FLASHBACK: Save-a-Rite Aid in Cobleskill

Today on FLASH BACK, we go back to June 1, 2017 to visit another drugstore-to-grocery store conversion.

This store was presumed to be a unusual freestanding specimen of Fay's Drug, later becoming Eckerd, and Rite Aid #10678 before moving to 735 East Main Street in 2011. This store would close in February 2020 and is now an O'Reilly Auto Parts store.

Inside the store, we see Save-a-Lot retained the Eckerd lighting, something O'Reilly would not do after moving into this space.

FLASHBACK: Last Looks at Save-a-Lot #24718

Today on FLASH BACK, we go back to October 11, 2017 to visit a Save-a-Lot that did not close by choice.

This store was at one point a Great American, and at one point, Cristiano's Family Market. The building had been empty for over 10 years prior to Save-a-Lot's opening on June 9, 2010. In 2019, this store was shut down due to code violations stemming from roof leaks which caused water to leak into the store's electrical system, resulting in power being disconnected to the building. As of this writing, Save-a-Lot has not returned to this building, nor does it appear anything has occupied the space since.

FLASHBACK: Save-a-Rite Aid in Herkimer

Today on FLASH BACK, we go back to May 28, 2017 to take a look at a store operating out of a converted Rite Aid in the village of Herkimer, NY.

This space was previously home to Rite Aid #643 before moving to 205 South Caroline Street in 2007. Ten years later, Save-a-Lot opened this store, only to close this store three years later on December 19, 2020.

The store's original carts at the time were a set of used Unarco PC41Us of various years. This was the newest of them, dated 7/16.

In a rather ridiculous blunder, they ordered new carts, a set of Americana AMP17s with coin deposit boxes. The store would close a month after this cart was photographed.

FLASHBACK: Snapshots of Oneida: Save-a-Lot

 

Today on FLASH BACK, we go back to December 8, 2017 to take a look at one of the many Save-a-Lot stores in Upstate NY that closed in the past few years.

This store opened on July 12, 2017 out of a former Rainbow clothing store, which was Fashion Bug before that. This store, along with hundreds of other stores across the country closed in 2021, and remains empty as of this writing.

FLASHBACK: Last Looks at Little M

 

Today on FLASH BACK, we go back to July 15, 2017 to visit St. Johnsville's last grocery store.

Given this store's size, it bore the rare "Little M" moniker. The store was destroyed by a fire on October 29, 2019 which was ruled as non-accidental.

A 1988 United Steel & Wire shopping cart from P&C Foods was being used to store watermelons outside. The store did not use shopping carts of this size.

The back half of the store housed bread and some prepackaged meat products.

FLASHBACK: Shurfine In Name Only

Today on FLASH BACK, we will be taking a look at two former Shurfine-branded supermarkets that still bear the ShurFine name, but no longer belong to the group.

Weedsport Supermarket

Toured on November 5, 2018

This store used to be a Big M until about 2013 when they joined the ShurFine group.

The store retained the Big M carts, manufactured by Unarco Industries in November 1998. Also note the ShurFine-branded products on the shelf to the left. Eventually the store would start selling Best Yet products, a C&S private label common for independent supermarkets in Upstate New York. The dirty VC tile shown here would eventually be replaced by ubiquitous grey wood-like flooring in years since these photographs were taken.

Bliss Foodmart

Toured on June 12, 2019

The supermarket itself is 16,000 sq.ft., yet shares the building with Twin Cities Laundry and a Medicine Shoppe which at the time has closed. That space is still empty as of this writing.

[UNY NEWS] The End of Mohawk Village Market and the Downsizing of Walgreens

Welcome to Retail Regents News, the feature where yours truly blogs about the happenings in retail around Upstate New York! Keep in mind, many of the pictures shown in these posts may not be recent, but suffice as long as the subject has not been updated.

In this feature, we will be taking a look at the closing of an old supermarket in the village of Mohawk and the impending relocation of a Walgreens just two miles west in the nearby village of Ilion.

The End of Village Market

Mohawk, NY

Mohawk Village Market, pictured in April 2021.

The current owners of this vintage supermarket have announced their retirement and will be closing this store effective November 19th, after 33 years of ownership. The store was built in 1955.

All pictures in relating to this store were taken on April 13, 2021.

Former Frozen Foods section, which at this time housed a book section.

Given this store was built in 1955, it appears the store's decor and majority of the fixtures are most likely original, though the shopping carts certainly are not.

Shur-Fine branded cups, which have not sold for many years. Problem is, this was not the only merchandise that was many years out of date. Some food items were long past their expiration date, most notably a bag of lentils which expired in 2017!

In other news...

The Impending Downsizing of Walgreens

Ilion, NY

Walgreens existing location at 4 Central Plaza, which was built in 2004 for Eckerd and was converted to Rite Aid in 2007. Photograph taken on June 9, 2020.

Two miles west in Ilion, Walgreens plans on replacing their freestanding big box drug store at Central Plaza with what is most likely a smaller pharmacy-only store across Central Ave, on the site of the former State Bowling Center, a staple of the village since the late 1940s. At the time of this writing, plans have been submitted for Walgreens to move to the site, but no demolition permits have been requested, according to a report on WKTV.

To my fellow retail enthusiasts, do you have a tip about the happenings of the retail scene in Upstate NY? Please leave a comment below!

The Retail Regents School Bus Show

*Originally published on November 4, 2022. Revised on June 4, 2025.*

Today's post takes us on an off-topic field trip for something a certain enthusiast might take an interest in. Take a ride with Retail Regents as we go back to school...

Date Photographed: April 20, 2017

Date Photographed: April 24, 2017

Date Photographed: May 11, 2017

Date Photographed: September 6, 2017

Date Photographed: September 21, 2017

This former Canajoharie Central School District bus was spotted in the Price Chopper parking lot in Johnstown. This bus was sold to Consolidated Bus Transit out of Brooklyn and is now Consolidated Bus Transit 241050.

Date Photographed: October 11, 2017

Date Photographed: November 8, 2017 (all)

All three of these 2007 IC CE300 buses were spotted in the parking lot of Perth Plaza in Amsterdam. The middle one was from Holland Central Schools, bus 158.

Date Photographed: November 30, 2017

This Thomas Saf-T-Liner FS-65 was spotted in the parking lot of Perth Plaza in Amsterdam. The operator is unknown, while the bus number was 20.

Date Photographed: February 6, 2018

Date Photographed: March 23, 2018

Date Photographed: April 25, 2018

Date Photographed: April 25, 2018

Date Photographed: May 4, 2018

Date Photographed: May 4, 2018

Date Photographed: May 17, 2018

Date Photographed: May 17, 2018

Date Photographed: May 21, 2018

Date Photographed: June 4, 2018

Date Photographed: June 4, 2018

Date Photographed: June 8, 2018

Date Photographed: June 20, 2018

Date Photographed: August 23, 2018

Date Photographed: September 17, 2018

Date Photographed: September 21, 2018

Date Photographed: October 10, 2018

Date Photographed: October 11, 2018

Date Photographed: October 11, 2018

Date Photographed: October 22, 2018

Date Photographed: November 13, 2018

Date Photographed: November 30, 2018

Date Photographed: December 6, 2018

Date Photographed: June 18, 2019

Date Photographed: September 6, 2019

Date Photographed: May 18, 2021

Date Photographed: June 7, 2021

Date Photographed: August 31, 2021

Date Photographed: January 4, 2023

Date Photographed: March 6, 2024

This bus is registered to Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES instead of either the Johnstown School District or Gloversville City School District.

Date Photographed: October 31, 2024

Former HFM Regional Transportation unit. The bus pulling out in the background is 452, which has a labelscar of the HFM Regional Transportation Service livery.

Date Photographed: October 31, 2024

2022 IC CE, former HFM Regional Transportation unit. The cross arms are retrofits.

Date Photographed: October 31, 2024

Date Photographed: October 31, 2024

Former HFM Regional Transportation unit. Also note 464 next to it.

Date Photographed: November 9, 2024

Ballston Spa Central School District #410, a 3rd-gen 2025 IC CE. This one is diesel-powered and has a Cummins B6.7 engine. I also added this photo to the IC Bus Wikipedia page in the IC Bus Product Line (School Buses) table.

Date Photographed: November 9, 2024

Date Photographed: February 26, 2025

Date Photographed: June 20, 2025

Date Photographed: July 23, 2025

First Student SB483067, a 2025 3rd-gen IC CE.