Location: 210 West Marlboro Avenue, Easton, MD
Today we're visiting the Easton Acme and I gotta say, this is one of the strangest exteriors I've seen yet! (The photo above is a little dark but the image from Googles maps below shows a little more details, particularly the odd color scheme.) Looks like the store has seen a ghost! Even more so if you compare it to the "before" photos down below...
BEFORE >>>
These photos are from 2013 when the exterior had a little more color. THIS a great looking Acme! Not sure why the landlord decided to whitewash the joint. Made Acme's poor sign virtually disappear!
The exterior was updated during the Premium Fresh & Healthy era which explains the white logo and red awnings over the windows. The store also received the updated aisle and category markers.
The green topped cart corrals have since been replaced with the newer white and red versions.
This post has a big mix of photos from several contributors who I will list at the end.
The Easton Acme opened back in the 70's mostly definitely as a 33M model. An expansion, possibly as early as 1995, was done to the right side of the store essentially adding on the whole Grand Aisle we're seeing here. This store had one of the most deluxe Grand Aisles of any Acmes probably due to the fact that it was built from the ground up rather than being remodeled from existing space. Back in the early 2000's when I would hopelessly google Acme photos, a picture of this very Grand Aisle would always pop up at the top of the search results. Took years for me to figure out exactly which store it was.
While the décor here is the Albertsons Marketplace package, it's a version that wasn't used in many stores. The Granite Run and Warminster stores were among the few other Acmes to have décor similar to Easton. Granite Run now has Quality Built and Warminster is closed.
New lighting has been put into this section of the store. I believe the change happened back in 2015 prior to the store holding a grand reopening.
A couple of older photos which show the original lighting...
Older picture here with a gaggle of geese ready to crap in your cart.
The hanging lattice structure above the checkouts was removed. You can see a "before" photo below.
BACK TO THE EARLY 2000s
The original lighting can be seen in these photos.
Register lights that were actually designed to match the décor! These exact lights have never been seen on the blog before. A shame Acme yanked them out and replaced them with the horrible generic lights which swept through the whole chain.
THE FORMER EASTON ACMES >>>
Location: 815 Dover Road, Easton, MD
The former Colonial Cottage Acme on Dover Road. I have no dates for the opening of closing of this store and historic aerials date back only to 1981. I would imagine this store closed when the West Marlboro store opened.
Location: 134 N Washington St, Easton, MD
The original Easton Acme on Washington Street. Now a Goodwill Store. For some interior photos, click here.
Sometimes google street views are so good, there's no need to visit the former stores in person!
HISTORIC AERIALS
2010
2005
1995
Hard to really tell here but construction on the addition may be happening above.
1981
Thanks to Jacob V, Ben from Delaware and Dwayne Groton for the photos!
That lattice above the checkouts looks as though it came from the Chalkboard Market package. Was it pulled from one of those stores?
ReplyDeleteI would think it was original to this store. There wouldn't be much point dragging it over from another store. Granite Run had the same décor and the same lattice over the checkouts....
Deletehttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XApQ_wVm-A/U2PxvesIFuI/AAAAAAAAU9I/hMiux2x3Ev4/s1600/acme_style_Granite_Run_PA_47.jpg
Interesting store! This is probably one of the only Acmes with original Albertsons Marketplace "Beer" and "Wine" signs. Most Acmes of this generation got the frosted mug.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are correct the right sude of the store was extended into the parki g lot in 1995.A good store, it survived the clossings of Cambridge, STEVENSVILLE,The old SAULISBURY store ST Mikes, Denton, Milfird, MILLSBORO and many more on the shore.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a very vintage Safeway closed this past winter, that was across the street from the Goodwill/Acme. The grocery scene in town has changed since Harris Teeter opened up.
ReplyDeleteThis is the original "Jewel" interior that debuted in 1997 - long before Albertsons acquired ASC. "Albertsons Marketplace" is a derivative of that and many Jewels received the dumbed-down "Albertsons Marketplace" decor. The register lights are the giveaway as is the Dairy signage. "Albertsons Marketplace" went with different department signage. The green warehouse ceiling in the "grand aisle", and grand aisle signage are all hallmarks of this design. At a Jewel, "Meat and Seafood" would have read "Butcher Shop and Pier 14," "Deli" would have read "Chef's Kitchen," and "Produce" would have read "Farmstand." The Jewel Grand Aisle was flipped, with Chef's Kitchen separating the center store (often cheese and yogurt) from Farmstand, which would be on the exterior wall. I wish we had smartphones back when my local store received its makeover so I could have captured some pictures. It was really quite beautiful with a full-store warehouse ceiling.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few former Lucky stores that received the original Jewel package. Sadly, Save-Mart has done a number on the decor and made it look, um, "interesting."
I enjoyed that geese comment.
ReplyDelete