Abandoned ACME – Morris Plains, NJ

Location: 329 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains, NJ

The once seemingly invincible Morris Plains ACME, which has stood here for 43 years, is now closed and abandoned, having remained this way since June of 2021. Surprisingly, still standing as the landlord planned to kick ACME out, tear the place down and build three smaller businesses on the property. Never happened. ACME could have remained open all of that time. It appears that only recently has plans for the building come into fruition. What exactly, I'm not too sure. Some sort of EV business is slowly rehabbing the interior and even more slowly the exterior. Must be frustrating for Morris Plains residents who used the ACME frequently, more as a convenience store in recent years than their weekly shopping destination like back in the day when this store was one of ACME's top performers. 

43 years later, the original mansard roof is still intact. Now with that awful green color ACME insisted on painting all of their old stores with. Some modifications happened to the facade during the store's last remodel which dates back to the late 90's. 

The exterior has deteriorated significantly since the store closed. 

The boarded-up area used to be windows but have recently been removed along with the cement base, possibly to bring large equipment into the store. Portions of the awning have also been removed on each end as well. 

A LOOK INSIDE >>>

It's all been stripped away! Gutted. Everything ACME gone. But hey, the lights are on!

ABANDONED >>>

Photos courtesy of TD3 on YouTube

Here are some screengrabs from a TD3's video on YouTube that captures the interior of the ACME still intact as of just two years ago. (Side note: why on earth did this store have such a gigantic seafood department?)

We have seen this many, many times before but I always get excited about it... the ORIGINAL wall paneling in the Meat Department fully on display once the upright meat cases are removed! This paneling is original to the store and part of the Colonial Decor package. Morris Plains would go on to have three remodels in its lifetime and these panels remained untouched every time. Interesting to note that Morris Plains did receive the Checkerboard Arch decor in the early 90's which was not brought into many North Jersey ACMEs. And in this particular case, the "remodel" was extremely minor with Morris Plains not recieveing many of the decorative elements from that decor package. In fact, the entire Checkerboard Arch decor was done throughout the store only in blue and green. The red and blue combo not to be found here. 

IN BETTER DAYS  >>>

Jumping back in time with this photo courtesy of Rob Ascough. You can jump back to an old post where Rob gives fascinating details of the Morris Plains ACME by clicking here. 

AERIAL IMAGES

1979

Here we see the "new" ACME freshly built on the back of the property. The original ACME was located out at the street, which you can see in the image below. 

1970

Some very unique elements to be seen at the original Morris Plains ACME! 

New Post Tomorrow!

It's been quiet here for a few weeks but a new post will be going up tomorrow with more to come this week. While there hasn't been much to see here lately, I have been getting around and photographing stores for future posts. Visiting four today alone! Things will continue to ramp up here as the summer comes to an end.

Abandoned Pathmark – Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

Location: 6718 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Today's psst is being cobbled together from photos across the internet. I recently stumbled upon this former Pathmarkt location, knowing absolutely nothing about it. The store closed back in 2012 and the building has remained abandoned since. Most of the large shopping center it is part of is abandoned as well. 

Photo courtesy of Pathmark Alumni

Signage being taken down after closing. I believe this dates back to Feb/March 2012.

Photos of the store are still posted in Google's directory/reviews. The store is listed as "permanently closed" of course but the interior photos were a surprise for sure! The store never received the "Path to Savings" remodel of the mid-2000'. This is the only Pathmark I have ever seen to have not recieved the remodel yet continue to remain open.

FINAL DAYS >>>

Photos courtesy of Chris Coleman at Cat Country 107.3

Very exciting look at the interior of the store in its final days. I believe this is a 90's décor package and like ShopRite's décor at the time, extremely lacking in DÉCOR! Mostly made up of plain black letters for the departments and some basic stripes on the walls.

A look inside the store recently reveals that most of the interior was gutted except for portions of the left side. A random cart remains as well. 

The Pathmar in much better days! Word is this store was very successful back in the day. I believe this picture was taken after A&P had taken over and drove the final nail into the chain. 

UPDATE >>>

Location: 111 New York, Egg Harbor City, NJ

And now we'll head about 20 minutes northwest to the former ACME in Egg Harbor City! While it looks like another business has taken over, a closer look reveals the building may have just been painted and patched. Perhaps it serves as some sort of storage facility, as indicated by the trucks in front. While the building has had a facelift of sorts, ACME's three parking lot sign structures remain! 

ABANDONED DAYS >>>

Here are some highlights from previous coverage of this abandoned ACME. To jump to the previous posts with even more photos, please click here.