Former Acme – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Photos courtesy of John from WISL1480.com

Location: 1207 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA
Opening date: unknown

Opening and closing dates for this store are unknown. Lancaster's other picthed-roof store over on Millersville Pike, which we'll have a look at down below, opened in August 1962. I've been told Acme left Lancaster and surrounding areas in the early 80's due to an impass with the district's unions. I've never been able to confirm that information 

The former Acme is now split between a CVS and a uniform store. A drop ceiling has been added and there are no Acme clues to be found inside. Plenty to be seen on the outside. 

The exterior of this strip has barely been altered since it was built. 

The former Produce delivery doors.

The compressor beam has been removed here. Acme's second floor rear windows still intact. 

AERIAL VIEWS

Acme faced competition from a Weis across Lititz Ave and a Pantry Pride just North on Litiz Avenue, which was located in the shopping center at the top of this image. Weis relocated to a replacement store North of here back in the 90s. The Pantry Pride became Giant which you can see at the left-end of the shopping center. This store was completely torn down and replaced in 2008. I've been dying to see pictures of the new store for years now. You can catch views of the new building in some of the aerial images when exploring the area. Just today, I stumbled across pictures of the store taken by our friend catnapped1972. Finally got a look at the new Giant! You can have a full tour by clicking on the photo below...

HISTORIC AERIALS

1992

1969

1951

AN OVERVIEW OF LANCASTER'S 
OTHER ACME LOCATIONS

PITCHED-ROOF ON MILLERSVILLE PIKE...

Location: 1294 Millersville Pike

Opening date: August 15, 1962

Lancaster's other former pitched-roof Acme in the Manor Shopping Center. Back in the 90's this was an Ace Hardware store and at that time still looked very much like an Acme both inside and out. Since then, the shopping center added the blue awning across the store and sealed over the high windows. Interestingly, Acme had expanded into a small section on the right side. I believe the addition was torn down in order for Ruby Tuesdays to build their restaurant.


These photos are actually from Google Street View and we can even move around to the back of the store...

TOWER STORE ON SOUTH QUEEN...

222 South Queen Street

Opening date: March 16, 1952

You can see where the tower was once located above the entrance. This location has been a Save A Lot for as long as I can remember.

50's FLAT-ROOF ON COLUMBIA AVE...

Location: 1775 Columbia Avenue

Opening date: September 5, 1956

This used to be Rebman Brother's store. I see now that Rebman's is located in at the back of the building.  When they occupied the whole store, the interior was mostly intact from the Acme days. The former meat room and back rooms were used for a huge display of artificial Chirstmas trees and decorations.


Rebman's used to be famous for it's party supplies and holiday decorations. Now it looks like they just sell flags and bingo supplies.

POSSIBLE 30's STORE ON NORTH QUEEN...

532 North Queen Street

Opening date: November 10, 1938

A little confused by this one. The address I have for this Acme is 532 North Queen Street. As you can see, the address on this building is 530. Perhaps it was once divided into two sections with the half of the right being 532. The historic aerials don't offer any additional clues. This building and the houses next door date back to the first available image on historic aerials in 1951.

AND THE STORE THAT STILL HAS
ACME DÉCOR!

Location: 1649 Lincoln Highway East

Opening date: 1965

Acme's decorative Meat Department panels have survived to this very day! They've been painted over numerous times but have never been removed. This location was covered on the blog in May 2015. You can visit the full post by clicking here.