Buffalo’s renaissance is creating a new boom in the retail sector, but no matter how many advances the Queen City makes, nothing will make up for the loss of certain long-gone shopping spots. Ask anyone and they’ll admit it. While being able to purchase just about anything with the click of a button is great, there’s something that online shopping can’t replace. Here are 9 Buffalo stores you’ll remember if you grew up in or around the 716.
- Record Theatre
Forgotten Buffalo - Facebook This is certainly one of the Buffalo stores you’ll remember - mainly because the last location just recently closed its doors. Record Theatre was around for a long time, providing some of the best vinyls around at reasonable prices. It is certainly sorely missed!
- Grant’s
Forgotten Buffalo - Facebook W.T. Grant’s (more commonly known as Grant’s) department store was once located on Main Street in what is now considered Fountain Plaza. This store carried just about everything, which is probably why locals miss it so much!
- Bells
Forgotten Buffalo - Facebook Bells Supermarket was created in 1954 and stuck to a no-frills approach to grocery shopping. While the market isn’t around anymore today, the legend of Bells lives on with the memory of the “Whammy Weenies.” (Kudos if you remember this promo item gone bad!)
- Sattler’s
Forgotten Buffalo - Facebook Sattler’s was started in 1889 and was home to the first “Bargain Basement” style retail strategies in the Queen City. Eventually, Sattler’s expanded to have several acres worth of store spaces. The brand also created a few drug stores before it reached its ultimate demise in 1982.
- AM & A’s
Internet Archive Book Images - Wikipedia If you’re a Western New Yorker who hasn’t heard of AM & A’s, are you even a Western New Yorker at all? This is one of the most popular Buffalo stores you’ll remember. Just the sight of the store’s logo on the old building downtown is enough to spark nostalgia!
- Hengerer’s
Department Store Museum It might not look like much today, but in its prime, Hengerer’s was the best of the best! This department store offered just about everything inside: from cooking classes to iceboxes, and pretty much anything in between! At one point, Hengerer’s was the largest department store between NYC and Chicago.
- Sibley’s
DanielPenfield - Wikipedia When Hengerer’s eventually became too big for its own britches, it was turned into Sibleys. This Rochester-based department store was eventually turned into a Kaufmann’s. Whatever you remember it as, these department stores were not to be missed! (Pictured here is the Rochester location of the store.)
- Jenss
Forgotten Buffalo - Facebook Jenss was founded in 1887 by two brothers from Tonawanda. The brand had several Western New York locations operating as department stores until their last closure in 2000. This is most definitely one of the Buffalo stores you’ll remember - because it’s not totally gone! Today, Jenss still supplies Buffalonians with products through their relationship with Reeds Jewelers.
- Hens & Kelly
Forgotten Buffalo - Facebook Hens & Kelly was another Buffalo department store chain with several locations. It is most commonly remembered as one of the first department stores to be built in the suburbs of Buffalo.
What are other Buffalo stores you’ll remember no matter what? We’re aware that this list is nowhere near comprehensive! Leave your favorite retail memories with us in the comments below so we can take a trip down memory lane together!
Forgotten Buffalo - Facebook
This is certainly one of the Buffalo stores you’ll remember - mainly because the last location just recently closed its doors. Record Theatre was around for a long time, providing some of the best vinyls around at reasonable prices. It is certainly sorely missed!
W.T. Grant’s (more commonly known as Grant’s) department store was once located on Main Street in what is now considered Fountain Plaza. This store carried just about everything, which is probably why locals miss it so much!
Bells Supermarket was created in 1954 and stuck to a no-frills approach to grocery shopping. While the market isn’t around anymore today, the legend of Bells lives on with the memory of the “Whammy Weenies.” (Kudos if you remember this promo item gone bad!)
Sattler’s was started in 1889 and was home to the first “Bargain Basement” style retail strategies in the Queen City. Eventually, Sattler’s expanded to have several acres worth of store spaces. The brand also created a few drug stores before it reached its ultimate demise in 1982.
Internet Archive Book Images - Wikipedia
If you’re a Western New Yorker who hasn’t heard of AM & A’s, are you even a Western New Yorker at all? This is one of the most popular Buffalo stores you’ll remember. Just the sight of the store’s logo on the old building downtown is enough to spark nostalgia!
Department Store Museum
It might not look like much today, but in its prime, Hengerer’s was the best of the best! This department store offered just about everything inside: from cooking classes to iceboxes, and pretty much anything in between! At one point, Hengerer’s was the largest department store between NYC and Chicago.
DanielPenfield - Wikipedia
When Hengerer’s eventually became too big for its own britches, it was turned into Sibleys. This Rochester-based department store was eventually turned into a Kaufmann’s. Whatever you remember it as, these department stores were not to be missed! (Pictured here is the Rochester location of the store.)
Jenss was founded in 1887 by two brothers from Tonawanda. The brand had several Western New York locations operating as department stores until their last closure in 2000. This is most definitely one of the Buffalo stores you’ll remember - because it’s not totally gone! Today, Jenss still supplies Buffalonians with products through their relationship with Reeds Jewelers.
Hens & Kelly was another Buffalo department store chain with several locations. It is most commonly remembered as one of the first department stores to be built in the suburbs of Buffalo.
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