Great piece of advertising, and it's amazing that the huge building still exists (as well as most of its classic signage). It can easily be seen by passing SEPTA rail passengers to and from the west suburbs. It's definitely worthy of its own post!
The Bakery and Distribution Center opened in 1952 and the Distribution Center closed at the end of 1999, replaced by a new 1.4 million square foot facility in Denver, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Union wages were $7.00/hr cheaper in Lancaster. It is significant that William Park was president when this facility opened. He became the company's second president in 1937, when Samuel Robinson retired, and oversaw the transformation of the company from counter-service stores to supermarkets, opening the first two Acme Markets in Paterson, NJ in 1937. He continued to serve as president untill 1955, when he retired, but remained Chairman of the Board until his death in April 1961.
This warehouse at 59th and Upland way was where I had my first fulltime job in 1977. My grandfather, William Park, had been president and chairman decades earlier. Sadly, he passed away when I was still quite young.
What a magnificent advertising piece - I had only seen the front cover of this one previously, thanks so much for sharing it with us! As far as the current day photos of the bakery/DC goes, it's amazing to me that the signage survives in such good shape.
I guess when they decided to add the sign on the awning above the rail siding, they just used a standard store sign of the day. That version is one of my all-time favorites, and I call it Acme's "automotive fender script" sign! ;)
This is unrelated to the post, but there's something I've been wondering for a while. Perhaps Bill Haines could answer this question.
In downtown Chestertown, Maryland; there is a building that looks to me like an old 40s or 50s Acme. It is now home to the Kent County Social Services Department. The address is 350 High Street and based on the building's shape, the parking lot, and the fact that it looks like it was added onto in the back; I'm convinced that it's an old school Acme store.
I know there was a pitched-roof Acme in Chestertown that opened in the early 60s. That store could have been a replacement for this downtown location.
If anyone knows, please let me know if I am right or wrong! Thanks!
I believe you're right about the Kent County Social Services Department building being an old 50's Acme. When I saw the side of the building where the parking lot is on Google Streetview, it looked to me right away like a former Acme too. Check out this website I found of a preview of a book on the history of Chestertown: http://books.google.com/books?id=jY1q4f89JjcC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=acme+High+Street,+Chestertown,+MD&source=bl&ots=YxfMZDtc9Q&sig=E277FoeQZGyu5XZMAlkpcVQPU5s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7jygT7jfNYiWtwebnoGCAg&ved=0CB8Q6AEwADge#v=onepage&q=acme&f=false
Page 31 talks about the opening of the High St. Acme in November 1950, just to be replaced with the new pitched roof store that opened in 1966 in Kent Plaza Shopping Center out toward the edge of town, and is still in operation in almost original form today, at least from what I can tell by the images on Google Streetview and the Viable Retail Acme website.
Hi, I spent five years in the Chestertown Storee you are corrcet about the mid town original Acme, But the A Frame has been expanded on both sides in the 80!s and renovated with a new Deli and Buitcher Block in 2008. The company is again expanding this store by moving into the styores to the left and rigth of the existing unit some time after the first of the year. Gerry
The page with the store brand Ideal products takes me back in time. I wasn't around in the 50s, but when I was growing up in the 80s, I had a play kitchen set that included little plastic fake foods. It also included little plastic miniature versions of canned goods, which contained the labels of -- you guessed it! -- Ideal food products. Even as a young kid, I remember the cans' Ideal labels being rather retro/outdated for those times. Lol.
Also, I have the cardboard pop-up miniature Acme store...which I believe the man is holding in the booklet's first page picture. They were made in the 50s. My friend got it for me as a gift very recently. The funny thing is, it lacks a meat department or deli...was this common for the 50s Acme stores, or was it just left off the cardboard model?
Great find! It's clearly from the 1950s, but any idea what year?
ReplyDeleteGreat piece of advertising, and it's amazing that the huge building still exists (as well as most of its classic signage). It can easily be seen by passing SEPTA rail passengers to and from the west suburbs. It's definitely worthy of its own post!
ReplyDeleteThe Bakery and Distribution Center opened in 1952 and the Distribution Center closed at the end of 1999, replaced by a new 1.4 million square foot facility in Denver, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Union wages were $7.00/hr cheaper in Lancaster. It is significant that William Park was president when this facility opened. He became the company's second president in 1937, when Samuel Robinson retired, and oversaw the transformation of the company from counter-service stores to supermarkets, opening the first two Acme Markets in Paterson, NJ in 1937.
ReplyDeleteHe continued to serve as president untill 1955, when he retired, but remained Chairman of the Board until his death in April 1961.
This warehouse at 59th and Upland way was where I had my first fulltime job in 1977. My grandfather, William Park, had been president and chairman decades earlier. Sadly, he passed away when I was still quite young.
DeleteWhat a magnificent advertising piece - I had only seen the front cover of this one previously, thanks so much for sharing it with us! As far as the current day photos of the bakery/DC goes, it's amazing to me that the signage survives in such good shape.
ReplyDeleteI guess when they decided to add the sign on the awning above the rail siding, they just used a standard store sign of the day. That version is one of my all-time favorites, and I call it Acme's "automotive fender script" sign! ;)
You continue to do a fantastic job here. Thanks!
This is unrelated to the post, but there's something I've been wondering for a while. Perhaps Bill Haines could answer this question.
ReplyDeleteIn downtown Chestertown, Maryland; there is a building that looks to me like an old 40s or 50s Acme. It is now home to the Kent County Social Services Department. The address is 350 High Street and based on the building's shape, the parking lot, and the fact that it looks like it was added onto in the back; I'm convinced that it's an old school Acme store.
I know there was a pitched-roof Acme in Chestertown that opened in the early 60s. That store could have been a replacement for this downtown location.
If anyone knows, please let me know if I am right or wrong! Thanks!
Nintendo85,
ReplyDeleteI believe you're right about the Kent County Social Services Department building being an old 50's Acme. When I saw the side of the building where the parking lot is on Google Streetview, it looked to me right away like a former Acme too. Check out this website I found of a preview of a book on the history of Chestertown: http://books.google.com/books?id=jY1q4f89JjcC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=acme+High+Street,+Chestertown,+MD&source=bl&ots=YxfMZDtc9Q&sig=E277FoeQZGyu5XZMAlkpcVQPU5s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7jygT7jfNYiWtwebnoGCAg&ved=0CB8Q6AEwADge#v=onepage&q=acme&f=false
Page 31 talks about the opening of the High St. Acme in November 1950, just to be replaced with the new pitched roof store that opened in 1966 in Kent Plaza Shopping Center out toward the edge of town, and is still in operation in almost original form today, at least from what I can tell by the images on Google Streetview and the Viable Retail Acme website.
Thanks for discovering that!! Very helpful information!
ReplyDeleteHi, I spent five years in the Chestertown Storee you are corrcet about the mid town original Acme, But the A Frame has been expanded on both sides in the 80!s and renovated with a new Deli and Buitcher Block in 2008. The company is again expanding this store by moving into the styores to the left and rigth of the existing unit some time after the first of the year. Gerry
ReplyDeleteWhat's going on currently with the West Philly distribution center? Are there any plans for it?
ReplyDeleteThe page with the store brand Ideal products takes me back in time. I wasn't around in the 50s, but when I was growing up in the 80s, I had a play kitchen set that included little plastic fake foods. It also included little plastic miniature versions of canned goods, which contained the labels of -- you guessed it! -- Ideal food products. Even as a young kid, I remember the cans' Ideal labels being rather retro/outdated for those times. Lol.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have the cardboard pop-up miniature Acme store...which I believe the man is holding in the booklet's first page picture. They were made in the 50s. My friend got it for me as a gift very recently. The funny thing is, it lacks a meat department or deli...was this common for the 50s Acme stores, or was it just left off the cardboard model?