Abandoned Acme! Newtown, PA

This may just be the best abandoned Acme to ever appear at Acme Style... so much going on here it's hard to know where to start. First off... the sign here in the corner is the same kind shown in the Plexiglas ad I have posted (click here to check it out).


There is fencing blocking access all around the store. Fortunately the day I was there, the front gate was open. There are pictures on the web of this store, all showing the gate closed. So you are getting full access here at Acme Style!


Very standard late 50's/early 60's store. Undoubtedly started out with the script logo across the awing then switched to the fish-eye sign. The brackets for the 3 colored sqaures still intact on the right side of the sign. Most Acme's received an awning upgrade when the fish-eye sign was put up. This store did not. The sign was mounted right onto the brick wall.

Something quite unusual here... it appears that a small addition was added to the left side at some point. Only large enough for an additional aisle inside. If you look closely you can see the newer section by the change in the roof line.


More evidence of an addition... this side has brick columns that stick out slightly from the exterior wall. The other side of the store does not.


Entrance on the left/Exit on the right. More evidence of an addition as the newer section is set back a bit from the original building.


The doors were chained shut. Kids have been able to get into the store in the past as you will soon see.


The windows on the right side were never covered over which was common practice in the 70's and 80's in these types of Acmes in order to add addition shelving and increase the size of service departments.


The fish-eye logo was once here. This store finished out it's days with the red oval logo.




Notice this side doesn't have the brick columns like the newer side.

Acme Style readers... as you know I can go on and on about the great 80's remodel that swept through the chain. Here is what it looked like...


Floral in the front, Fresh Produce along the wall and the famous checkerboard pattern on the floor. Produce cases replaced by skating boarding ramp.


I would say that this store was remodeled in the very late 80's. Possibly one of the last stores to get this look as it is still in great shape. The beige paint on the walls is much lighter than the earlier 80's remodel as well. This store may have only been opened a few more years after the remodel. A massive replacement store was built just a few blocks away in the 90's.


This store most likely had 9 aisles before the 80's remodel. Aisle 1 was probably eliminated in order to expand Produce. Unfortunately the cursive styled department signage has been taken down.


Deli and Seafood. The original Deli went the entire length of that section. The 80's remodel shortened the Deli for the addition of a full service Seafood department. Look closely at the ends of the Seafood blue stripe... there's a ship's steering wheel.


The 80's checkerboard floor. Register stand footprints in the front.


The back wall appears to have been completely knocked out. The meat room is totally exposed now.




The 80's remodel said goodbye to "Lancaster Brand Meats" and hello to "Quality Meats".


Here you can see more evidence of the addition. The support columns are more substantial here than in the center of the store (which you can see again below). The ceiling also dips down at this point and has a different type of ceiling tile than the rest of the store.




Dairy and Eggs signage would have been on the far wall. Sets of three arch windows on either side which is unusual. You can see the old Colonial styled Dairy wall decor here. Just like in the Washington store. The orange stripe was the bottom of the barn-like Dairy wall decor.


The alcove most likely held the safe. This area would have been for customer service and an express register. By the time this store was remodeled Acme may have pulled the plug on the dreadfull "CSR" stand which would have been at the other end of the registers over by Produce. The full serice Bakery was behind this area in the front corner of the store.


A close-up of the 80's look. This color combination was used for the video rental sections that were put into lartger stores in the 80's.


Here you can see how the department signage was styled with the cursive lettering. The red oval logo was attached on the wall below. If you look closely you can see screws that were left behind in the shape of an oval.


One last look at the inside...


Doesn't look to horrible considering it's been abandoned for more than 10 years. Maybe more than 15 years. Hard to believe they never boarded up the windows.


A newer Acme sign in front of the old.




Acme didn't quite fit in with the rest of the look of this small town.






Some of the older stores were the lonliest of stores.


There have been many plans over the years to tear this place down but it has yet to happen. I'm so pleased that it will be preserved here at Acme Style long after it finally gets teared down.


The replacement store a few blocks away. An early 90's styled mega-store. The building is virtually identical to the Quakertown store I have posted. The interior is no longer the 90's red/white/blue package. It has been extensively remodeled and now has the "Chalkboard Market" look. One of the nicest stores I have seen with this look. And the place was slamming busy when I was there. Most have been a bit of a shock for the residents of Newtown going from a tiny 50's Acme to this massive 90's replacement store.