Vidler's 5 & 10

This Saturday, July 27, marks the 55th anniversary of East Aurora's annual Sidewalk Sale and Street Festival. Pics below from the very first one in 1969 -- with the late, great, Dr. Ray Hoffman and boys (Fritz? Tony?) coming down the street. Not sure who the sandwich board girl is.

Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce

How great is this? Our super fan, Whit, got a 12th birthday cake made by his siblings of his favorite store! Love the detail and Ed would be over the moon about the Vidler on the Roof!

Happy Belated, Whit!

We're once again in the final round of voting in the Buffalo News "Best of 716."

This year we're nominated under the Retail/Shopping sector in the categories of Best Toy Store and Best Gift Shop. Just click on the link below, then scroll down to the Retail tab and click there to go to the category list.

Voting is open from now through July 22 -- thanks in advance for your support!

Ballot-2024

A tragic incident occurred today at Vidler’s. 74 year old Panic Pete, a staple at the establishment, suffered a catastrophic and unfortunately fatal blow out. Our hearts go out to Panic Pete’s family in this difficult time. An investigation is ongoing to determine whether or not the blow out was a result of foul play.

Not the 4th in E.A. without the original Fisher Price floats on display and that were in our village parade last night.

I want YOU to shop at Vidler's before and after Independence Day.

But we will not be open on the 4th itself. Home with our families as we hope you are.

Happy 4th to all!

What a wonderful 94th anniversary party! State Senator Patrick Gallivan presented us with our designation as a New York State Historic Business; delicious cake was served to all; kids enjoyed a ride on Sandy, and even Santa popped down to the lower 48 for a brief summer vacation before heading back north to start making those toys for 6 months from now.

Thanks to everybody for coming by and celebrating with us!

NY State Parks & Historic Sites Visit Buffalo Niagara

94th Anniversary celebration today!

Come by for a piece cake -- official cutting ceremony approx. 11 AM -- and we'll hand it out until it's gone! And dimes for the kids to take a ride on Sandy -- ask any of our employees on the Main Floor.

Thanks to EA and the entire WNY community for supporting us for over 9 decades!

7 News WKBW News 4 WIVB Buffalo Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce WGRZ - Channel 2, Buffalo

TRIFECTA!!!

In addition to the state recognition we received earlier this week in being added to the Historic Business Preservation registry and celebrating our 94th anniversary tomorrow; we were also recognized by the Erie County Legislature in conjunction with "Family Owned and Operated Businesses Day." Our Legislator Lindsay Lorigo stopped by earlier today to make the presentation.

...and thanks to and 7 News WKBW for coming in yesterday and speaking to some of our wonderful customers of all ages!

'It’s a big honor': Vidler’s 5 & 10 added to state Historic Business Preservation Registry The iconic East Aurora store Vidler’s 5 & 10 received historical honors from the state, just receiving the news it has been added to the state Historic Business Preservation Registry.

Thanks for the great piece and News 4 WIVB Buffalo, loved having you with us today!

“Just look for the red and white awning” Vidler’s 5 & 10 receives state recognition Vidler’s 5 & 10 is an East Aurora staple known for the treasures you can find while walking through its aisles, and it’s now recognized as a piece of New York State History.

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve just been added to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. Nominated by our State Senator Pat Gallivan, the registry was established in 2020 and is administered by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The registry recognizes those businesses that meet the following criteria: have operated in the state for more than 50 years; have demonstrated a contribution to their community’s history and identity; and have been committed to maintaining the physical features and traditions that define the business.

We’d be thrilled and honored with this award any time of year, but especially so in June, which is our anniversary month. While this is an “off” year for us – not our full-blown, every 5th year Vid-stravaganza -- we’ll use any excuse to have some cake! We plan on celebrating the store’s 94th anniversary this Saturday, June 22, with our cake cutting at approx. 11 AM. Senator Gallivan will be on hand to make the presentation, and we hope that you can join us and help us celebrate 94 years of history, nostalgia, great service and wonderful shopping.

Say happy birthday or anniversary to the store and the family, have a piece of cake and enjoy shopping like it used to be… and still is at Vidler’s.

Below are some pics of the store – today about 20x larger than when Grandad first opened on June 21, 1930.

Visit Buffalo Niagara Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce Aurora Town Historian Aurora Historical Society New York Patrick Gallivan

Another look back in our anniversary month...

If you shopped in our store between 1950 to 2010 -- you most likely knew, met or saw "those Vidler boys." A little more formal attire in their younger years, they became well known regionally in the '80s and '90s in their series of 'Bob & Ed' commercials. Ed in particular going from suit and tie to some, uh, memorable outfits. The spots were painfully punny, cheesy and altogether memorable and beloved!

Victory is ours! The Golden Snowball Resides in Buffalo/WNY Again!

The way the weather's been the past few days, this post seems entirely appropriate as it's been near-winter like. But you know we'll all be complaining next week when we hit the mid to high 80 temps.

https://www.buffalorising.com/2024/06/the-golden-snowball-its-a-threepeater-for-buffalo/

Sundays in EA! Come shop, sip and stroll EA every Sunday during the spring and summer. (You can come in the fall and winter, too!) Click on link for more details:

https://stepoutbuffalo.com/sundays-in-ea-shop-sip-stroll-your-way-through-the-village-this-summer/

Hot off the press! Or maybe it's the digital printer, but I digress...

Brand New Summer '24 East Aurora Visitors guide now available at no charge.

Can pick up in the store, at The Advertiser or EA Chamber offices, and other businesses in town.

One of our esteemed young alums has gone from slinging candy to becoming a published author! We're pleased to announce that Nick Kowerko has now joined our local authors shelf with his first book: "Peace Perception, The Movement in Sight." An EA native, Nick worked for us all through high school. Since then he has gone on to become a theater director, a university professor and an acting coach. He has taught at several universities and worked at regional theater companies across the country and on Broadway.

Nicholas Kowerko

It's our anniversary month, so we'll be waxing nostalgic and historic over the next 3 weeks.

Beginning with this young fellow who started it all, opening his "Fair 5¢ to $1.00 Store" on June 21, 1930, Robert S. Vidler, Sr.

Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce Visit Buffalo Niagara Aurora Historical Society New York

What a great night under the lights for East Aurora Baseball & Softball!

The Andrews Barber Parlor Marlins faced off against our Vidler Mets in a spirited game that wasn't decided until the bottom of the final inning. With 2 outs, the Mets stormed back to take a 3-2 win. Great time for all! And it was a pleasure to be the guest emcee and to learn that some of my late 60s, early 70s ballpark jargon and chatter is still used by the kids today!

And to borrow CJ's quote from his post:

"Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets"
- Yogi Berra

Best customer comment of the day:

A little girl, 4 years old at most, was walking by herself in our Crafts Dept. Her mom was nearby, but to be on the safe side I asked her if I could help her with anything. She very sweetly replied -- and this is verbatim:

"Nope, I'm just looking now. And I like to shop... (long pause) a lot!"

This is the second time in the last 2 years that our name has appeared in the Jumble puzzle. And we were also in it 8 years prior. Coincidence? I think not!

Have to find out if the editors have a Buffalo/East Aurora connection. Vidler is a weird, I mean, uncommon last name, what are the odds? Added bonus -- this puzzle ran this past Saturday, which was our youngest daughter's birthday. Cue up the theme song from X-Files!

Knurek David L. Hoyt

Meeting customers like this are what makes it all worthwhile...

Jeanne Osborn Di Muzio brought her 94-year-old mother, Dorisanne, to the store the other day to knock off one of her major bucket list items – visiting Vidler’s for the first time. Dorisanne was born and raised in Buffalo, but never made it to the store after going off to college and settling in the Finger Lakes region. She proudly pointed out that she was born 3 ½ months before Grandad first opened Vidler's in 1930! Sharp as a tack, charming and delightful to speak with, we thoroughly enjoyed meeting Dorisanne (and Jeanne!) as much as they enjoyed the store.

And a small-world got even smaller when they were checking out... Dorisanne purchased the book, "Frank Lloyd Wright in Buffalo and Western New York" by Jan Booth Sheridan. She mentioned to our clerk that she had met Wright in person in her youth. Little did she know that ringing her up was our own Ken Sheridan – son of the author and illustrator of the book! Bucket list and an autographed book – we’re already planning on her coming back to celebrate our 100th store anniversary and her 100th birthday!

Memorial Day Weekend Hours:

We'll be open our normal hours on Friday & Sat., 9 to 6; Sunday 11 to 5.

WE WILL NOT BE OPEN on Memorial Day, May 27. Thanks to all who have served and sacrificed in the past, and to our active military personnel.

See below -- you can enter up till Tuesday, May 28!

Enter to Win a Nostalgic Shopping Spree to Vidler's 5 & 10 - Step Out Buffalo Giveaways *GIVEAWAY ALERT!* We're teaming up with Vidler's 5 & 10 to give away a nostalgic shopping spree ($100 value).

It takes a village...

Big thanks to the seniors and juniors from EAHS who have been re-planting the flower beds on Main St. as part of their community service. And thanks to the Village DPW for setting them up. Spring has sprung and Main Street is lookin' good!

East Aurora Schools Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce

Throwin' Way Back Thursday:

Where and who?

Absolutely delighted to have longtime family friend, Rita Francisco, stop by the store. Rita was our mom's freshman college room-mate at R.I.T.