By Steve Cichon
steve@buffalostories.com
@stevebuffalo
With the country in the grips of an economic crisis and inflation crippling Buffalonians, Hills, “The Anti-Inflation Department Store,” was opening two new stores in Western New York.
The ribbon was cut at the Sheridan/Bailey location by Amherst supervisor and former WEBR Traffic reporter Jack Sharpe. The store became Ames in 1999 and closed in 2002. Walmart opened on the site in 2011.
The same day, a Hills store was opened on Lake Avenue in Blasdell, between South Park Avenue and the New York State Thruway. That store remains vacant.
“Dual opening”
“Hills Department Stores scored a second ‘first’ in the Buffalo area today. For the second time, the chain opened two new department stores on the same day.”
