New Britain/Chalfont, PA
Warminster, PA
Warminster, PA
Aerial images of both stores are included below. Neither store currently appears on the blog. I was quite sure I had Warminster photographed but unfortunately I'm not finding any pictures. I have been to the store several times, and will return prior to it closing. I have never been to New Britain, which is often referred to as Chalfont. Both stores are set to close in November. Some comments have come in the last day about the news but have not been posted. Acme confirmed the news on their Facebook page just hours ago so it's safe for Acme Style to now pass on the unfortunate news.
Location: 505 W Butler Ave, Chalfont, PA
A classic 90's superstore location. I'm not terribly familiar with the competition in the area. A former Genuardi's very close by is now a Giant. I've never gotten word that this store was in danger so this one came as a surprise. Did the relatively new Giant run Acme into the ground? All indications are the new owners are have significant success in turning around Acme's fortunes but apparently there are locations that are just too far gone.
Location: 808 E Street Rd Warminster, PA
Not sure if this store was ever successful. Opened sometime in the early 2000's. I have been told repeated for years that this store would be closing. Well, the day has finally arrived. Particularly sad to see such a new Acme dying off although Alberstons didn't have the best track record for picking new store locations during their first round of running the company.
I can probably photograph new britain if you'd like me to, but you should definitely visit it before it closes. Giant right across the street that used to be genaurdi's. Wegmans opened about three miles away in November of 2013, and giant down in center of chalfont. None of the above drew customers away.. Still a quite busy store to this day.. Such a nice store with awesome employees. Sad to see them go. Please come to this store before it closes. You won't be dissapointed in the area. (Visit Doylestown and Lansdale when in the area as both are within miles of eachother)
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised the Warminster location lasted as long as it did. I've stopped in every now and then and there was never more than a handful of people shopping (one of those trips was on a Sunday afternoon where I remember only one cashier on, who was standing there twiddling his thumbs). It was a nice looking store, but there is just too much competition in the area (there is a Costco up the road (opened in 2011) as well as a Walmart that became a mini-supercenter a few years back. Not to mention a new Weis that opened last year (former SuperFresh/Pathmark) about a mile away in Huntingdon Valley.
ReplyDeleteThis Warminster store was a replacement for their store in Southampton, which dated back to the 70's. A new Giant opened in the mid 90's almost directly next door and pretty much killed the Acme.
The Chalfont store is sort of puzzling, given the competition is the Giant (Genuardis) in Chalfont, and another ancient/tiny Giant(Clemens) in New Britain. Although the new (November 2013) Montgomeryville Wegmans isn't too far away. There was a Bottom Dollar Food (former SuperFresh?) in town a couple years back, but that didn't make it either.
The bottom dollar I believe used to be better bodies (workout facility) which closed and moved and is now out of business. Bottom dollar went in and closed after about a year in service
DeleteThe Bottom Dollar actually was an A&P back in the 70s, and a Super Fresh for a few years (about 83 to 87) until the Doylestown store opened.
DeleteYes, it was a workout place, but before that, it was most definitely a grocery store before that.
DeleteI hate it when Acme closes stores.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Chalfont Acme from 1997-2011. It was such a great store and the coworkers were awesome! We were one big happy family. A lot of the originals from when the store opened are still there now 17 years later. There is also a giant about 5 miles away in Hatfield at the Snyder Square shopping center, a Super Wal Mart was built a couple years ago off Lenhart Rd. 4 miles away. So much fierce competition is one of the main reasons it's closing. It saddened me hearing the bad news. :-(
ReplyDeleteThe store count will be below 100 soon, I remember when I was working it was over 800
ReplyDeleteThat is a good point--anyone know what the store count is currently?
ReplyDeleteStore counts are tracked on the blog. Current total is 110.
Deletehttp://acmestyleblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Store%20counts
One thing I have noticed in the last few years, is that Acme stores NORTH of the PA Turnpike (I-76/I-276) seem to be few and far between. After these two close, the remaining stores will be Doylestown; Lansdale; Norristown; King of Prussia, Phoenixville; and Lionville/Eagle.
ReplyDeleteSo many other stores above the Turnpike have closed, like Quakertown, Collegeville, Limerick, Pottstown, Boyertown, etc. Why does Acme struggle so much in this area?
It seems ACME is exiting the North-of-Turnpike area. I live near the Eagle (Chester Springs) ACME, and that store I can verify has not changed since opening. It still has the original signage inside, while in most other stores, they have taken the Pf&H markers. Then Exton and Westtown have been closed, and Phoenixville seems seriously stuck in the past. Let's hope they start to shed their light on these stores soon.
DeleteThe PA Turnpike really has nothing to do with Acme store closings. PRICES and their failure to COMPETE are the ONLY reasons they will be just a memory very soon.
ReplyDeleteWeekly sales won't cut it. They NEED to head to head and beat there competitors, just as was done when Robinson & Crawford and Scaggs were the owners. Since 1999, SuperValu ravaged the company and it will take MUCH more then fancy yellow sale tags and weekly sales to save what few stores the still operate. And Ceribus loves selling off real estate that does not perform.
Warminster is in a very densely populated area, yet that store has never been the hit of the town. Why???
PRICES.
RIP Chalfant and Warminster Acme's
The Chalfant property is not a lease, it is owned...so now we see that Ceribus and Albertson's are just following the Stupid...er, Supervalu footprint and make what we can, while we can. Wow, seems to work for the rich...
ReplyDelete