What's the closest (chain store for which people have a remarkable longing)?
See what you've been missing at Cabela's.
Following up on Chuck's much-commented Soapox post about chains people would like to see come to the Capital Region, we figured it'd be fun (if that's the word) to see where the closest current locations are for some of the most-mentioned chains.
The list is after the jump, sorted from closest to farthest. Aside from IKEA, we're not sure why you'd necessarily drive all that distance for one of these places -- but, hey, to each their own (chain).
Sonic
Kingston, New York -- 54 miles
Costco
West Springfield, Massachusetts -- 84 miles
Whole Foods
Hadley, Massachusetts -- 98 miles
Trader Joe's
Hadley, Massachusetts -- 99 miles
Cabela's
East Hartford, Connecticut -- 116 miles
Stew Leonard's
Newington, Connecticut -- 123 miles
A location in Danbury, Connecticut is 122 miles away, but Google Maps says it's a five minute longer drive.
White Castle
Nanuet, New York -- 123 miles
Anthropologie
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey -- 127 miles
IKEA
Paramus, New Jersey -- 130 miles
Chick-Fil-A
Paramus, New Jersey -- 132 miles
Wegmans
Fayetteville, New York (just outside Syracuse) -- 141 miles
A new location opens in Northborough, Massachusetts this fall -- it will be 138 miles away.
Waffle House
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania (near Scranton) -- 189 miles
In-N-Out
Allen, Texas (near Dallas) -- 1,638 miles
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Comments
Sonic is close enough that it doesn't even belong on this list...
... said ike on May 27, 2011 at 5:42 PM | link
Make sure you go to Chick-Fil-A on Saturday, they're all closed on Sunday. Of course, any Chick-Fil-A fan would know that.
... said CapHwys on May 27, 2011 at 6:06 PM | link
Four of those places are near my hometown (five, if you count the Stew Leonards just past the TZ bridge in Westchester). And even though I was so close to them, I rarely went to those places, except for Ikea... which was heaven.
... said Rochelle on May 27, 2011 at 6:21 PM | link
Having drivien the 98+ miles to Whole Foods and Trader Joes, I totally understand. And if you have ever been served a cherry limeade by someone on skates at Sonic, you'd understand that too. And IKEA requires no explanation. At all.
... said Jem on May 27, 2011 at 10:33 PM | link
I didn't realize Kingston was that close...
... said Tim in Waterford on May 27, 2011 at 11:31 PM | link
slightly ashamed to admit to retail vacations wherein my husband and i have planned camping around going to ikea in stoughton, MA. a tip- if you go to ikea in paramus, there is a trader joe's on the other side of the street. while there is not cabela's there, there is camp-mor.
... said Jeri on May 28, 2011 at 3:26 PM | link
So, Chick-fil-a, TJ's and IKEA all in Paramus. A road trip is definitely in my future.
... said Jenna on May 29, 2011 at 10:05 AM | link
Paramus also has a really nice Whole Foods. We find it to be worth the trip every once in awhile- WF, TJs and IKEA.
... said Kate on May 30, 2011 at 7:31 PM | link
Paramus NJ is one the ugliest, most annoyingly laid-out places I've ever had the misfortune of driving through. I make my IKEA stops on New Haven CT.
... said Ryan on May 31, 2011 at 12:28 AM | link
Ryan, I can back you up on that. Went to the Ikea there awhile ago, and then tried to go to the Trader Joe's (not quite across the street, Jeri, but less than a quarter mile away) and it took us almost an hour to get there. An hour of getting stuck on random little highways, getting off in the middle of residential neighborhoods and then realizing there is no way to get back on what you were just on.... Ahhh! It was a nightmare.
... said Phoebe on May 31, 2011 at 9:23 AM | link
Wow, there's a Chick-Fil-A in Jersey?? Also, it appears that Hadley, MA is a place to go. I'll have to do some research to see if it has anything else going for it.
White Castle needs to happen. Period.
... said Summer on May 31, 2011 at 12:11 PM | link
IKEA is the only one of those i would drive that far for, and I chose New Haven, its a much more interesting drive than going down the Thruway. Then again, what isnt more interesting than going down the Thruway?
... said BBnet3000 on Jul 13, 2011 at 1:20 AM | link
I find myself making a trip to New Jersey's Route 17 shopping corridor every few months. It's worth the drive! There's a new Hampton Inn on the strip so I make it an overnight shopping trip. IKEA, Crate and Barrel, West Elm, Trader Joe's, Christmas Tree Shop, several shopping malls... too many stores to mention. Forget the outlets, they're a waste of my time! Gas is cheaper down there, too, so I make sure I fill up my tank before heading back. And they pump the gas for you, too!
... said Ana on Jul 20, 2011 at 10:58 AM | link