Where has Baskin-Robbins been in the Capital Region?
Last week, Baskin-Robbins, an international chain of ice cream and specialty cake shops, confirmed to NEWS10 that it is opening up a shop in Guilderland. Although this would be the only Baskin-Robbins currently in the area, this is not the first time the ice cream chain has been in the Capital Region.
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Last week, Baskin-Robbins, an international chain of ice cream and specialty cake shops, confirmed to NEWS10 that it is opening up a shop in Guilderland. Although this would be the only Baskin-Robbins currently in the area, this is not the first time the ice cream chain has been in the Capital Region.
When I went to write the Baskin-Robbins article, I knew this was not the first Capital Region location, but I couldn't figure out where the other locations previously were. The only thing I found was a Yelp page for a Baskin-Robbins on Albany Street in Schenectady where there is currently a Dunkin' and nothing about when it opened or closed.
However, I heard from some viewers about where there used to be Baskin-Robbins locations in the Capital Region. One of these locations was in Delmar's Delaware Plaza.
NEWS10 reached out to the Bethlehem Town Historian who wasn't able to find any photographic evidence of a Baskin-Robbins at that location but confirmed through several sources that there was a BR store at the old Bruegger's location in Delaware Plaza. However, the historian did find a photo of that spot as a Dari-Delite in 1959.
According to RoadsideArchitecture.com, Dari-Delite was a nationwide ice cream chain with other confirmed locations in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, California, Florida, and Georgia. I have found a few Dari-Delites that are still in operation today, but none are in New York.
The Bethlehem Town Historian also confirmed that there used to be a Baskin-Robbins in Colonie Center in the 1980s. NEWS10 reached out to Colonie Center to see if there were any images of the Baskin-Robbins, but none of the current staff were there in the 1980s and there were no photos.
Other places I've heard there was a Baskin-Robbins were Latham Circle Mall (now The Shoppes at Latham Circle) and Clifton Country Mall (now Clifton Park Center). Currently, the closest Baskin-Robbins locations are in Whitesboro (Oneida County) and Newburgh, with most shops located in New York City and Long Island.
Baskin-Robbins in Guilderland is set to open in Hamilton Square at 2080 Western Avenue. A specific opening date for the Guilderland location has not been announced yet, but it is set to open in the late spring.
Do you remember any Baskin-Robbins locations in the Capital Region when you were younger? Let me know where they were by emailing me at srizzo@news10.com.