Stores That I Miss Most

On Friday, Sears Holdings, which owns Sears and Kmart, informed Kmart employees in at least 13 states that their stores would be closing in mid-December, including Kmart in the Binghamton Plaza on Binghamton's Northside. The store employee I spoke with in Binghamton said 17 Kmart stores would be closing before Christmas.

Now I'm not one for change and must admit, I have many great memories at Kmart and will miss the store, especially the great pharmacy department who had some great prices on medications and the garden department that always had a nice selection of plants. Did you know at one time, we had three Kmart stores in the Greater Binghamton area, including Vestal (now University Plaza) and in the (now deserted) Endicott Plaza?

Here are some more stores that I wish never closed in Binghamton:

Philadelphia Sales - with locations in Binghamton and Johnson City, you could find everything under the sun at Philly Sales, all at amazing prices. And oh the smell of that popcorn! I still remember where the sports department was located where I bought my first fishing pole.
Burts of Endicott and Klines - This is where my mom would take me every year for my back-to-school clothes. I knew summer was almost over when my mom would take us kids shopping in Endicott.
Ames and Bradlees- Before Wal-Mart hit Binghamton, Ames and Bradlees were the stores that were the closest competitors to Kmart. I really loved Ames on Upper Front Street and Bradlees in the Oakdale Mall. That's where Mrs. B shopped!
F.W. Woolworth - The original '5 and Dime' was so big and vast in size to me. I have memories of my Grandma Davison taking little me to the soda fountain for a grilled cheese sandwich and ice cream sundae. I must have been 5 myself and I recall buying my first gold fish and hamster in the back of Woolworth. This was located where the Family Dollar is now in downtown Binghamton. You can still see the name 'Woolworth' sketched in the sidewalk.
June's Produce - This was THE produce stand, located where Toys R Us and Gander Mountain is now now. My mom would be first to get the sweet corn they would pick that morning in the field.
Fowler's - Before Boscov's, there was Fowler's in downtown Binghamton. They also had a store in the Oakdale Mall (now BonTon), but I still remember the talking tree and organ music at the Binghamton's Fowler's. And oh yeah, they had the best Santa in the basement next to the pet department.
The Disney Store - Having worked in Disney World, I am still a Disney freak. I even worked one Christmas season at the Oakdale Mall store to get discount merchandise. The closest Disney Store is in Syracuse.
Other stores that are missed - Service Merchandise, Rasco Shoe Store, J&J Tropical Fish, Grants, Grandway, Family Bargain Center, Loblaw's, Grand Union, Great American, Montgomery Ward, Children's Super Market, Weston's, Barbara Moss, Stars, Sugarman's, Lou Rappaport, and EJ Shoes.

So what stores do you remember fondly from days gone by here in the Greater Binghamton area? Please share below.