Tops

Location

Store Locator

Hours

24 hours

Exceptions: Closes early on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and closed Christmas Day

Website

http://www.TopsMarkets.com

References

Tops Markets LLC

Tops is the second biggest grocery store chain in Rochester. Each location now also operates a pharmacy in the store and many have bank branches and gasoline stations.

Tops has its early roots in Western New York and first took the name in 1962. They first came to the Rochester area in the mid-1970s. In 1991 the Tops chain was acquired by Ahold, a Netherlands-based international food conglomerate. Over the years the chain expanded and contracted with experiments with Finast, Sugarcreek, Grand Union, Martins Fine Foods, Penn Traffic, GU Family Markets and Giant Eagle. In 2007 Ahold sold the core of the Tops chain to Morgan Stanley Private Equity which re-established its corporate headquarters in the Buffalo area, where they were based until their consolidation by Ahold. In late 2013 it was announced that the management staff were buying Tops from Morgan Stanley.

In the 2010s Tops has begun a broad campaign of renovation, expansion and relocation of its stores in the Rochester region. Several have been adding on-site gasoline stations which has been both welcomed and opposed by local communities.

Rochesterians tend to be loyal to where they buy their groceries, and opinions abound on the benefits and detriments of each option.

Comments:

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2005-06-05 ??:??:??   (In response to a question posed: Does anyone know if Tops is a Rochester based company?)

Answer, from a press release: Tops Markets, LLC, headquartered in Williamsville, NY is one of four retail operating companies under Ahold USA and is a division of Giant Food Stores in Carlisle, PA. Tops currently operates 152 Tops Markets and 2 Martin's Super Food Stores. On June 20, 2005 Ahold announced it had successfully completed the sale of its chain of 198 Wilson Farms and Sugarcreek convenience stores, part of its U.S. subsidiary Tops Markets LLC.

From http://www.aholdusa.com/: Ahold USA is the regional office in the United States of Ahold, an international food provider based in the Netherlands. Ahold USA’s retail operations comprise Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover, Giant-Carlisle, Tops, BI-LO, Bruno's and Peapod.

So, I suppose the answer is "No", but where it's based is either Williamsville, Carlisle PA, Landover MD (where Ahold USA is), or Zaandam, The Netherlands. What is certain is that the last time I was in an Ahold USA (not a Tops, per se) property, the jarred peanut butter/jelly blend was significantly expired, and the chewing gum purchased had the general material properties of a wooden shim. The single open cash register had a line 12 people deep, too, but it *was* a Friday night. Tops isn't that bad, really. —Users/RyanTucker

2006-09-26 05:30:27   Have had no problems shopping at Tops, for the following reasons: 1) I live near one, and it's where I go if I need things in a pinch. 2) Though I prefer Wegmans for their quality stuff, the nearest one's all the way in Pittsford and I'm too lazy sometimes to drive all the way out there. —CatherineConnolly

2006-11-13 09:18:33   According to the Rochester Business Journal (Nov 6, 2006), Ahold USA is selling TOPS. It will be interesting to see what moves into Rochester to compete with Wegmans. —ScottHendler

2006-11-13 18:06:05   I have heard speculation that Price Chopper might make a move into the Rochester Market —MrPhil

2006-11-14 08:55:22   Price Chopper would a good alternative. I used to do my grocery shopping there when I lived in Albany and Utica. They are not as good as Wegman's but they are much better than Tops. —ScottHendler

2007-07-29 22:28:48   I go to the one in henrietta a lot since I work there. They seem to think that having the self-check out means they can get away with only have 2 or 3 cashiers on at any given time, so there is always a long line at the check out. Pretty annoying —JohnJoseph

2007-11-29 04:32:13   I went to the location in Henrietta on Jefferson Road tonight and saw a gigantic rat hanging out in the pizza department. I think I'll stick with Wegmans for all but emergency shopping. —SteveCaruso

2007-11-30 18:38:46   Ahold has sold Tops to Morgan Stanley Private Equity. http://www.reuters.com/article/consumerproducts-SP/idUSL115947020071012 —JasonHaremza

2010-11-13 08:52:39   If you're in Buffalo, go to Tops. If you're in The Roc, go to Weggies. —BatGuano

2011-11-23 17:20:54   This is a review I originally posted on Yelp, reviewing the Panorama Plaza store:

For MOST of this store, they have a fairly decent collection of stuff, albiet kinda haphazardly located. Prices are good, but BEWARE of the fish department.
My partner went on Saturday to get some salmon. They were out, so he asked the fish-mongrette behind the counter. She said that she'd sold 50 lbs since yesterday, and the only salmon left was the marinated salmon. My partner looked at it, and asked how long it had been marinating. "I made it fresh on Wednesday", she said. Seriously. They are selling 3-day-old fish. That ALONE is enough to keep either of us from patronizing them again!

Do NOT trust their fish to be fresh, or even safe!

—Alex-C

2012-07-25 07:56:47   I have a stop at a few different Tops locations. I enjoy some of the selection at the store as it is nice. A lot of the deals you need to belong to the "key" chain club thing, like Wagmens, so I highly recommend joining that so you can get the deals. —bonnev659

2013-12-23 09:17:10   They've announced recently that they'd like to open a location downtown. Let's keep our fingers crossed! —EileenF

2019-11-04 22:53:16   I'm a convert! I love shopping at Tops because people go there to buy groceries and not clog shopping aisles while gabbing about who got the new Escalade on the cul-de-sac. —batguano