Tops Friendly Markets is an American
supermarket
A supermarket is a self-service Retail#Types of outlets, shop offering a wide variety of food, Drink, beverages and Household goods, household products, organized into sections. This kind of store is larger and has a wider selection than earli ...
chain based in
Amherst, New York
Amherst () is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. Amherst is an inner ring suburb of Buffalo. As of 2020, the town had a total population of 129,595. This represents an increase from 122,366 as reported in the 2010 census.
The second ...
, that operates stores in
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is a geographic region consisting of the area of New York State that lies north and northwest of the New York City metropolitan area. Although the precise boundary is debated, Upstate New York excludes New York City and Long Is ...
,
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
, and
Northern Pennsylvania
The Northern Tier is a geographic region consisting of five rural counties in north-central Pennsylvania.
Geography
The region is bordered to the north by the Southern Tier of New York state. Together, these regions are known as the Twin Tiers ...
. The chain operates full-scale supermarkets. Tops is a subsidiary of
Northeast Grocery
Northeast Grocery is the parent company of Tops Friendly Markets, Price Chopper and Market 32. The company was formed after a merger in 2021 which gives the company nearly 300 stores in the northeast United States.
History
On February 8, 2021, ...
, which also owns the
Price Chopper Price Chopper may refer to:
United States
* Price Chopper (Northeastern United States), a supermarket chain based in Schenectady, New York, with stores in eastern United States
** Price Chopper Tour Championship, a golf tournament in the Albany, ...
and
Market 32 supermarkets based in
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady () is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-largest city by population. The city is in eastern New Y ...
. As of August 2022, the company operated 149 stores and 5 gas station/convenience stores. The chain formerly operated stores in
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
and
.
History
Early years
Tops Friendly Markets was co-founded by Armand Castellani, who was born in 1917 in a village outside of
Rome, Italy
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (Romulus and Remus, legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
...
, and Thomas Buscaglia. Castellani's family came to the United States in 1920, and eventually settled in
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, ...
, where his father, Ferrante, opened a small neighborhood
grocery store
A grocery store ( AE), grocery shop ( BE) or simply grocery is a store that primarily retails a general range of food products, which may be fresh or packaged. In everyday U.S. usage, however, "grocery store" is a synonym for supermarket, a ...
.
Following his mother's death in 1933, Castellani left school to help manage the store. He continued to do so until joining the
Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
in 1941. He attained the rank of
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
after five years' service.
After
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Castellani returned to the family business. In 1951, he set out on his own and opened the Great Bear Market in Niagara Falls. Shortly thereafter, he
partnered with Buscaglia, owner of a grocery equipment firm, T.A. Buscaglia Equipment Co. Throughout the 1950s, Buscaglia, as CEO, and Castellani worked together, entering into a cooperative agreement with other small stores to build the foundation of what was to become the Tops Friendly Markets chain.
As the local economy boomed in the mid-to-late 1950s, the company's operations expanded to include building construction principally devoted to supermarkets. During this time, Savino Nanula, a meat department manager, became an integral part of the company's management team.
By 1958, they had set up headquarters in Buffalo, and in 1962 opened their first modern supermarket: a store on Portage Road in Niagara Falls. Alfonse DiMino, a Bells franchisee, suggested the name "Tops" and the team chose that name because they were determined to give customers the best shopping experience. The company then changed its name to Niagara Frontier Services (NFS).
1960s
In 1962, franchise systems were established for supermarkets, under the Tops Friendly Markets name, and for smaller stores as B-Kwik. In February of that year, Tops signs went up on seven stores, and the chain was born. By the end of the year, NFS was composed of 15 franchised stores throughout Western New York, employing a total of 300
associates. Throughout the 1960s, NFS implemented
warehousing
A warehouse is a building for storing goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial parks on the outskirts of cities, tow ...
and centralized purchasing to allow the company to grow efficiently.
In 1967, Buscaglia died and Armand Castellani took over as
chief executive officer
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
.
The next year, NFS
went public, trading on the
American Stock Exchange
NYSE American, formerly known as the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), and more recently as NYSE MKT, is an American stock exchange situated in New York City. AMEX was previously a mutual organization, owned by its members. Until 1953, it was known ...
. Subsequently, the company began construction on a perishable warehouse and acquired general merchandise
distributor
A distributor is an enclosed rotating switch used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines that have mechanically timed ignition. The distributor's main function is to route high voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs ...
G&G Sales and Service.
The following year, 1969, NFS entered the
convenience store
A convenience store, convenience shop, corner store or corner shop is a small retail business that stocks a range of everyday items such as coffee, groceries, snack foods, confectionery, soft drinks, ice creams, tobacco products, lottery ticket ...
market by opening the first
Wilson Farms
7-Eleven, Inc., stylized as 7-ELEVE, is a multinational chain of retail convenience stores, headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The chain was founded in 1927 as an ice house storefront in Dallas. It was named Tote'm Stores between 1928 and 1946. ...
Neighborhood Food store in
Tonawanda, New York
Tonawanda (formally ''City of Tonawanda'') is a city in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 15,130 at the 2010 census. It is at the northern edge of Erie County, south across the Erie Canal (Tonawanda Creek) from North Ton ...
. The same year, Tops Friendly Markets was named Retailer of the Year by the Brand Names Foundation, an honor it would again earn in 1974.
1970s–80s
The 1970s saw Tops Friendly Markets, under the leadership of Castellani and Nanula, continue to grow in Western New York, and thrive where competitors struggled. Early in the decade, Tops began to build more company-owned stores. By the mid-70s, the company had expanded into the
Rochester
Rochester may refer to:
Places Australia
* Rochester, Victoria
Canada
* Rochester, Alberta
United Kingdom
*Rochester, Kent
** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area
** History of Rochester, Kent
** HM Prison ...
area, and over time, it became the only real competitor to
Wegmans
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a privately held American supermarket chain. It is headquartered in Gates, New York, and was founded in 1916 in Rochester.
As of , Wegmans has 110 stores, mostly in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions. The ...
in the region. Also during this time, Tops Friendly Markets opened its first Pennsylvania store in
Bradford
Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...
.
In 1983, SB Investors, a private, New York-based investment group, purchased NFS. By this time, operations had grown to include 65 Tops stores, 50 Wilson Farms stores and 15 B-Kwik Food Stores, employing 7,000 associates.
The next year, Tops Friendly Markets introduced Western New York shoppers to direct
debit
Debits and credits in double-entry bookkeeping are entries made in account ledgers to record changes in value resulting from business transactions. A debit entry in an account represents a transfer of value ''to'' that account, and a credit en ...
service, Instabank
ATMs and the first CarryOut Café. It was also the year that Tops won the first of eight Golden Penguin Award from the National
Frozen Food
Freezing food preserves it from the time it is prepared to the time it is eaten. Since early times, farmers, fishermen, and trappers have preserved grains and produce in unheated buildings during the winter season. Freezing food slows decompositi ...
Association.
In 1985, Castellani was named chairman of the board and Nanula succeeded him as CEO. The following spring, SB Investors became known as Tops Friendly Markets, Inc., as the company went public for the second time, this time on
NASDAQ
The Nasdaq Stock Market () (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations Stock Market) is an American stock exchange based in New York City. It is the most active stock trading venue in the US by volume, and ranked second ...
. The following year, as Tops Friendly Markets celebrated its 25th anniversary, a $196 million
leveraged buyout
A leveraged buyout (LBO) is one company's acquisition of another company using a significant amount of borrowed money (leverage) to meet the cost of acquisition. The assets of the company being acquired are often used as collateral for the loan ...
of the company was engineered between a group of Tops Friendly Markets executives and
private equity
In the field of finance, the term private equity (PE) refers to investment funds, usually limited partnerships (LP), which buy and restructure financially weak companies that produce goods and provide services. A private-equity fund is both a ty ...
firm
Riordan, Freeman & Spogli. In 1987, Tops installed
electronic scanners, one of the last supermarkets to do so.
1990s
A new era began March 27, 1991 as Tops Friendly Markets, which had grown to 145 total stores and 11,000 associates, was acquired by
Ahold
Koninklijke Ahold N.V. was a Dutch multinational retail company based in Zaandam, Netherlands. It merged with Belgium-based Delhaize Group in 2016 to form Ahold Delhaize.
History
Growth in the Netherlands
The company started in 1887, when Al ...
, a major international food retailer based in the Netherlands. The same year, the first Tops Friendly Markets International Super Center opened in
Amherst Amherst may refer to:
People
* Amherst (surname), including a list of people with the name
* Earl Amherst of Arracan in the East Indies, a title in the British Peerage; formerly ''Baron Amherst''
* Baron Amherst of Hackney of the City of London, ...
. At that time, the store was the largest in Western New York, and boasted the biggest in-store
bakery
A bakery is an establishment that produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cookies, cakes, donuts, pastries, and pies. Some retail bakeries are also categorized as cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who ...
in the entire U.S.
In the next few years additional Tops Friendly Markets International stores opened in
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, ...
,
West Seneca
West Seneca is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 44,711 at the 2010 census. West Seneca is a centrally located interior town of the county, and a suburb of Buffalo. West Seneca, Orchard Park and Hamburg form the ...
,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
, and
Perinton, New York. Also, a franchised International-style store, which operates as a Tops Friendly Market, was opened in
Lockport. The International stores feature additional floor space and a product mix of many foods from different world cultures which up until then had not been widely available in the Buffalo area. With many
Canadians
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
at the time regularly crossing the border due to relaxed
duties
A duty (from "due" meaning "that which is owing"; fro, deu, did, past participle of ''devoir''; la, debere, debitum, whence "debt") is a commitment or expectation to perform some action in general or if certain circumstances arise. A duty may ...
after the recently concluded
Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement and the
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar ( symbol: $; code: CAD; french: dollar canadien) is the currency of Canada. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, there is no standard disambiguating form, but the abbreviation Can$ is often suggested by notable style ...
at 90% of the value to its American counterpart, the new stores were in the right place at the right time and did even better business than expected.
The 1990s were marked by a new growth in operations, including the 1996 merger with
Finast
Finast was a retail supermarket brand that started in the northeastern United States, with headquarters in Somerville, Massachusetts. Finast was an acronym for FIrst NAtional STores. Commonly referred to as "The First National", the stores ope ...
in Northeast
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, expansion across New York, the construction of a new headquarters in Amherst, New York, and the opening of an distribution center in
Lancaster. By 1998, Tops Friendly Markets' market area stretched from
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Erie County, Ohio, Erie County, Ohio, United States. Situated along the shores of Lake Erie in the northern part of the state, Sandusky is located roughly midway between Toledo, Ohio, Toledo ( wes ...
, to
Utica. In January 1999, the BonusCard, its customer loyalty program, debuted. In May 1999, all 45 Northeast Ohio
Finast
Finast was a retail supermarket brand that started in the northeastern United States, with headquarters in Somerville, Massachusetts. Finast was an acronym for FIrst NAtional STores. Commonly referred to as "The First National", the stores ope ...
stores adopted the Tops Friendly Markets banner.
2000s
![Tops Boston](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Tops_Boston.jpg)
Tops Friendly Markets entered into the new millennium by acquiring the Sugarcreek Stores chain, adding 87 stores to its Wilson Farms division. That summer, Tops installed self-scanning checkouts at 11 stores in Ohio and in late August, the first Tops fueling station premiered in
Akron
Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city prop ...
.
In 2001, Tops acquired 22 former
Grand Union
A grand union is a rail track junction where two double-track railway or tramway lines cross at grade, often in a street intersection or crossroads. A total of sixteen railroad switches (sets of points) allow streetcars (or in rarer installati ...
stores in the
Adirondacks
The Adirondack Mountains (; a-də-RÄN-dak) form a massif in northeastern New York with boundaries that correspond roughly to those of Adirondack Park. They cover about 5,000 square miles (13,000 km2). The mountains form a roughly circular d ...
region and in
Central New York
Central New York is the central region of New York State, including the following counties and cities:
With a population of about 773,606 (2009) and an area of , the region includes the Syracuse metropolitan area.
Definitions
The New York ...
, further east than its market had traditionally been. They also introduced the Tops Xpress convenience store format. By the end of the year, the company celebrated another landmark with the opening of its 150th Tops store, located in
Madison, Ohio
Madison is a village in Lake County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,184 at the 2010 census.
Madison was incorporated as a village in 1867.
Geography
Madison is located at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village ...
.
This aggressive growth was fueled in part by deliberate understatements of Ahold's debt to the financial markets. When this came to light in 2003, Tops was forced to backtrack. By 2005 the convenience stores had been sold to
WFI Acquisition Inc., which later sold the stores to convenience store operator powerhouse
7-Eleven
7-Eleven, Inc., stylized as 7-ELEVE, is a multinational chain of retail convenience stores, headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The chain was founded in 1927 as an ice house storefront in Dallas. It was named Tote'm Stores between 1928 and 1946. A ...
, and Tops Friendly Markets was also looking to sell the 31 stores it had established in the Adirondack region.
P&C Foods acquired 2,
Price Chopper Price Chopper may refer to:
United States
* Price Chopper (Northeastern United States), a supermarket chain based in Schenectady, New York, with stores in eastern United States
** Price Chopper Tour Championship, a golf tournament in the Albany, ...
acquired six,
Hannaford acquired three, and twelve returned to the
Grand Union
A grand union is a rail track junction where two double-track railway or tramway lines cross at grade, often in a street intersection or crossroads. A total of sixteen railroad switches (sets of points) allow streetcars (or in rarer installati ...
division of
C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S Wholesale Grocers is a national wholesale grocery supply company in the United States, based in Keene, New Hampshire. In 2021 it was the eighth-largest privately held company in the United States, as listed by Forbes. C&S owns the Piggly Wi ...
.
On July 6, 2006, Ahold announced its decision to exit the
Northeast Ohio
The region Northeast Ohio, in the US state of Ohio, in its most expansive usage contains six metropolitan areas ( Cleveland–Elyria, Akron, Canton–Massillon, Youngstown–Warren, Mansfield, and Weirton–Steubenville) along with eight m ...
market, which consisted of 46 locations. The 46 stores were located in Greater
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
,
Akron
Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city prop ...
and
Norwalk and at the time employed approximately 3,800 full and part-time employees. Tops announced on October 10, 2006 that 18 of its Ohio stores were sold to rival
Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle, Inc. (Western Pennsylvania English: ) and stylized as giant eagle) is an American supermarket chain with stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Maryland. The company was founded in 1918 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylv ...
. The store in Youngstown which closed prior to 2006, was sold, expanded, and converted to
Target
Target may refer to:
Physical items
* Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports
** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports
** Aiming point, in field artillery, fi ...
. An additional store in
Sheffield, Ohio
Sheffield is a village in Lorain County, Ohio, United States, along the Black River. The population was 3,982 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Sheffield is located at (41.448009, -82.083397).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the vil ...
, was sold on November 29, 2006. The store in
Tallmadge, Ohio
Tallmadge ( ) is a city in Summit and Portage counties in Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Akron and part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 17,537 at the 2010 census. Tallmadge was founded in 1807 and is the sec ...
, was sold to local competitor
Acme Fresh Market
The Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Company, under the trade name Acme Fresh Market, is a grocery store chain based in Akron, Ohio, that has 16 locations in Summit, Portage, Stark, and Cuyahoga counties of Northeast Ohio. It was established in 1891.
...
. On November 9 in a company press release, it was stated that all Tops stores in Northeast Ohio would close whether they have been sold or not. A store in Cleveland's Lee-Harvard Neighborhood and a store in
Garfield Heights
Garfield Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Cleveland. The population was 28,849 at the time of the 2010 census.
Geography
Garfield Heights is located at (41.421423, -81.602682).
According to the Uni ...
were converted to
Dave's Markets
Daves Markets, Inc. (usually referred to as "Dave's") is a family-owned and operated regional supermarket chain in Greater Cleveland, Ohio. It currently has 13 locations.
History
Dave's was founded in 1930 by Alex Saltzman, who opened a small prod ...
, a small independently owned chain of grocery stores in
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
. In June, the Tops store in Cleveland Heights became a Dave's. All Northeast Ohio stores closed by 3 pm on December 8, 2006 and some remain unoccupied.
2010s
In October and November 2012, Tops closed one store and downsized a second store. The first was the Elmridge Center store in
Greece, New York
Greece is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. A suburb of Rochester, New York, it is the largest town by population in Monroe County, and the second-largest municipality by population in the county, behind only the City of Rochester ...
which closed in October 2012. Employees and customers were absorbed into other nearby locations. The
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a City (New York), city in Ontario County, New York, Ontario and Seneca County, New York, Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is at the northern end of Seneca Lake (New York), Seneca Lake; all land port ...
, store downsized and moved into the Geneva Town Centre in November 2012. This new store is a location and has upgraded departments, along with a gas station, that were not in the formerly larger location. Both of these stores had been superstores that Tops built in the early 1990s.
In 2013, Tops downsized another store in the Rochester suburbs. The Jefferson Rd location in
Henrietta, New York
Henrietta is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States and a suburb of Rochester. The population of Henrietta is 47,096, according to the 2020 United States Census. Henrietta is home to the Rochester Institute of Technology and to one of t ...
, relocated to the Frontier Commons Plaza. As a result, the store is now 55,000 square feet
instead of the previous 76,000 square feet it formerly occupied. The new location also contains departments and a gas station which were not found in the former location.
In 2014, Tops downsized a store in
Perinton and an
Irondequoit, New York
Irondequoit is a town (and census-designated place) in Monroe County, New York, United States. As of 2019, the coterminous town-CDP had a total population of 50,055. Irondequoit is a suburb of the city of Rochester, lying just north and east of ...
store on East Ridge Road. The Irondequoit store was relocated to the Depot Plaza, which used to be anchored by
Kmart
Kmart Corporation ( , doing business as Kmart and stylized as kmart) is an American retail company that owns a chain of big box department stores. The company is headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States.
The company was inc ...
.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy
On February 21, 2018, Tops filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. None of the stores' day-to-day operations are to be affected. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the reason for filing is due to Tops' $720 million debt. This opportunity is being used to restructure financially so it can grow and be more competitive.
On August 30, 2018, Tops announced they would be closing ten underperforming locations by November, including two in Syracuse, one on West Genesee Street (NY 5) at Westvale Plaza, and another on South Salina Street (US 11) at Valley Plaza, two in Rochester, one on Lake Avenue and another on North Winton Road, and one each in Perinton, Lyons, Geneva, Fulton, Elmira (the South Main Street location) and Saranac Lake (at the Lake Flower Plaza).
Tops Markets announced they emerged from bankruptcy on November 19, 2018.
2020s
On February 8, 2021,
Price Chopper Supermarkets/Market 32 and Tops Market announced plans to merge. The new parent company will be headquartered in Schenectady, New York. The Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets businesses will retain main offices in Schenectady and Williamsville and will continue to be managed locally by their respective leaders.
Nine months later, the merger was completed. The stores will now be owned and overseen by
Northeast Grocery
Northeast Grocery is the parent company of Tops Friendly Markets, Price Chopper and Market 32. The company was formed after a merger in 2021 which gives the company nearly 300 stores in the northeast United States.
History
On February 8, 2021, ...
, with current President and CEO of Price Chopper/Market 32 managing the merger & Tops Friendly Markets CEO Frank Curci taking over in February 2022. The FTC required the combined company to divest from 12 of the combined companies’ stores.
Martin's Super Food Stores
In 2004, Tops Friendly Markets fully remodeled a store in
Perinton, and rebranded it Martin's Super Food Store
in an effort to revitalize the marketplace.
Martin's Food Markets
The Giant Company (formerly known as Giant Food Stores) is an American regional supermarket chain that operates stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia and provides online shopping and delivery to New Jersey through G ...
is a brand owned by Tops Friendly Markets' then-parent company,
Ahold
Koninklijke Ahold N.V. was a Dutch multinational retail company based in Zaandam, Netherlands. It merged with Belgium-based Delhaize Group in 2016 to form Ahold Delhaize.
History
Growth in the Netherlands
The company started in 1887, when Al ...
, via their subsidiary
Giant-Carlisle
The Giant Company (formerly known as Giant Food Stores) is an American regional supermarket chain that operates stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia and provides online shopping and delivery to New Jersey through ...
. The stores were designed in a colorful manner in order to attract both new and old customers. The format worked well for the company, which prompted them to remodel another location in the Buffalo
suburb
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
of
Amherst Amherst may refer to:
People
* Amherst (surname), including a list of people with the name
* Earl Amherst of Arracan in the East Indies, a title in the British Peerage; formerly ''Baron Amherst''
* Baron Amherst of Hackney of the City of London, ...
into the Martin's Super Food Store format, and then later three other stores in
Dunkirk-Fredonia,
Derby
Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gai ...
, and
Batavia
Batavia may refer to:
Historical places
* Batavia (region), a land inhabited by the Batavian people during the Roman Empire, today part of the Netherlands
* Batavia, Dutch East Indies, present-day Jakarta, the former capital of the Dutch East In ...
. As of April 16, 2006, the Martin's Super Food Store in Amherst reverted to a Tops Market due to customer feedback, and the company announced it would no longer pursue the Martin's brand in New York.
As of February 28, 2008, the remaining Martin's locations were all returned to the Tops Friendly Markets brand as part of the sale to Morgan Stanley Private Equity. The decision was made to operate the company under one banner going forward.
Transition from Ahold to Morgan Stanley
Ahold announced on November 6, 2006 that the remaining 72 stores in the Tops chain, in New York and Pennsylvania, would be sold. Although they have been profitable, it is a strategic decision for Ahold to focus on other chains such as
Giant
In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: '' gigas'', cognate giga-) are beings of human-like appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''giant'' is first attested in 1297 fr ...
and
Stop & Shop
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, known as Stop & Shop, is a regional chain of supermarkets located in the northeastern United States. From its beginnings in 1892 as a small grocery store, it has grown to include 406 stores chain-wide.
Sto ...
.
On November 7, 2006, it was reported that
Price Chopper Price Chopper may refer to:
United States
* Price Chopper (Northeastern United States), a supermarket chain based in Schenectady, New York, with stores in eastern United States
** Price Chopper Tour Championship, a golf tournament in the Albany, ...
might buy the chain. It had previously bought six former locations.
On May 25, 2007, well-known grocery industry consultant Burt P. Flickinger III announced that he is part of a group of investors interested in purchasing the Tops Markets chain. Flickinger's family co-financed the first 60 Tops Friendly Markets stores that opened, and stated that he hopes to restore the local focus that Tops was originally known for.
On June 1, 2007, it was reported that Tops Friendly Markets agreed to repurchase its Lancaster warehouse from
C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S Wholesale Grocers is a national wholesale grocery supply company in the United States, based in Keene, New Hampshire. In 2021 it was the eighth-largest privately held company in the United States, as listed by Forbes. C&S owns the Piggly Wi ...
, while C&S will continue to operate and manage the warehouse. Max Henderson, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Tops Markets, stated that he hoped repurchasing the warehouse would make Tops more attractive to a potential buyer.
On October 11, 2007, Ahold announced the sale of Tops Friendly Markets, LLC to
Morgan Stanley Private Equity
Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment management and financial services company headquartered at 1585 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. With offices in more than 41 countries and more than 75,000 employees, the fir ...
in a transaction valued at $310 million. Morgan Stanley agreed to purchase 71 of the 72 stores in the chain.
The Baytowne Plaza store in
Penfield, New York
Penfield is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 36,242 at the 2010 census.
The town was incorporated in 1810 by the proprietor Daniel Penfield, who purchased the town lands in 1795 and moved to the area in 1809 ...
, known to Tops associates as the "Webster store", was not part of the transaction. The owners of the Baytowne Plaza notified all of their tenants that they would not be allowed to renew their lease upon expiration, and Tops Markets closed the doors of their store to the public on October 27, 2007.
Morgan Stanley
At 12:01 am on December 2, 2007,
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment management and financial services company headquartered at 1585 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. With offices in more than 41 countries and more than 75,000 employees, the fir ...
Private Equity became the new owner of Tops Markets.
Ahold
Koninklijke Ahold N.V. was a Dutch multinational retail company based in Zaandam, Netherlands. It merged with Belgium-based Delhaize Group in 2016 to form Ahold Delhaize.
History
Growth in the Netherlands
The company started in 1887, when Al ...
's subsidiary
Giant Food of Carlisle provided operational and support services for up to one year after the sale. Max Henderson, Executive Vice President of Tops, resigned his position from the company, and Frank Curci, a former Tops Friendly Markets CEO, returned as CEO of the company.
Tops Friendly Markets brought back approximately 100 corporate positions in marketing, merchandising and finance to Buffalo, New York. Recently, those positions had been based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania by
Giant Food. Existing stores resumed upgrades and remodeling, and plans for new stores continue.
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons Inc., commonly nicknamed Tim's, or Timmie's is a Canadian multinational coffeehouse and restaurant chain. Based in Toronto, Tim Hortons serves coffee, doughnuts, and other fast-food items. It is Canada's largest quick-service rest ...
full-service restaurants or self-serve kiosks as well as
Anchor Bar
The Anchor Bar is a bar and restaurant in Buffalo, New York, located north of Downtown Buffalo at the intersection of Main and North Streets. wings were added to all stores. A growth rate of more than 10% is expected over the next four to five years.
New stores and acquisitions
On November 18, 2009, it was announced that the chain would open a new store in
Spencerport, New York
Spencerport is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States, and a suburb of Rochester. The population count was 3,601 at the 2010 census.
The Village of Spencerport is within the Town of Ogden and is a village on the Erie Canal.
Spencerp ...
. This was the first time since the Morgan Stanley acquisition that the chain had opened a new store. It opened on August 18, 2010. The location took over space that had previously been occupied by an IGA.
Tops was confirmed as the high bidder of
Penn Traffic
The Penn Traffic Company was founded in 1854 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, as a food service company for stagecoaches. It eventually became a general-merchandise department store but by the early 1960s had also returned to the food business through ...
and on January 25, 2010 a federal judge signed off on an agreement in US Bankruptcy Court for the sale of same. The purchase stretched the company's footprint from Pennsylvania to
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
. The Penn Traffic deal was for 79 stores, but Tops closed four stores within two months, in addition to one in
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg ( moh, Kaniatarahòn:tsi) is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 10,436 at the 2019 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and de ...
. In March 2010, it was announced that an additional five stores, including one in
Ithaca, New York
Ithaca is a city in the Finger Lakes region of New York, United States. Situated on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is the seat of Tompkins County and the largest community in the Ithaca metropolitan statistical area. It is named a ...
, would close. Five in Pennsylvania were sold to
Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle, Inc. (Western Pennsylvania English: ) and stylized as giant eagle) is an American supermarket chain with stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Maryland. The company was founded in 1918 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylv ...
. The Tops name was placed on remaining stores within the next year. In August 2010, Tops was ordered by the
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. The FTC shares jurisdiction ov ...
to sell seven stores it had acquired from Penn Traffic due to anticompetitive concerns. However, Tops was able to retain some of these locations. The former P&C location in
Sayre, Pennsylvania
Sayre is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is the principal city in the Sayre, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area. It lies 18 miles southeast of Elmira, New York, and 30 miles southwest of Bing ...
, closed in October 2017, while another former P&C location in Westvale, Syracuse closed in November 2018.
On February 28, 2011 Tops opened a new store on Harlem Road (
NY 240) in
Cheektowaga, New York
Cheektowaga () is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town has grown to a population of 89,877. The town is in the north-central part of the county, and is an inner ring suburb of Buffalo. The town is the ...
, in a former Jubilee Foods store.
On September 1, 2011, Tops acquired Furnal's Fresh Market in
Hilton, New York
Hilton is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 5,886 at the 2010 census. The community was named for the Rev. Charles A. Hilton.
The Village of Hilton is within the Town of Parma.
History
In 1805, Jonathon ...
. It reopened as a Tops on September 29, 2011
On July 19, 2012 it was announced that Tops Friendly Markets will acquire 21
Grand Union
A grand union is a rail track junction where two double-track railway or tramway lines cross at grade, often in a street intersection or crossroads. A total of sixteen railroad switches (sets of points) allow streetcars (or in rarer installati ...
stores in October 2012. On May 28, 2013 nine Grand Union stores held grand reopening ceremonies under the Tops banner. The remaining 12 locations were rebannered and held grand reopening ceremonies on July 2, 2013. Note that a large number of these were in the Adirondacks, and were in fact the same stores that had operated as Tops for a few years back in the early 2000s after Grand Union's bankruptcy, as noted above. The Saranac Lake location at Lake Flower Plaza closed in November 2018.
On June 27, 2012 Tops Markets announced the acquisition of the North Boston Market Place in
Boston, New York
Boston is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 8,023 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston is an interior town of the county and one of the county's "Southtowns". Boston is south ...
(originally a B-Kwik). On July 11, 2012 Tops Markets announced plans to open its first new store in the City of
Syracuse
Syracuse may refer to:
Places Italy
*Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa''
*Province of Syracuse
United States
*Syracuse, New York
**East Syracuse, New York
**North Syracuse, New York
*Syracuse, Indiana
* Syracuse, Kansas
*Syracuse, Miss ...
since acquiring the Penn Traffic chain. The store opened in Valley Plaza on the cities south side on October 30, 2012 in a former P&C location although the new Tops was considerably smaller. This location closed in November 2018. In October 2012, Tops Markets began renovations at a former Wegmans location, named by Wegmans as the Pond Street store (which closed in June 2012) on the north side of Syracuse. The store opened on January 15, 2013.
On December 6, 2012 Tops Markets announced the acquisition of three Big M supermarkets in
Jordan, New York
Jordan is a village in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,368 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was named after the Jordan River.
Jordan is located in the northwest part ...
,
Elbridge, New York
Elbridge is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town was approximately 5,922. The town is named after Elbridge Gerry, the fifth Vice President of the United States, and one of th ...
, and
Mexico, New York
Mexico is a town in the northeastern section of Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 5,197 at the 2010 census. The town contains a village also named Mexico.
Mexico has been referred to as the "Mother of Towns", as the ori ...
, from the Farrugia family. The Jordan and Elbridge locations held grand reopening ceremonies on April 24, 2013 after renovations and rebannering. The Jordan location closed in October, 2017.
In March 2013, Tops Markets announced plans to open a new 36,000 sq ft store in
Corning, New York
Corning is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States, on the Chemung River. The population was 10,551 at the 2020 census. It is named for Erastus Corning, an Albany financier and railroad executive who was an investor in the company t ...
. The store opened June 24, 2014 in the former P&C Foods location which closed down and relocated in 2002.
On May 23, 2013 Tops Markets announced the acquisition of four Big M supermarkets in
Boonville, New York
Boonville is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The town is in the northeastern section of the county. The population was 4,555 at the 2010 census. The town includes a village, also called Boonville. The town and village are named ...
,
Adams, New York
Adams is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. Named after President John Adams, the town had a population of 5,143 at the 2010 census. The town contains a village also named Adams. The village and town are south of Watertown.
Hi ...
,
Sandy Creek, New York
Sandy Creek is a town in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 3,939 at the time of the 2010 census. The name is derived from a creek in the area.
The Town of Sandy Creek is in the northwestern part of the county. The villa ...
, and
Watertown, New York
Watertown is a city in, and the county seat of, Jefferson County, New York, United States. It is approximately south of the Thousand Islands, along the Black River about east of where it flows into Lake Ontario. The city is bordered by the ...
from the Bonisteel family.
In December, 2013 Tops Markets announced that it would be taking back operations of its Lancaster distribution facility from C&S Wholesale Grocers. The company plans to renovate the facility to make it possible for Tops to carry more natural, specialty and organic items.
In May 2014 Tops announced the acquisition of another Big M supermarket in
Clifton Springs, New York
Clifton Springs is a village located in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 2,127 at the 2010 census. The village takes its name from local mineral springs.
The Village of Clifton Springs is located primarily in the To ...
.
Also in May 2014 Tops officials held a ground breaking ceremony for a brand new store slated to open in
Walworth, New York
Walworth is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States named after Reuben Walworth, a state official. The population was 9,449 at the 2010 census.
The Town of Walworth is on the western border of the county and is east of Rochester, New ...
early in 2015.
In July 2014, Tops acquired a Budwey's supermarket in
Newfane, New York
Newfane is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 9,666 at the 2010 census. The name was suggested by an early settler.
The Town of Newfane is in the north-central part of the county, north of the City of Lockpo ...
. It became a Tops in August 2014.
In the Spring of 2015, Tops announced agreements to purchase two additional stores. One in
Lyons, New York
Lyons is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 5,682 at the 2010 census. It is named after Lyon, France. which had previously operated as Loson's Big M, which closed in 2013 (the Loson family also owned the aforementioned Clifton Springs Big M), and a Thorne's Bilo in
Warren, Pennsylvania
Warren is a city in Warren County, Pennsylvania, United States, located along the Allegheny River. The population was 9,404 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Warren County. It is home to the headquarters of the Allegheny National Forest ...
, which was the first acquisition of a store in Pennsylvania since the Penn Traffic acquisition. It reopened as a Tops in December 2015. The Lyons location closed in November 2018.
In July 2015 Struppler
Shurfine
Western Family Foods was founded as the Pacific Mercantile Cooperative on March 3, 1934, by a group of retailer-owned grocery wholesalers. Western Family Foods was established December 19, 1963. The company supplies independent grocery stores w ...
in
Fulton, New York announced that it had been purchased by Tops Markets. The store reopened as a Tops on Saturday August 22, 2015. This location closed in November 2018.
On August 4, 2015 Tops Markets announced that it would be replacing Wade's supermarket in
Farmington, New York
Farmington is a town located in the northern part of Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 14,275 at the 2020 census.
History
Farmington was part of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. The town was formed along with its count ...
. The store reopened as a Tops Market on Saturday November 7, 2015.
On December 9, 2015 it was announced that Tops Friendly Markets would open at the former Sanborn Market Place in
Sanborn, New York
Sanborn is a hamlet (and census-designated place, population: 1,645 in 2010 census) in the Towns of Cambria, Lewiston, and Wheatfield, in Niagara County, New York, United States, on the southern side of the intersection of New York State Route 42 ...
. The store would be expanded from 6,000 to 12,000 square ft and is scheduled to open on April 1, 2016.
Tops Friendly Markets' first announced acquisition of 2016 continued its focus on Pennsylvania with the purchase of the
Westfield Big M from owner Bion Warren. This acquisition was announced on February 17, 2016 with a transition date of April 4, 2016.
In July 2016, it was announced that Tops had entered into a purchase agreement with
Ahold
Koninklijke Ahold N.V. was a Dutch multinational retail company based in Zaandam, Netherlands. It merged with Belgium-based Delhaize Group in 2016 to form Ahold Delhaize.
History
Growth in the Netherlands
The company started in 1887, when Al ...
and
Delhaize Group
Delhaize Group SA (, ) was a Belgian multinational retail company headquartered in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels, Belgium, and operated in seven countries and on three continents. The principal activity of Delhaize Group was the operation of f ...
for 4
Stop & Shop
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, known as Stop & Shop, is a regional chain of supermarkets located in the northeastern United States. From its beginnings in 1892 as a small grocery store, it has grown to include 406 stores chain-wide.
Sto ...
locations in
Rhinebeck,
New Paltz
New Paltz () is an incorporated U.S. town in Ulster County, New York. The population was 14,003 at the 2010 U.S. Census. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston. New Paltz contains a village, also with ...
and
Wappingers Falls, New York
Wappingers Falls is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 5,522. The community was named for the cascade in Wappinger Creek. The Wappingers Falls post office covers areas in the tow ...
and
Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, officially the City of Gardner, is a city in Worcester County in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,287 in the 2020 census. Gardner is home of such sites as the Blue Moon Diner, Dunn State Park, Ga ...
and 2
Hannaford Brothers locations in
LaGrangeville and
Carmel, New York
Carmel (pronounced ) is a Town (New York), town in Putnam County, New York, Putnam County, New York (state), New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the town had a population of 33,576. The town may have been named after Mo ...
, as part of the divestiture of stores to gain clearance from the
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. The FTC shares jurisdiction ov ...
for the impending Ahold/Delhaize merger. This acquisition will mark the entry of Tops Markets into Massachusetts and increase the number of states where its stores are located to four.
These stores reopened after an approximately 36 hour closure at each (for changes needed in systems) during the last full week of August 2016. The Gardner, Massachusetts location closed in December 2017, ending the chain's brief presence in that state, while the Wappinger location closed in February 2018.
Also in July 2016, Tops announced its agreement to purchase, and reopen as a Tops in August 2016, the
IGA Village Market in
Hannibal, New York, from the Mirabito family, adding another store to its network in
Oswego County
Oswego County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 117,525. The county seat is Oswego. The county name is from a Mohawk-language word meaning "the pouring out place", referring to the point at ...
.
In June 2017, Tops acquired the
Angola
, national_anthem = " Angola Avante"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capital = Luanda
, religion =
, religion_year = 2020
, religion_ref =
, coordina ...
Shurfine (originally Jubilee then Shop 'n Save).
In February 2021, Tops announced that they had entered into a definitive merger agreement with Price Chopper Supermarkets. The new parent company will be headquartered in
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady () is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-largest city by population. The city is in eastern New Y ...
. The Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets businesses will retain main offices in Schenectady and Williamsville and will continue to be managed locally by their respective leaders. The transaction is expected to close in the coming months, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
Transition from Morgan Stanley to independent ownership
In November 2013, Tops Markets announced a management buyout. The buyout, which was expected to be completed by the end of 2013, involved Morgan Stanley Private Equity selling all remaining shares to Tops management, including CEO Frank Curci. As a result, all decisions returned to being locally made. In addition, it made Tops Markets one of the largest privately owned companies in the Buffalo area.
Orchard Fresh
In November 2012, Tops Markets announced that it will be creating a second grocery store. Orchard Fresh specializes in upscale, natural, and organic foods. It also has an emphasis on health and wellness. The store debuted at the Orchard Park Plaza in Orchard Park, New York on April 14, 2013. This plaza was home to a former supermarket. The new Orchard Fresh store is . in size, which is a smaller footprint compared to most of the traditional Tops stores. If successful, Orchard Fresh could expand into other areas. On March 3, 2020, Tops Markets announced that they will close the store in April 2020.
Advertising and logo
Its longtime advertising slogan (first used in the late 1980s) is "Tops Never Stops ... Saving You More!" The slogan, temporarily put on hiatus in 2001, was brought back and refreshed in 2006, as "Tops Never Stops ... Giving You More!". In 2010 the company again changed the slogan to "Your Neighborhood Store, with More". The company logo is a stylized spinning top and was introduced in 1973.
References
External links
Official website
{{Portal bar, Supermarkets, New York (state), Companies, Food
1962 establishments in New York (state)
Companies based in Buffalo, New York
Companies based in Erie County, New York
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018
Economy of the Northeastern United States
Private equity portfolio companies
Retail companies established in 1962
Supermarkets of the United States