Today is an exciting day. We get to see the first interior of a Finger Lakes store! For whatever reason, this group is a little light on tours, but I did get a few interior pictures here.
(A note on the map - after going across the top three, we are now moving across the next row from the west to east.) I had no idea the Big M was here in Bloomfield, but as we were driving through the very small town, I spotted this store. I immediately exclaimed some partially-coherent gibberish about stopping, and my father immediately turned around the car. I have trained my parents well.
And boy, was it worth the stop. I was the only shopper (are you a shopper if you don't buy anything?) in the store, so I tried to get in and out quickly.
Produce and dairy in the first aisle. Meat/deli on back wall, with frozen in the last aisle. As you will notice, the decor in the store is quite old, but the fixtures are brand-new. They were, in fact, in the process of being installed at the time of my visit. A set of new freezers was roped off in the front corner of the store.
At just 8,000 square feet, the store is a very comforting size. For me, at least. And what is that we see on the back wall?
I love it! This is precisely what I love to find in these small stores. I don't believe this store was ever anything before Big M, meaning that this sign is most likely original.
Very clean, nicely stocked, and brightly lit. What more could you ask for in an independent small-town supermarket? This store is located at 28 Maple Ave, Bloomfield, NY.
Photographed August 2018
"I immediately exclaimed some partially-coherent gibberish about stopping, and my father immediately turned around the car. I have trained my parents well."
ReplyDeleteHa, I've had several similar experiences! Parents are the best :)
And great find with this store!
Yes on all counts! Thank you!
DeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteIf you ever get to visit this (general) area again, there are at least a few stores just southwest of the area you hit (going SW from the town of Geneseo, which is on the map above partially covered by the dots) that fit the smaller stores section.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of them are part of the Shop 'n Save chain (the one generally from Pittsburgh, PA), but there are others scattered in there as well.
The area is generally around Letchworth State Park and thus many of the towns are fairly small.
Also as of a couple years ago (not totally grocery related) there was a Tops partnered with one of the few remaining "regular" Walmart stores, and it seems like a spot that (due to the lack of other towns having more than these small markets, and the size of the town) one that may remain longer than usual.
All excellent recommendations, so thank you. I want very badly to go back to this area, but it is quite far for me. I don't see it happening anytime soon, but I would love to see a Shop 'n Save and a lot of these other independents (such as additional Big M stores, too).
Delete