Acme – Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Location: 3951 Lincoln Hwy East, Downingtown, PA

Thought it was high time for a visit to another Industrial Circus Acme. Dug through the vault and discoverd the Downingtown store which I photogrpahed a little over a year ago. When I realized we haven't seen an I.C. store in quite a while, I got to thinking... why did some stores get the extremely colorful and graphic deocr package while others received the bland, and personality-deficient,
Allbertsons Marketplace remodel. Figured there must have been some factors that contributed to the choice of one decor package beind used over the over, aside from just cost. Speaking of the cost, the bill had to be much higher for the I.C. package since it had more elaborate signage, an abundance of wall decor and special lighthing not used in the Alberstons Marketplace decor remodels.

When I arrived at Downingtown, I was quite surprised to see the Industrail Circus decor as other stores in the area, like Exton and Westtown, had the Alberstons Marketplace remodel. After giving it some thought I believe I may have cracked the code. The 80's Superstores, like the one here in Downingtown, got the Industrail Circus package because they still had the 80's Remodel checkerboard floor by the 2000's. American Stores left the 80's flooring in place for these stores when they gave them the 90's Red/White/Blue remodel. (I do have some photographic evidence of this but unfortunatley not the permission to share it) 90's stores with the Red/White/Blue decor package received the Alberstons Marketplace decor since it was a decent match to the exisiting flooring. For the most part, that remodel did not come with a new floor. An exception to this rule is the former Westtown Acme. That store kept its 80´s checkerboard floor with the Alberstons Marketplace remodel. Another store that doesn't completely follow this rule is Phoenixville where the store retained most of the 80's flooring even though it had the Industiral Circus remodel.

A distinguishing feature of the 80's Superstores was the vestibule which was located at the center of the building. It had a somewhat designated entrance and exit inside... the entrance leads to the Produce side while the exit is near the checkouts. The layout of the departments is virtually identical to that of the 90's Superstores which have been covered extensively on the blog. One big difference is the 80's Superstores did not have a second story at the front of the building. You'll even notice here that the ceiling height throughout the store is relatively low.

I am currently working on a post that will feature a comprehensive direcorty of the 80's Superstores. It will be coming to the blog soon,


We'll enter on this side, just under the lablescar of the Starbucks/Seatle's Best (if the switch was in fact made here) sign.

I'm assuming things haven't changed much here in the past year but you never know. Acme is making adjustments in many of their stores these days. Most noticeably the removal of the shelf-checkouts. Unfortunately full remodels are few and far between.


An interesting feature with the entrance being located so close to the center of the store is a spacious Produce department. The 80's Superstores didn't have so much of a designated alcove like the 90's Supersstores. Also, no windows along the back and no arched ceilings. Just a big ol' plain room that sort of blends into the rest of the store.



Produce has the same ceiling height as the front-end of the store. Notice too, no secod floor at the front of the store.


The Salad Bar is now located in the Fruit Bar's former spot.


Strange there's no Salad Bar signage. You would hardly notice it back there.

The Industrial Circus flooring is pleasantly neutral throughout much of the store. It does get more colorful in the service departments (as you can see in the Bakery below) and the frozen food aisles. 

Downingtown has the more deluxe version of the I.C. package with the 3D signs, tiled walls and corrogated steal rain catchers for lack of a better word.


Meat and Seafood service department is just beyond the Bakery rather than along the back wall with the Deli.


The Meat sign got a bit of a trimming. We've seen this before in low ceiling stores. Probably was too low and took some hits from the meat racks rolling by.


The Deli sits alone along at the back of the store. This is generally the case for the 80's Superstores.

The raised ceiling over the grocery aisles also began with the 80's Superstores.


Take note of "ACME" along the front wall. It is very far removed from the "Thank you for shopping" signage which we will see later.


3 sided aisle makers! The 2 sided version is more commonly seen in stores...

I believe Morris Plains is the only other store on the blog where we've seen the 3 sided aisle markers for this decor package although I know it does exist in other stores.

Floral now located in the aisles. Pretty sure it was moved from the front wall for the Industrial Cirus remodel.


The center aisle was introduced in the 80's Superstores and carried on in the 90's stores.




The decals are pealing off of the Dairy sign.

The balloon filled front-end!




Here we see the "Thank you for shopping" with no "ACME" in sight.


First time I ever saw this signage at Acme!

AERIAL VIEWS

Interesting the all the stores in the center have had their roofs painted white except the Acme


There is a lot more competition in the area than when Acme first arrived. Giant opened just down the road in the early 2000's with a Wegmans now being just 10 minutes away. The same Wegmans along with another Giant recently spelled doom for the Exton Acme.

A look at how close the Giant is located. According the to historic aerials, it opened in 2002.

HISTORIC AERIALS

2008

2002

Downingtown looked to be doing some big business in 2002.

2002

Construction of the Giant looks to be finishing up here.

1999

1992

The store all the way to the left was vacant and for rent when I was here.


Hoping Downington can remain successful in the wake of other nearby Acmes shutting down.