CLOSED: ACME — Weehawken, NJ

Location: 4100 Park Avenue, Weehawken, NJ

The Weehawken ACME closed in February 2020, five years after taking over from the former Pathmark. Had it hung on just a little longer, it would have seen its volume go through the roof during lockdown but of course, no one at the time knew what was coming. This ACME location never became a wild success but did do pretty steady business. The final blow for the store came when Whole Foods opened a location in Weehawken, not far from here, in the summer of 2019. As it has turned out, the Weehawken Whole Foods is not only the absolute worst location in the entire chain, it is possibly one of the worst-managed grocery stores on the planet. A full post will be coming soon which will contain years of photos documenting the horrendous conditions of the store, which continue to this very day. 

Back in the day, this was an insanely high-volume Pathmark. On the weekends, every register would be open and the store would be packed with shoppers. Over the years, business decreased as more competition moved into the area and as Parhmark slowly lost its way as a company. 

This store received a massive floor-to-ceiling remodel back in 2011-2012. Literally everything was replaced. A massive grand-reopening celebration was held in March 2012 with billboards and signs all throughout the area announcing the improvements. Shoppers did not return and business never came close to what the store was doing in the 2000's. Course by that point Pathmark was really A&P and no one was interested. 

ACME made very few changes to the store other than one-too-many resets, driving locals mad. 

For a time, ACME made a concerted effort to attract ethnic shoppers to the store by issuing a stand-alone circular each week focused on the ethnic products carried here. There was a big push for the tres leche cake in the bakery department. 

A big problem for ACME was that it was caught between two worlds, right on the border of Union City and the more affluent Weehawken. I believe the Weehawken crowd helped keep the store going but largely gave up when Whole Foods opened. 

Views of the store completely abandoned>>>

LIDL would eventually take over roughly 2/3 of the space, yet it actually leased the entire building. Shortly thereafter, they subleased to Planet Fitness, which now operates in the rear 1/3 of the building. 

LIDL has become wildly successful here. After a very rough start, the store is now managed quite well. 

For additional coverage of the Weehawken ACME, please click here.