I'm just curious. Is Shoprite a union grocery? Or is it dependent on each individual operator? On another note, I was in a Shoprite last evening that had a huge revolving door at the entrance. Seemed kind of impractical for a grocery store...
The ShopRite in Succassunna had one of those years ago. They spent a FORTUNE on it and it was such a disaster they eventually had to take it out and go back to regular doors.
I know that Shoprites in the northern part of NJ were represented by UFCW 1262.
I was working at Acme in 1993 when Shoprite, Pathmark, Grand Union and Foodtown all went on strike. The Acme was packed. You couldn't even walk through the store. Every day was a record business day.
It does depend on the operator or region where the stores operate. The vast majority of ShopRite stores are union, but there are a few operators who run non-union stores. These non-union operators mostly consist of existing family-owned chains that have joined the cooperative in recent years, such as Klein's in Maryland and Super Grade A in Fairfield County, CT. I remember working at a non-union ShopRite in Norwalk, CT during college, after working many years at a few union ShopRites in Northern Jersey during high-school. It was a totally different experience...like working for a different brand. Interesting to note that Wakefern's corporately-run ShopRite stores are union, while Wakefern corporately-run PriceRite stores are non-union; and the latter are subject to union protests.
Acme Style: The store with the revolving door was in Bound Brook, NJ. The thing had to be 12 feet wide but it only had three compartments. Most people going in and out were using the standard doors to each side of the revolving one.
Dave W: I take it that the fact that the Norwalk, CT store was a previous chain that joined ShopRite is what it made it different than the other ShopRites that you worked at?? I've never worked for a union shop so I don't have any experience in that realm.
The Norwalk store had been opened as a ShopRite, but the Super Grade A chain had joined Wakefern a few years earlier. Previous to working at the Norwalk ShopRite I had worked at a non-union Shaws in CT. (One of the disposed Edwards stores after Ahold bought Stop & Shop) This was when Shaws was owned by Sainsbury's. Both CT experiences were similarly crappy, and (just my opinion) I have always attributed it to the fact that these were non-union stores. The way we were treated as employees was completely different from the way I was accustomed to at the NJ stores, as far as the levels of respect we were shown and the attitudes of my co-workers. We were just ordered around and people seemed to reflect that in their attitude towards working there. The Shaws used some scheduling software that would screw up my hours every week. Accordingly, the rate of turnover was massive. Needless to say, I didn't last long at either store. Prior to these, I worked at 2 ShopRite stores in NJ--each of which were single-unit operators, meaning the owners owned only one store. In each store, we knew the owners, and the owners were involved in the daily operations. They also were involved with the communities where they operated, sponsoring local concerts in the park and little leagues. Many of the people who worked there (and still do to this day) were there for over 20 years. While I made a small fraction of what I make today...the family atmospheres made them the best jobs I have ever held in my life.
Shoprite in Hainesport NJ just underwent a total remodel. Also they are building a new one in a former K-Mart (not sure how much is still a 70s kmart still, or if it is mostly a new build) In Burlington NJ
I have been thinking about Clemens lately, and was wondering if there are still any former locations out there that have that late-80's slanted light up panels around the perimeter of the store. I remember Lionville had them up until Giant redid the store in 2008 or so... Am I the only one who remembers those? I was still in elementary school when it was redone,so I don't have too clear a memory and really want to see something like it again.
I found a few stores that look like former A&P's from Google Earth. They both look to be barrel roof stores, retrofitted with the centennial roof. They're located at: 1756 U.S. 46, Woodland Park, NJ 560 Passaic Avenue, West Caldwell, NJ The West Caldwell store is also located next to a very cool looking Shoprite, across the street from a Stop & Shop/former Edwards, and about a mile away from a pretty interesting Foodtown. The Woodland Park location is right next door to an A&P Fresh Market (labeled as a Fresh Market, but with the circle logo). If you feel like it, take a loom at them.
The Stop & Shop in West Caldwell is actually a former Kings, not Edwards. Far as the old WP A&P goes, the old store closed approximately 20 years ago and they subdivided it. One half has housed Party City since it opened, the other is on its fourth tenant in Golfsmith.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been back there (my family used to shop at the West Caldwell Japanese ShopRite at least 40 years ago) but from the maps it looks like the Stop & Shop is at the site of the original West Caldwell Stop & Shop which was accompanied by its corporate siblings, Medi-Mart and CB Perkins Tobacco.
It closed when Stop & Shop pulled out of Northern NJ. They got back in when in the market after they merged with Edwards.
Stop & Shop actually continued to hold the lease on the West Caldwell store after they left the area; in 1981 they leased the store to Kings, but eventually forced them out in 2010: http://activerain.trulia.com/blogsview/1619966/after-25-years--a-final-farewell-to-the-kings-of-west-caldwell--new-jersey- The new store takes up the space of the original, plus the former Medimart/ Walgreens.
You may already know about these, but here are two former Union County Acmes: RAHWAY: 890 St. Georges Ave., Rahway, NJ (A 50's-style store, with brick columns along the side and huge sign on the street intact, but a new facade. Currently a CVS -- shocking!) ELIZABETH: 214 Rahway Ave., Elizabeth, NJ (Few, if any, signs are left of the Acme. It's now the Rahway Ave. Park & Shop, which contains an Auto Zone and a CVS!) Also in Elizabeth: The Supremo Food Market across the street was once an A&P. The Pathmark on Grand St. started out as a Supermarkets General-owned ShopRite, and when SG split off from ShopRite in 1968, it became a PathMark. The ShopRite also on Grand St. is very large, and the interior is entirely original from when the store was built in 1994. The Dollar General / Elmora Farmers Market between the two, at the intersection of Elmora Ave. and Grand St. was a Foodtown. There was once a Foodtown also on North Broad Street, but I'm not sure where.
Albertsons and SuperValu are ending the transition services agreement, which means that accounting and operation of distribution centers goes back in house. Probably no more SVU brands either.
I also found a ShopRite that looks like a former barrel roof/centennial A&P. Location: 220 Main St, Millburn, NJ A pretty small store. Looks like it had an expansion to the back and the left. If anyone can fill me in, please do!
I'm just curious. Is Shoprite a union grocery? Or is it dependent on each individual operator? On another note, I was in a Shoprite last evening that had a huge revolving door at the entrance. Seemed kind of impractical for a grocery store...
ReplyDeleteThe ShopRite in Succassunna had one of those years ago. They spent a FORTUNE on it and it was such a disaster they eventually had to take it out and go back to regular doors.
DeleteI know that Shoprites in the northern part of NJ were represented by UFCW 1262.
DeleteI was working at Acme in 1993 when Shoprite, Pathmark, Grand Union and Foodtown all went on strike. The Acme was packed. You couldn't even walk through the store. Every day was a record business day.
It does depend on the operator or region where the stores operate. The vast majority of ShopRite stores are union, but there are a few operators who run non-union stores. These non-union operators mostly consist of existing family-owned chains that have joined the cooperative in recent years, such as Klein's in Maryland and Super Grade A in Fairfield County, CT. I remember working at a non-union ShopRite in Norwalk, CT during college, after working many years at a few union ShopRites in Northern Jersey during high-school. It was a totally different experience...like working for a different brand.
DeleteInteresting to note that Wakefern's corporately-run ShopRite stores are union, while Wakefern corporately-run PriceRite stores are non-union; and the latter are subject to union protests.
Acme Style: The store with the revolving door was in Bound Brook, NJ. The thing had to be 12 feet wide but it only had three compartments. Most people going in and out were using the standard doors to each side of the revolving one.
DeleteDave W: I take it that the fact that the Norwalk, CT store was a previous chain that joined ShopRite is what it made it different than the other ShopRites that you worked at?? I've never worked for a union shop so I don't have any experience in that realm.
ShopRite is still 1262.
DeleteThere was a ShopRite just outside Asbury Park that had a revolving door as well. Not sure if that one is still there (the store or the door).
DeleteSuccassunna did have the revolving door.
DeleteBillyGr... the Ocean Township ShopRite?
Deletehttp://acmestyleblog.blogspot.com/search/label/NJ%3A%20Ocean%20Township
The Norwalk store had been opened as a ShopRite, but the Super Grade A chain had joined Wakefern a few years earlier. Previous to working at the Norwalk ShopRite I had worked at a non-union Shaws in CT. (One of the disposed Edwards stores after Ahold bought Stop & Shop) This was when Shaws was owned by Sainsbury's. Both CT experiences were similarly crappy, and (just my opinion) I have always attributed it to the fact that these were non-union stores. The way we were treated as employees was completely different from the way I was accustomed to at the NJ stores, as far as the levels of respect we were shown and the attitudes of my co-workers. We were just ordered around and people seemed to reflect that in their attitude towards working there. The Shaws used some scheduling software that would screw up my hours every week. Accordingly, the rate of turnover was massive. Needless to say, I didn't last long at either store.
DeletePrior to these, I worked at 2 ShopRite stores in NJ--each of which were single-unit operators, meaning the owners owned only one store. In each store, we knew the owners, and the owners were involved in the daily operations. They also were involved with the communities where they operated, sponsoring local concerts in the park and little leagues. Many of the people who worked there (and still do to this day) were there for over 20 years. While I made a small fraction of what I make today...the family atmospheres made them the best jobs I have ever held in my life.
Yes, that would be the one - I wasn't sure just what it was called, just knew it was outside of Asbury and near the mall/circle area.
DeleteM.Hale, you just reminded that the Stop&Shop in Phillipsburg had them for two weeks, before they broke.
DeleteShoprite in Hainesport NJ just underwent a total remodel. Also they are building a new one in a former K-Mart (not sure how much is still a 70s kmart still, or if it is mostly a new build) In Burlington NJ
ReplyDeleteThere is another Shoprite being built in a former Kmart in Howell NJ.
Delete!UPDATE ON QUAKERTOWN STORE!
ReplyDeleteStill the same, windows and all boarded up.
-AcmeLover
I have been thinking about Clemens lately, and was wondering if there are still any former locations out there that have that late-80's slanted light up panels around the perimeter of the store. I remember Lionville had them up until Giant redid the store in 2008 or so... Am I the only one who remembers those? I was still in elementary school when it was redone,so I don't have too clear a memory and really want to see something like it again.
ReplyDeleteI found a few stores that look like former A&P's from Google Earth. They both look to be barrel roof stores, retrofitted with the centennial roof. They're located at:
ReplyDelete1756 U.S. 46, Woodland Park, NJ
560 Passaic Avenue, West Caldwell, NJ
The West Caldwell store is also located next to a very cool looking Shoprite, across the street from a Stop & Shop/former Edwards, and about a mile away from a pretty interesting Foodtown. The Woodland Park location is right next door to an A&P Fresh Market (labeled as a Fresh Market, but with the circle logo). If you feel like it, take a loom at them.
The Stop & Shop in West Caldwell is actually a former Kings, not Edwards. Far as the old WP A&P goes, the old store closed approximately 20 years ago and they subdivided it. One half has housed Party City since it opened, the other is on its fourth tenant in Golfsmith.
DeleteIt’s been a long time since I’ve been back there (my family used to shop at the West Caldwell Japanese ShopRite at least 40 years ago) but from the maps it looks like the Stop & Shop is at the site of the original West Caldwell Stop & Shop which was accompanied by its corporate siblings, Medi-Mart and CB Perkins Tobacco.
DeleteIt closed when Stop & Shop pulled out of Northern NJ. They got back in when in the market after they merged with Edwards.
Stop & Shop actually continued to hold the lease on the West Caldwell store after they left the area; in 1981 they leased the store to Kings, but eventually forced them out in 2010: http://activerain.trulia.com/blogsview/1619966/after-25-years--a-final-farewell-to-the-kings-of-west-caldwell--new-jersey- The new store takes up the space of the original, plus the former Medimart/ Walgreens.
DeleteAny new update on Beach Haven construction?
ReplyDeleteYou may already know about these, but here are two former Union County Acmes:
ReplyDeleteRAHWAY: 890 St. Georges Ave., Rahway, NJ (A 50's-style store, with brick columns along the side and huge sign on the street intact, but a new facade. Currently a CVS -- shocking!)
ELIZABETH: 214 Rahway Ave., Elizabeth, NJ (Few, if any, signs are left of the Acme. It's now the Rahway Ave. Park & Shop, which contains an Auto Zone and a CVS!)
Also in Elizabeth: The Supremo Food Market across the street was once an A&P. The Pathmark on Grand St. started out as a Supermarkets General-owned ShopRite, and when SG split off from ShopRite in 1968, it became a PathMark. The ShopRite also on Grand St. is very large, and the interior is entirely original from when the store was built in 1994. The Dollar General / Elmora Farmers Market between the two, at the intersection of Elmora Ave. and Grand St. was a Foodtown. There was once a Foodtown also on North Broad Street, but I'm not sure where.
Is that Elizabeth store next to the train tracks? I remember watching them change it over from Acme riding by on the train in the mid 90s.
DeleteThere is still a trailer with the fisheye logo that that can be seen from the train right before pulling into the Rahway station.
DeleteWhat's your favorite ACME?
ReplyDeleteMine is most definitely Doylestown!
I would go with Jenkintown probably... Kind of surprising that it took 6 years of comments on the blog before someone asked that.
DeleteMine has to be the Bensalem (Bristol & Hulmeville) Acme
Delete@MikeRa- The Bensalem store is actually a very nice store!
DeleteCheck out my first supermarket memorabilia blog!
ReplyDelete(Click on AcmeLover to go to my blog!)
Posting is done every Wednesday and Saturday
Acme Style, Breaking News...
ReplyDeleteTjey stopped doing the saver-stamps!
This is true.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
DeleteMe neither, same with most of this guy's posts...
DeletePretty sure this is Supervalu ending their supplying of ACME's generic-brand products
DeleteSAVER STAMPS... The Green Stamps that you get when you shop at ACME
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAlbertsons and SuperValu are ending the transition services agreement, which means that accounting and operation of distribution centers goes back in house. Probably no more SVU brands either.
ReplyDeleteI also found a ShopRite that looks like a former barrel roof/centennial A&P. Location:
ReplyDelete220 Main St, Millburn, NJ
A pretty small store. Looks like it had an expansion to the back and the left. If anyone can fill me in, please do!