Acme – Runnemede, New Jersey

Location: 501 E Evesham Road, Runnemede, NJ

Our tour of the remaining New Jersey stores continues with a stop in Runnemede. Not one of the more exciting Acmes out there, this standard 90's model has the basic Albertsons Marketplace remodel inside. We have been seeing a lot of that decor package lately and will continue to as the last of the Jersey stores make their way to the blog. Hoping to stumble across a store with the Industrial Circus sooner rather than later!


Opening date of this store unknown. Historic satellite images are showing the store arriving after 1995. The images also reveal that this 90's model was built on the site of a pitched-roof model. I don't have an opening date for that store either.


We're headed inside, although we're going to start at the far and make our way back to this entrance...




Rummenede is an impeccably clean and well stocked store. It's hard to know though if this store has always looked this good or if recent changes by the new owners has helped. What I can say for sure, the changes in store conditions from my road trips in 2012 compared to those in the second half of 2013 are dramatic. It's nice to see Acme being set up for success rather than continually being sabotaged by the former owners.






You'll notice a lack of customers throughout the store. I was here very early in the morning. I also strive to take people-free pictures which helps to explain the lack of shoppers in the photos.




Unusual to find the 90's panels above the Bakery, and over in Seafood, no longer here. The new letters were usually just stuck on them as you can see in the Glasboro Bakery by clicking here. Could the panels have never been here in the first place? They were often removed in these remodels. Some stores got more significant signage which you can see at the Mount Holly store by clicking here.






Looks as though the Wild Harvest Department got the boot leaving the hardwood floor behind. Health food gone in favor of deals, deals, deals. We saw a similar situation in the Sicklerville store.




The flooring gets even more odd at the back of the aisle.


No 90's panel above Seafood & Meats which used to be just Seafood back in the 90's.




Coffin cases in frozen not seen a lot these days. It's usual they have been removed and replaced with the upright freezers like in most stores.




Seasonal at the back of the store.




Center aisle...




Sad Dairy sign. They really should have made these signs standard issue!






Walk-in Floral department right near the entrance. Similar set up here as in the former Glassboro store.

Aerial Views...

I wasn't able to track down any nearby competitors when touring the satellite images. Hopefully someone can let us know. There certainly aren't any significant shopping centers close to this Acme.

Historic Views...

2007

2002

1995

Pitch-roofed model standing back in 1995! The place looks closed here, perhaps ready to be torn down.

1970

No store back in 1970 which makes the pitch-roof model above among the last to be built. 

Update: 10.12.13:

Runnemede Gets More Interesting!

We had some commenters fill in the blanks here. Turns out, the Runnemede Acme did begin as a pitched-roof store at this very location. It was eventually closed and used as a storage facility for the company. At some point, a new store opened over in Deptford, about 2 miles west of the Evesham Road location. In 1995, Acme returned to this site, tearing down the old pitched-roof store and building this 90's model as a replacement to the Deptford store, which is now a Babies R Us... 

Location: 1120 Hurffville Road, Deptford Township, NJ

I had no idea this was a former Acme location. Drove right by this shopping center on the way to Runnemede. At the time, the Kmart here was having its liquidation sale. There are several shopping centers in this area, including a Walmart Supercenter. Somehow missed all of this when I was searching the satellite images. I was looking closer to the Runnemeed Acme for competition. It seems in the last decade or so, ShopRite has favored opening stores as close to an Acme as they can get.



Here are some comments explaining the history...

Zach: I’m not 100% sure but this might have been a replacement store for an Acme that was located at Clements Bridge Road and Hurffville Road (Route 41) in Deptford. The former Acme is currently a Babies R Us and is about 2 miles west from where the Runnemede store is now.

DaileyFit: Zach, you are correct. This store opened in 1995 and was one of the most successful stores in the district until it plunged in the mid 2000's. The original Runnemede Acme sat at this site as storage until torn down and built as the current store. Most Deptford personnel came to work here as the replacement store. I believe Acme owns this property.

"...until it plunged in the mid 2000's"
Love this comment! Can't this be said by absolutely EVERY Acme?