
Go Back in Time at Largest 5 & 10 Store in the World Only a Few Hours From Central New York
Take a step back in time at the largest 5 & 10 store in the world, with nostalgia around every corner. And it's only a few hours from central New York.
Vidler's is filled with over 75,000 items spread throughout 4 buildings on 2 levels. You can spend hours at the 5 & 10 store and still won't see everything.
Robert S. Vidler opened the store on June 21, 1930 with just 2 aisles in 900 square feet. Local merchants even made bets Vidler's wouldn't last 6 weeks. 90 years later Vidler's 5 & 10 has become a local landmark, bringing visitors from all over the world to tour the 20,000 square feet on Main Street in Aurora.
Robert Vidler died at the age of 79 in 1970. His son, Ed Vidler and his brother Robert Vidler Jr. ran the store together. Bob retired in 2000 and Ed followed 9 years later. Today, Ed's son Don Vidler and his cousin Cliff DeFlyer are at the helm. "My sister Beverly, worked here from 1990 until retiring in 2018," says Don. "I'm the newbie, coming back to the family business in 2009."
Vidler's 5 & 10 is three and a half hours from Utica. Tour the upper level, where you'll find candy, collectibles, toys, office supplies, knick knacks, candles, cards, gifts and home decors. Wander through the lower level for household items, specialty foods, crafts, fabric and yarn.
And don't forget to say hi to the Vidler on the Roof.
You can take a virtual look at everything Vidler's has to offer on Vidler's TV.
Vidler's isn't just well known to the locals. Hollywood has heard of the 5 & 10 store, using it as a backdrop for several made for TV Christmas movies.
A Christmas in Vermont
This movie was also filmed almost entirely in East Aurora and elsewhere in WNY. I was even lucky enough to play Phil, the store manager, and actually had a few lines
Hope for Christmas
store makes a debut, appearing as itself, with two big scenes filmed inside