Final Days: Acme, Jersey City NJ

The Jersey City store, located at 16 Garfield Avenue, closed on January 31, 2010. You can read more about the closing of this store in a former post by clicking here. All caught up? Well then, let's take a look inside...


The Produce alove located just inside the entrance. This shot was taken facing the front of the store. The entrance is to the right along the far wall.

You can see the 80's checkerboard floor still in place. The 80's wall decor was changed out in the early 2000's... or maybe I should say stripped out. There wasn't much decor put in to replace what was there. The Produce walls looking pretty drab.


The curved ceiling sections were standard issue in late 70's and 80's stores. Found mostly in the Produce and Bakery departments. These sections were removed in stores that received significant remodels in the late 90's to 2000's.

The decor package here is not seen too often... it seems to have been used mostly in the remaining smaller neighborhood stores. The very last pitched-roof store in Clayton NJ has similar decor as does the store in St. Michaels Maryland, which I have yet to visit. The decor in Clayton has a little more life to it.

One of the odd aspects of this decor... and there are many to come... is that the names of the departments are not spelled out on the walls. The one exception of the "Delicious Deli" which will be along shortly.


Another unusual aspect of this store is the location of the Dairy department. It runs along the first aisle... not to be confused with aisle 1... just beyond the Produce department.There is a framed picture here on the wall that says "Dairy Market". The other framed pictures around the store are old black and white photos of buildings which I believe are all located in Jersey City.


So check this out... aisle 1 is actually aisle 3, or at the very least... aisle 2. How can that be? Keep in mind we just came from the Dairy aisle which is the first aisle. It must have been a nightmare directly people to aisle 1 since there are two. I have been know to be completely flabbergasted at the decisions Acme makes when it comes to the interior design and layout of their stores. There often seems to be a lack of thought put into things.


The Delicious Deli is the only department to be clearly spelled out on the walls. If you look closely you can see the aisle markers say "Acme Markets... Jersey City's Best"


Looking towards the checkout stands. This store was slamming busy on this particular night. Not sure if it was always that way or just because of the 33% off sale.


Shelves emptying out as the Acme winds down another location...




The curved ceiling section above the Bakery as mentioned earlier. Notice how high the ceilings are in this store. All the more reason to put some more exciting graphics and colors on the walls... in my opinion anyway.




Aisle 8. But really 10. No? Oh... where's the milk? In the first aisle... which is not to be confused with aisle 1. Hoping FineFare gets this all straightened out before they open.


It's looks as though this store has an in-store Bakery but it's not set up like a service department. This too I find confusing. Hopefully someone can let us know. It looked as though there were some fresh baked products and there is a room located behind the bakery racks which could house some ovens.


A final look outside...


FineFare is coming soon! Goodnight Acme...

UPDATE 2.20.10: FineFare is now open! They store remained closed for 2 weeks but has now re-opened. Renovations are still underway and will continue for quite sometime.

UPDATE 2.10.10: Pictures of the Jersey City way back in 1998, with it's original awning color and 80's red oval logo...

Images above courtesy of Rob Ascough

UPDATE 9.24.10: Pictures of Fine Fare have arrived...

The front of the store looks great! Big pictures of fresh food items in the front windows and foyer. Although the front of the store has lots of indications that this is a "Fresh" store, the selection inside does not come close to what other "Fresh" themed stores carry. In fact, this store is just a plain old grocery store very few fresh offering.

The Produce Department is a big step up from Acme. Vastly improved decor, cases and merchandising.

Fine Fare's remodel included new decor, new cases and new flooring throughout. Little to no structural changes were made. The Acme's bones still intact. 

The black and white photos were left in place around the store. Some much needed color was added to the walls which completely changes the atmosphere of the store. Hard to believe Acme couldn't spring for some new paint to freshen the place up years ago. 

Bright orange along the back of the store.

The flooring is varied throughout the store. The aisles have a faux stone look to the floor.

My impression of Fine Fare is that it focuses on the basics.

Compare the frozen food aisle to how it looked in the Acme days. Huge improvement.

The Bakery to the right here has mostly prepackage baked goods. There looked to be a better selection than Acme but still a far cry from "fresh" selections.

The cash register stands may be left over from Acme. The register lights most certainly are.

Slow start to this late Sunday morning. Very few people in the store. The atmosphere of the inside is light years ahead of Acme's but I can't attest to the selection and pricing. 

A very different scene then the times I was here back in the Acme days. Not sure if this place is going to make especially with some much larger supermarkets nearby.