Update: ACME - Haddonfield, NJ

MIND BOGGLING REMODEL

IN HADDONFIELD ACME! 

Location: 40 Ellis Street, Haddonfield, NJ 

Absolutely stunning remodel at the Haddonfield ACME! One of the most extensive I have ever seen.  Literally everything was replaced in this store from floor to ceiling with one exception... the checkout stands. But honestly, they look fine and there is so much else to see no one would ever even notice. 

So this is the latest ACME décor package and it is being rolled out quickly! These photos were taken back in September 2024 when the package was still quite new. It was originally designed for the University City store in Philadephia. Maybe originally a one-off that ACME decided to go all in with. I think it's fantastic! Easily one of ACME's best packages in their entire history. Here on the blog it will be referred to as Retro Quality Built or "Retro QB" for short. It still has some elements from the original Quality Built décor from old black and white photos to "The House That Quality Built" up on the walls.  Fun twist here though... the old black and white photos are ALL of ACME's! The store previously had the Chalkboard Market décor. You can view previous coverage by clicking here. 

The entire store is done with hardwood floors. 

Vintage neon light-inspired department signs. 

Just wish they had kept "Corner Deli". 

High-end display cases all around. 

Even the tile on the back walls is spectacular!

The updated fish-eye logos are nowhere to be found here but we DO get the 100th anniversary logo!

Dairy décor is top drawer!

Here's were things fizzle out a bit. No décor in the HABA corner. It's almost like they completely forgot about it. 

Fantastic Customer Service awning! 

The checkout lights are almost comically too high. 

Old checkout stands, but perhaps fixed up a bit. 

Wow! What a store! And there's more Retro QB coming to the blog this summer.

 

Classic ACME - Harve De Grace, Maryland

NOW WITH PHOTOS
OF THE STORE STILL OPEN!

Location: 1000 Pulaski Highway, Harve De Grace, Maryland

Stepping back in time to see the long-defunct Harve De Grace store. Back in the day this store was very successful but in true ACME fashion, updates were not forthcoming after the 80's remodel. Weis Markets opened across the street and while I don't have official word, I assume that ran ACME outta town. The store closed in 2007. The building is still standing and relatively unaltered. It now operates as a Harbor Freight with a very oddly placed CVS impossibly close to the front of the store. We will take a look at aerial views below. 

Very traditional 33M model here. 

These photos date back to the early 2000's when the 80's remodel was still present and looking a bit tired. I would guess when the store first opened, there was another aisle here with produce cases directly across from the wall. Obviously, can't confirm this without checking for mismatched tiles on the floor In the 90's, ACME opened up most of their produce departments by making the produce aisle double wide and adding these wood display cases. The produce cases along the left wall were most likely upgraded since the 80's remodel.

A sharp eye will catch that the seafood service counter had been removed at this point, with upright freezers put in place of the counter. 

The store appears to have a lot of lights out when these photos were taken. Whether they were burned out or off to reduce electricity use is unknown. Made for some dark areas of the store. 12 aisles was pretty standard for the 33M stores. 

The abandoned store has been featured previously on the blog. You can click here to jump to that coverage. 

At one point, I believe soon after ACME closed, Sav alot took over, doing a very nice job fixing the building up and leaving nearly every exterior ACME detail in place. 

Above is an aerial shot showing the absurdity of the location of the CVS. 

Update: Former Parkesburg ACME

SPECTACULAR
TRANSFORMATION!

Location: 120 First Ave, Parkesburg, PA

A few "before" photos before we see the results of a new tenant taking over the space. 

The Parkesburg ACME opened in 1969 and closed in 2003. It then sat empty for 16 years, completely frozen in time, until renovations began in early 2019. 

These photos are from my visit back in 2010. To this day, my favorite ACME I have ever visited! To check out the previous coverage of the Parkesburg ACME, click here.

The classic fish-eye sign surprisingly survived long after the store closed. In most cases ACME would, at the very least, hit this with a can of black paint.

A few views of the ACME still showing up on google maps street view mode. A couple broken windows since the store first appeared on the blog. Hard to believe the place didn't suffer more vandalism in all the years it sat empty. 

AFTER>>>

Planet Fitness opened here back in mid 2019 after extensive renovations inside and out. The end results are pretty impressive with most of the building's original architectural features well intace. The spirit of the old ACME lives on!

The outline of the ACME sign is still remains to some degree. I would guess the light-up tiles on the inside have been removed but it would be so fun if they were still there. I might swing by here someday for a workout. Long road trip but it wouldn't be the first Planet Fitness in a former ACME that I worked out at! 

Really great shot here! Photos courtesy of google reviewers. The rear wall looks to be in the same exact place as ACME. Most likely due to the second floor platform right behind it. So great to see the pitched-roof still intact! 

Below is a google view of all the upgrades and new tenants at the shopping center. A bunch of new tenants along with a freshly paved parking lot and Parkesburg's downtown shopping center is looking better than ever!