The Market Report

It's pretty amazing when a store that was built or last renovated more than 10 or 15 years ago still looks modern now. I think that's the case with at least the outside of this Hannaford in Kingston, NY, which was built in the 1990s as one of Grand Union's flagship superstores. The facade has not been substantially changed since it was built. The window corner looks great from the outside and creates a very bright space for the entrance inside. Hannaford took over this location in the bankruptcy in 2001 and renovated it at least once inside since then. My one complaint about the outside here is that it reads, Supermarket Hannaford . Wouldn't it make more sense to put the icon, with the word Supermarket , on the right of Hannaford ? Or, I'm pretty sure everyone around this store knows what Hannaford is, so why not just put Hannaford in the banner? There are entrances and exits on either side of the glass enclosure. They bring you into an open foyer w...

Grand Union began to replace many of its older stores in the 1990s as one final push to get the chain back to profitability. However, it was really too little too late, and the chain went bankrupt in 2001. This Kingston, NY location is a prime example. A smaller (but not tiny), older (but not ancient) location was replaced with a beautiful new superstore in the same mall, which is now a Hannaford. The older store, despite a new facade, is still easily recognizable as a former Grand Union. You can't miss those arched windows! GU was likely divided between JK's Wine & Liquor and Rainbow Stores, as the JK's space looks to be too small for that store model. The mall, located a few blocks outside of the (very pleasant) downtown area of Kingston, was undergoing a facade renovation at the time of my visit last May. The new Grand Union, now a Hannaford, is in the other direction (behind me and to my right in the above photo). Looking down towards the new GU/Hannaf...