Hannaford in 2007)

Previous Tenants: Nichols Shop 'n Save

Location: 5 Maple Rd, Voorheesville, NY

Photographed: June 18, 2021

It is not often a Retail Regents post is written early in the morning, but here is another one from the archives! Inspired by The Market Report blog, I have decided to change up the formatting for this next post.

This store appears on Groceteria as being a Grand Union, which is not very surprising given other Grand Union stores in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley were converted to Hannaford-franchised Shop 'n Save stores. This store was owned by Kevin Smith and operated under the name Nichols Shop 'n Save. The store and shopping center were sold in 2007 to Hannaford, allowing for an odd expansion similar to that of the ShopRite of Mansfield, New Jersey.

Entering inside, we are greeting with a semi-trapezoidal grand aisle, completely separated from the rest of the store, except the rear corridor. This section was once home to smaller tenants. Like newer Hannaford stores, produce is in the front with Bakery and Deli in the back.

Deli shown in the back (to the right in this picture), with The Butcher Shop further down (seafood is in between the two departments).

Left corner of the store, which houses frozen foods.

Despite its size, this store has a Pharmacy department, in the front of the store.

 

Want to clear up any history? Feel free to leave a comment!

- Retail Regents

A Look Inside of Tops #717

The continuation of Adirondack Park coverage takes us to yet another grocery store that has been through "The Cycle". Welcome to Au Sable Forks, NY!

Like many Grand Union conversions, this one is of an unknown vintage.

Cart Tax: Typical newer carts that replaced a set of rusty Unarco M65s. Top one is a refurbished Cari-All and the bottom one is what I am assuming was part of a test batch for Hannaford, manufactured by Instore Products, Ltd.

Aisle 1, which for some odd reason lists Ketchup and Condiments separately.

Classic round air vent register in that shade of gunmetal grey typical for the 1950s and 1960s.

Price Chopper #134: A Neon Hell

Hallo und willkommen nach Price Chopper nummer 134! Lasst uns anfangen!

All photos in this post were taken on May 21, 2021.

This store was a 1990s replacement for an older store next door (which is now part of the Springbrook campus).

Upon entering the store is the grand aisle with drop ceilings and pink vinyl tile.

To the right is Fresh Produce. Something tells me this wall wasn't originally green and solid.

Service Deli and cheese section on the left wall.

Bakery, with signs indicating where the rolls and bread are located.

Burnt-out "Cakes" sign

The Circle of Seafood

Semi-circular Pharmacy facade with green dotted round ℞ symbols on each end.

Frozen foods actionway, with coffin coolers (which are almost nonexistent in more modernized stores), and floor markings typical for older Price Chopper stores. Perfect for a gymansium, but not a grocery store!

Natural foods alcove

 

Customer Service approaching the exit.

Bottle return in the vestibule, featuring its own neon sign!

But before we go...

This store had functionally obsolete wheelchair carts, manufactured by Rehrig International. These were outphased in favor of fixed-basket wheelchair carts (both manual and electric) seen universally in major retailers.