Stewart’s Shops opens second Utica store

UTICA, N.Y. — Stewart’s Shops — an employee and family-owned convenience store chain that has more than 330 shops across upstate New York and southern Vermont — opened a new store at 1210 Culver Ave. in Utica on Wednesday.

That will be followed by a grand-opening event next Friday, Nov. 18, according to a news release from the City of Utica.

The new shop, located on the city’s east side, is the second Utica store for Stewart’s Shops and it didn’t come easy.

The company began planning to expand in East Utica about two years ago, but because of legal delays, its plans shifted to West Utica — opening a store at 425 Court St. in December 2014, the release stated.

“There have been a few stumbling blocks, but we are thrilled to finally join the East Utica community,” Gary Dake, Stewart’s Shops president, said in the release. “Stewart’s will provide our customers quality, value, and a friendly place to shop. We hope to make their shopping experience in Utica, even easier.”

Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri said he’s “pleased” Stewart’s Shops is opening its second store in Utica. “I thank Gary and his staff for being committed to this project and our community,” he said in the release.

Stewart’s Shops has also expanded elsewhere in Oneida County this year. It built new shops at 4756 Middle Settlement Road in New Hartford and 5319 State Route 233 in Westmoreland, and also constructed a replacement store for its existing location on Turin Road in the town of Lee.

Stewart’s Shops is building 17 shops in total across its market areas in 2016, either as new or replacement shops, plus dozens of remodels or additions, according to the release.

While Stewart’s Shops began as an ice-cream shop about 70 years ago, its business has evolved into a full-service convenience store offering groceries, gasoline, coffee, and a variety of quick food options like pastries, eggwiches, subs, soup, deli dogs, chili, salads, and pizza. 

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com