ACME – Fair Haven, New Jersey

 Location: 576 River Road, Fair Haven, NJ

We last visited the Fair Haven ACME back in 2018 when upgrades were happening to the shopping center. At the time, the ACME was untouched but would soon receive the fantastic upgrade you see above. Around the same time, the interior was remodeled with Quality Built, which included some nice upgrades for the size-challenged 18,000 sqaure foot store. 

BEFORE >>>

Previous to the exterior upgrades, the ACME was void of any and all personality. The parking lot lights were pretty obnoxious as well and have since been removed. 

A look at the shopping center back in the late 50's/early 60's. ACME really stood out with its white facade. It would soon be expanded into the store to the right. 

The store did not receive updated letters for its sign. At night, the lighting of the E doesn't match the other letters. Strange they didn't swap these out with the ample supply they have of new letters from shuttered former A&Ps and Pathmarks. 

Always challenging to do a tour of this store. Here we're heading in the front door but will jump over to the back door where produce is located. 

A lot of new cases added to the front of the store here on the left. All new flooring around the perimeter.

The view when you enter through the back door. Tons of upgrades in this area of the store. 

As you will see, this store is PACKED with merchandise with floral being a bit out of control. The place could use a bit more streamlining but with its small size, ACME packs in as much merchandise as possible. 

New flooring and produce cases all look very nice. While the previous décor was perfectly pleasant, Quality Built works better here with its simpplied look.  

BEFORE >>>

Produce cases extended along the back there have been removed, opening up this section of the store. 

BEFORE >>>

The U needs help! 

Some new cases installed along the back. 

While the photos are all people-free, the store was fairly busy with a steady stream of shoppers coming in. In fact, all three manned checkouts had cashiers ready to go, along with five self-checkouts. 

A look along the back with the dairy alcove coming up on the left. 

All new dairy cases with doors.

Frozen didn't get much love with the old cases remaining. Strange since new cases would be larger adding a great deal of selection to a size-challenged frozen food aisle. 

Nice improvements to the bakery department. Unfortunately, the cake cases were on the fritz at the time of my visit. No bakery table displays here. All located over in the produce area instead. 

While variety is much less than in larger stores, the remodel allowed a huge increase in what was previously available here. 

This cracked me up... sprinkles! Not sure how much of a demand there is for them and the display seems to be taking up some much-needed real estate. 

HUGE upgrade here! Customer service was relocated from a tiny, free-standing office at the opposite end of the registers to a proper customer service counter.

The place is just packed but they even found a way to add a very decent selection of greeting cards. Smaller shopping carts here to help cut down on congestion. 

Heading out the back door...

Could have done with better proportions on this welcome signage! 

Right outside the back door we see some fantastic upgrades. Odd though that there is no longer ACME signage back here, leaving new shoppers parking in the back to question, "is that the ACME?"

BEFORE >>>

They actually installed a bit of a patio along with adding attractive elements to the exterior wall. 

Here you can see the second-floor portion of the building along with newish loading docks and backroom space which would be added by 1979.

1957

The original ACME seen here in 1957, the longest of all the buildings. 

1963

The store must have been a huge success from day one, as it was doubled in size by 1963. 

1979

New loading docks added by 1979, which are bit covered up with the copyright info. 

Classic parking lot sign still intact! ACME will continue to thrive here as there is no competition in the immediate area. While the store is small in size, it is a big winner for convenience!