Retail Transformation: Which New Stores Could Replace Closures?

In less than four months, we've certainly seen some big changes in local and national business. 2025 is shaping up to be quite a year for both openings and closings.

On the national front, we've seen closings of some Kohl's, CVS, Macy's, JCPenney, and Walgreens locations. JOANN Fabric and Party City were holding going-out-of-business sales.

Read More: Where Does The Southern Tier Go For Takeout?

Big Lots went into bankruptcy in 2024, with many of the stores closing, a few re-appearing with a new owner, and some, including a Painted Post location, becoming an Ollie's store. In all, Ollie's has purchased about 63 of the former Big Lots stores.

The Triple Cities lost two Big Lots locations - Binghamton and Vestal, the Party City and Christmas Tree Shoppes locations are all empty, and the Vestal JOANN Fabric store will soon be empty. So, I asked recently on social media, what would you like to see take over these empty storefronts?

Here are the top six most mentioned. followed by several other suggestions. Maybe one or more will take up the empty spaces.

Hobby Lobby-  received the most mentions.

Trader Joe's - a close second of mentions

Golden Corral - lots of mentions for a buffet

Marshalls 

Whole Foods

Costco

Other mentions included:

An Indoor Go Kart Track
The Picklr
Ikea
Chesecake Factory
Dinosaur BBQ

A Flea Market
Nordstrom
Hard Rock Cafe
Publix
Bass Pro Shop

A Dance Club for those 45 and Older
Cabella's
A 2nd Ollie's
Dairy Queen
Chik-fil-A

Lane Bryant
Sierra
A Brazilian Steakhouse
Indoor Mini Golf
Buffalo Wild Wings

Cici's Pizza
Ames
Snips & Snails Consignment
Chi Chi's
Shake Shack