Piggly Wiggly's Entry to New York

Today's post takes us to a name not otherwise seen in the state of New York. The North Country awaits you...

Introducing Piggly Wiggly of Watertown, New York! This store opened on March 3, 2022 in what used to be Tops Friendly Markets #597. This was a Bonisteel-owned Big M before Tops acquired their stores in 2013.

Cart Tax: Almost all the carts here were at least carried over from Tops much like the stores converted to Grand Union. The set of ex-Commissary Technbilt #6542 carts were most likely acquired from a Great American store that closed in the past few years. Not sure if the 2009 Technibilt #6240 carts were here when Tops was here.

Fresh produce section in the front. It appears they kept the Tops decor package, even a year later. It is more than likely this is still the case for the Grand Union stores as well.

Since this store has a full grand aisle, the first aisle is reserved for water and mixers.

UPDATE: Tops #721

Apparently Tops is now starting to update their diverse fleet of stores east of the WNY area. And seeing what happened to one of these old ex-Grand Union stores as a result? That is disturbing!

Apparently this was a recent change, as there is "Grand Re-Opening CELEBRATION!" signage present. And also the exterior is now clad in vinyl siding like that seen on a modern Stewart's Shops. Also the cart corrals were upgraded to covered ones.

Cart Tax: Tops finally got rid of the rusted Instores after seven years of service (though interestingly a January 2023 picture shows some strange small wire Unarcos, possibly M65H). These carts mark the first time since the 1990s Tops has ever ordered plastic-on-metal carts (the last ones were red Rehrig Snubnoses like the one in this photo at the Gates, NY location). Also these are now in a covered cart corral, whereas they were previously exposed to the elements, hence why they rusted easily. Also these carts have R.W. Rogers badges like the ones seen at the Sherrill location, indicating these were likely made by an overseas manufacturer and distributed the R.W. Rogers Company. Shame it couldn't have been a set of Bemis carts though, that would have been interesting.

Inside we see the old Grand Union flooring has been replaced and much of the interior has been painted grey - which is rather depressing, but still a step up from the brown. Also all the lighting has been switched to daylight LED. Despite the new paint job, flooring, and decor, it still has the bones of an old Grand Union.

Aisle 12 anyone? 

The single-person restroom was completely remodeled, with all new fixtures. The grey stone-like tile is still quite ugly as always.

For this store to be remodeled, could this mean other stores could be remodeling or have already been remodeled? Post in the comments if any other stores in this general area have been or are currently upgrading.

- Retail Regents

Big Lots #1270

Opened: late 1990s

Location: 4879 State Highway 30, Amsterdam, NY

Previous Tenants: W.T. Grant / Kmart 7074 (1976-1994)

Photographed: December 28, 2020, February 12, 2023 and December 11, 2024

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

In the Perth Plaza, this Big Lots store started out as a W.T. Grant store and became Kmart #7074 before moving to Super Kmart #4923 at 4930 State Highway 30 in 1994. It would get split between Norma Jean Theaters (later Emerald Cinemas, which has since closed) and Big Lots in the late 1990s. The current exterior is the result of a plaza-wide remodel that started at the end of 2015 and was completed in early 2016. 

The cart bay is located to the right of the entrance. Notice the recently-added ex-Sam's Club Unarco M170Z shopping carts in the left-most row.

This Big Lots has the furniture section separate from the rest of the store.

The back half of the furniture section, which houses mattresses appears to have been backroom space for Grants/Kmart.

With the interior wrapped up, let's take a look outside...

Out toward the former Emerald Cinema space is where the store's former auto center was bricked in.

12/11/2024 UPDATE: All the older carts have been removed from service. These carts were being pushed out the door as their replacements were coming in at the time of these photos (same day as this update). Their replacements are Advance HC200s, most likely from either the Queensbury or Troy stores.

Inside Big M: DeRuyter, NY

Our next post takes us to another grocery store/gas station combo in rural Upstate NY. All photos were taken on August 4, 2022.

This store is a relocation; they were allegedly located at the corner of Cortland and Utica Streets before relocating here in 2002. The store received an expansion in 2018, giving it a new vestibule/cart bay on the left side before entering the main store. The store also has a Sunoco gas station. The store's shopping carts can be seen in Volume 6, Section 2, shown here and here.

The front of the store functions as more of a convenience store, where snacks and beverages are sold. Also the registers are located in this part of the store.

A Brief Look Inside P&C: Cortland, NY

 Today's post takes us to one of two remaining P&C-branded stores in Upstate NY.

This store as well as the Ithaca store are the only two still bearing the P&C name. After the demise of Penn Traffic, these stores are run by a group called Hometown Markets LLC., headed by high-ranking officials of Penn Traffic. This store got an exterior facelift in 2014.

While this is the only good picture I have of the inside, it shows the grand aisle and an aisle marker, both of which appear to be from a late-stage decor package implemented shortly before Penn Traffic went under.