Disappointment Looms as Fulton TOPS Prepares for Closing

by Mikayla Kemp | October 17, 2018 10:17 pm

FULTON, NY – Last month, news from TOPS chief executive officer detailed the locations of ten underperforming TOPS stores that are anticipated to be closed[1].

One of the stores is located in Fulton at 909 West First Street.

The closing was a result of multiple factors including “location, store size, and lease costs,” Diane Colgan, SVP – Marketing & Decision Support said.

Kathy Romanowski, TOPS Public and Media Relations Manager, said the store’s closing date is slated for Saturday, October 27.

For the Fulton community, that means yet another business loss.

“It’s sad to lose another business. My biggest sadness is for the employees. TOPS officials assured us that each employee will be offered a position at other TOPS but you just really never want to see a business have to close,” Fulton Mayor Ronald Woodward Sr. said.

Fulton saw an extensive loss of industry as several prominent businesses closed their doors throughout the city.

Most notably, Miller Brewing closed in 1994 putting 920 employees out of work, the Nestle factory shut its doors in 2003 outing 467 employees, Birds Eye Foods shut down in 2011 leaving 280 workers unemployed, the closing of A.L. Lee Memorial Hospital in 2009 which promptly switched to a medical health facility ran by Oswego Health, and most recently, the closure of Michaud Residential Health Services that resulted in 139 jobs lost in 2017.

“This is in my district,” said Oswego County Legislator James Karasek. “Anytime we lose a business in Oswego County it is a loss to everyone. This store has some great employees and they would be an asset to other businesses in the area. This is yet another loss to the city of Fulton and the surrounding market area.”

Fulton Common Council president Donald Patrick Jr. said he and many other residents of the third ward, of which the store is located, were frequent TOPS shoppers.

“It’s just disheartening- it’s a shame to lose more jobs in Fulton and it’s sad to have another empty building. I hope someone comes in and utilizes the building, it’s in a good location,’ Patrick said.

At TOPS Fulton store location, 21 associates were at risk of losing their job.

Currently, all associates have been offered positions at other TOPS locations, Romanowski said.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/disappointment-looms-as-fulton-tops-prepares-for-closing/

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