Here in East Aurora, Vidler’s has been one of several defining icons of the village. The red-and-white awnings, and of course, Mr. Ed Vidler’s “Vidler on the Roof” advertising gimmick have been long known staples of East Aurora. So when I read about a permanent “Ed” about to take residence on the five-and-dime’s roof, I thought it was downright creepy. A larger-than-life 81-year old man smiling, gazing down on Main Street patrons.
This past weekend, as I browsed the sidewalk sale in our rapidly progressing reconstructed village, I got my first glimpse of the statue. I suppose it’s not as creepy as it looked in the original Buffalo News article, and it does add sort of a whimsical touch. What kind of shoes is Ed wearing anyway? The artist who fashioned this thing says he put painstaking work into the shoes. Is that a botched New Balance logo? Or perhaps some yet-unheard-of brand of orthopedics that Mr. Vidler wears since the shopkeeper is (presumably) on his feet most of the day?
One last EA update: Napa Auto Parts, the blue fixture at corner of Main and Olean for as long as I remember, tumbled down on Saturday. Crews are clearing what remains, making way for a new CVS store. It’s about time CVS got its act together. Rite Aid gave us a modern-style drug store way back in 1996—or was 1997? Around that time. Eckerd bailed out of its little asbestos-laced bungalow a few years back. (Then Eckerd became Rite Aid, and now we have two Rite Aids—across the street from each other.) Now if only we could get a Walgreens.
Demolition crews make way for a new CVS
