Rochester has big plans for former St. Elizabeth Seton School and old Ben Franklin store. ... "It's been empty and underutilized for many years," he said of the Ben Franklin property, ...

It may have started with old Ben Franklin peering owlishly over his tiny specs. Winston Churchill may have helped with his head-down scowl and black-rimmed glasses at half-mast on his nose. Then ...

In 1877, the Ben Franklin business began as a mail-order wholesaler, selling general store items. The company began the retail chain in 1927. At Ben Franklin's peak, there were 2,500 stores.