DiMino's Lewiston Tops opens time capsule, celebrates community milestone

Supermarket also awards coloring contest winners

DiMino’s Lewiston Tops owner Anthony DiMino and his son, John DiMino, the store manager, opened a time capsule on Saturday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their family building the current, larger supermarket.

A quarter-century ago, a box was placed into the right exterior wall next to the west entrance. It was inscribed: “Sealed Dec. 6, 1998. To be opened Dec. 6, 2023.”

When the DiMinos pulled out the time capsule, they found a store circular ad, an employee uniform tie, and some student/Cub Scout photos.

Employees, family members and store patrons looked on as the treasure was plucked from its hiding place. They clapped – and asked about the product prices from 1998.

“Green beans were 88 cents,” Anthony DiMino said, as onlookers laughed.

(Photos by K&D Action Photo & Aerial Imaging)

••••••••

Following the ceremony, DiMino reflected on the past 25 years.

He said the decision to close the former building came after a decade of planning – and many meetings and conversations with elected leaders in the Village and Town of Lewiston.

“Originally, we were just going to put an addition on the old store,” he said. “And because it took so long, we decided that we’d knock down the old store and build the new store.

“If people remember when we had the original grand-opening, where we put this capsule in, the old store was still up and it was actually in half of the vestibule. And then that spring, we knocked it down and had a real grand opening.

“It represented a commitment to the village. I was back in my prime back then. My father, (Alphonso), was still alive. It was a great time. It was very exciting at that time.”

John DiMino said Saturday’s ceremony “means 25 years of continued community support. Without the community support, this wouldn’t be possible. We are proud to be a part of the rich history of the Village of Lewiston, and hopefully can do it for another 25 years and beyond.

“This anniversary also marks a milestone in our family history with Tops Markets. This store was made possible by my grandfather, Alphonso, and his legacy continued with my father, Anthony. My hope is the next generation after myself will be celebrating another milestone in the future years.”

Quarter-century associates include owner/president Anthony DiMino, Executive Assistant Barbara DiMino, Vice President Maryrose Casero, Dairy Frozen Manager Jerry Casero Sr., Dairy Manager Jerry Casero Jr., Assistant Store Manager Tom Casero, Office Manager Tracie Ullery, Front End Manager Maggie O'Connor, Bulk Food Manager/Instacart Julia Belkota, Human Resource Manager Cindy Kinan, florist Mary Lamarca, Deli Manager Karen Lehmann, Specialty Cheese Manager Julie Webster, butcher Teddy Sklarski, maintenance worker Sandy Piva, Maintenance Manager Shawn York, receiver Norman Jones, Scan Coordinator Brenda Peters, Night Crew Manager David Wilson and night crew worker Stan Rog.

Anthony DiMino said, “We're a family here. I take everything a little personally because … I've been here since the first store. People don't remember that DiCamillo’s was in the store. We had Kentucky Fried Chicken – the real Kentucky Fried Chicken – in a grocery store in 1964.

“And the evolution of that, we've been a family business that length of time.

“Staying here for 25 years, I have people that have been here a little over 25 years, 40 years, 30 years. We're a good place to work. That's all I have to say. That’s us; that’s Tops Lewiston. We walk the walk. We think we are special because we live here, we work here, we play here, we do everything for this community.

“We're not going nowhere.”

He said, “What people forget is we are a small business. We're big in size, but we're a franchise of a major corporation. The same thing as a McDonald's. I tell everybody we’re like a McDonald's. McDonald's is a good corporate citizen, because the owner is here and he gives to his community.

“The most important part is we've been dedicated to this community for the last almost 60 years, and we think we've been a good corporate citizen since day one. It hasn't changed.”

John and Anthony DiMino pull out a time capsule to mark 25 years since the current, larger DiMino’s Lewiston Tops supermarket debuted. Items inside the time capsule included a store circular ad, an employee uniform tie, and some student/Cub Scout photos. (Photo by Joshua Maloni)

(Photos by K&D Action Photo & Aerial Imaging)

Family members look on as the time capsule items are reviewed. (Photo by Joshua Maloni)

(Photos by K&D Action Photo & Aerial Imaging)

••••••••

Coloring Contest Winners Announced

DiMino’s Lewiston Tops also awarded coloring contest prizes to area youth on Saturday, as part of a decade-long partnership with the Niagara County Tribune/Sentinel.

This year’s winners are:

Ages 4 to 6 years old

√ First place: Leni T.

√ Second place: Oliver T.

√ Third place: Jasmine J.

√ Fourth place: Sophia R.

Ages 7 to 9 years old

√ First place: Ashley S.

√ Second place: Maylianna T.

√ Third place: Emilia M.

√ Fourth place: Abigail H.

Ages 10 to 12 years old

√ First place: Grace P.

√ Second place: Parker K.

√ Third place: Amelia C.

√ Fourth place: Averie D.

(Photos by K&D Action Photo & Aerial Imaging)

DiMino’s Lewiston Tops is located at 906 Center St., and online at https://www.topslewiston.com.

Joshua Maloni contributed to this report.