Soon-to-be former Acme, Fallston MD

Photo above courtesy of Michael Lisicky of Baltimore

Location: 2315 Bell Air Road, Fallston, Maryland

ABC2 News broke the story to Fallston residents
in it's January 4 newscast. 

The following exterior photos courtesy of Drew in Baltimore

The Fallston Acme comes to us through photos from several Acme Style contributors. I had hoped to eventually get to this store to experience it for myself but my hopes were dashed when the recent store closings were announced. Fortunately our contributors did an outstanding job capturing the store.

A classic "33M" format which appears to be in rather excellent condition. The red paint job is certainly an unusual treatment for an Acme. It is a huge improvement over the light green color that was used during the 90's. Interesting to note the shingles as opposed to the standard corrugated metal.

The Fallston Acme is closing largely due to the anticipation of future competition. Walmart is building a huge new store just up the street and the Acme is getting out of town before it opens. Plans have been underway since 2007 but have been delayed due to Walmart acquiring permits to build the store and to make necessary road improvements. The store was initially designed to be 147,000 square feet with room for an a possible expansion of 57,000. I can't find confirmation online as to what the final size will be. Either way... the store will be stocked full of low-priced groceries. Wegmans was also shopping for a site in Fallston but has decided to go with a site 15 minutes away in Abingdon. Construction is well underway there with a planned opening this spring.

The block letter logo sign is a very recent addition to the store. More details on that down below. 

A great exterior shot which gives us a clear look into the store. Can you name that decor? Let's head in and take a closer look...  

Produce shote courtesy of Gary of Delaware

Judging from the interior photos taken by two of our contributors, I would have to say this store is in exceptional shape. The 80's decor has been traded out for the late 90's "We gotta sell this supermarket chain" Convenience Store decor. Doesn't look too bad here. The 80's checkerboard floor is still in and place and is looking as good as I've ever seen it so many years later. 

The shot above is an excellent perspective of the Produce department of the "33M" store formats. During the 70's and 80's, these stores had an additional aisle running just under the edge of the drop ceiling. Produces cases lined the wall mirroring the cases on the left wall forming a narrow Produce aisle. Grocery shelving ran along the other side creating a true aisle 1. This aisle was removed throughout the 90's, sometimes during a remodel and sometimes not, in order to expand Produce. I would be interested to see the tile work here along the area where the aisle once stood. Did they try to recreate the checkerboard pattern where the shelving once was or just put down all white tiles? (Yep, these are the kinds of questions I need answers to.) The removal of these aisles certainly helped open up the Produce area which was often very cave-like in 70's and 80's stores. 

Interior shots courtesy of Michael Lisicky of Baltimore

You can clearly see here how well this store is maintained. Fully stocked shelves with merchandise neatly organized. And... stop the presses... no burned out lights!

Check out those aisle markers. Deluxe versions of the 90's Red/White/Blue aisle markers which I have only ever seen in Convenience Store remodels.

This is the only "Convenince Store" remodel I've seen with "Lancaster" branded Meat Department.

This store did not get the blue stripes and red blocks along the lower portions of the walls.

The Bakery Department in the front corner. Checkout stands straght ahead. (We're not following this guy... the guy you may have seen at the checkouts has a blue shirt and white shorts.)

Serious old-school clock here. These went into every Acme back in the early 80's. The old fish-eye logo still on the clock. The other section was used for advertisements that would be switched out every couple of months. I would imagine that the company who handled this no longer exists which is why the generic "Thank you for shopping with us" panel is now in the display. Oh, do I remember staring at one of these clocks just waiting for my shift to be done.

Exterior shots courtesy of Gary of Delaware

The red oval sign still on front as of October 2009, making it the last store in the chain to be upgraded to the block letter logo. The Newton and Princeton Junction stores in New Jersey both made it to 2009 with the red oval sign but closed that same year.

Other signs around the store had been changed out with the newer logo. Notice the interesting wordwork which runs throughout the shopping center.

Gary gives us a nice tour around the store...

And now back to Drew's more recent pictures where we sign the other signs having been upgraded as well. The letters have become more bold over the years.

Soon to be alot more space available in this shopping center.

Now for the aerial perspective...

The CVS is right next to the Acme. Somewhat of an odd layout for a shopping center. The stores or offices next to the CVS are tucked away from view from the parking lot.

The shopping center itself is tucked away from the main roads through the area.

Google Maps shows the Walmart under construction.

1971

HistoricAerials doesn't offer much to see for this area. The shopping center had yet to arrive as of 1971.

2005

The next available image is 2005.

The bottom half of this sign could now be replaced by "Shop at Walmart". Sad but true. Acme isn't the only chain being killed by Walmart. Won't be the last either. I've worked for two companies that have nearly been destroyed by the ruthless chain. Two reasons, among many, you'll never find me shopping in one.

Thanks to Gary, Drew and Michael for bringing us the Fallston store!

Update 1.26.11: Some additional photos have been sent in by Will which show the store winding down it's business. Closing signs are up in the windows and shelves are emptying out. We get a look at some additional departments in the store that weren't seen in earlier interior shots...

Classic Acme (and MORE)! Mantua NJ

Location: 222 Bridgeton Pike, Mantua NJ

CLOSED February 28, 2013

A sharp looking classic Acme from the outside thanks to the updated color scheme that spread from the neighboring Kmart. The new block letter logo was also added recently. Mantua may have been the last location to still have the red oval logo. In an unusual set-up, the old sign was was not built into the awning. The square box housing the sign was instead mounted to the awning. You can seen the mounting devices which remain in place around the new block letter logo.

This store still has the classic "33M" layout... although it may not quite as large as 33,000 square feet. The interior has the the "Convenience Store" decor which is well over 10 years old now. Prior to that, the store had "80's Remodel". Many elements from the 80's can still be found. From the checkerboard floor, to the Deli and Meat cases which remain in place since the 80's. Produce and Dairy have since had their cases upgraded. And the store still has the dreaded CSR stand! Haven't seen one of those in person in years. Although it's kinda blocked in and not utilized for Customer Service.

Heading inside...

Customer Service restored! The CSR stand is around the right-hand corner. 

The 70's and 80's Floral Department now is the "10 for $10" alcove. You can see the checkerboard floor here. Green(ish) for Produce. 

Still says it on the wall but there isn't much of a Floral Department these days. Mantua is one of the only I've been in that still has this decor. I'm usually photographing this look through the windows at abandoned locations. 

If you look closely at the Deli service case, you can see it remains from the 80's Remodel. The green stripe along the bottom of the case windows is the clue. You can see better if you click the picture to enlarge it. 

Not much to see here on aisle 6? Quite to the contrary. First of all... the aisle markers may have been hanging here since day 1!  This store opened sometime in the early 70's. The aisle markers were one of the very few elements in the stores that were not changed out during the 80's remodels. Seemed like a strange decision as they were looking a little dated even at that point. It's hard to believe that they haven't been replaced with aisle markers from stores that have closed which happens often at these older locations. 

Secondly... check out that "Price Accuracy Guarantee" sign! The ink has completely faded away. Just a shadow of it's former self.  Could that sign still be there from the days the scanners arrived at the checkout stands in the 80's?

Thirdly... no checker board floor here. The tiles in the aisles have either been replaced since the 80's or... never did get the checkerboard treatment as these tiles look quite old. It's more common for the permitter of the store to get a new tile treatment during light remodels and leaving the checkerboard pattern up and down the aisles. 

And last observation... which is hard to see in the pictures... the shelving here is still at least as old as the 80's Remodel. If not older. Being in this store was certainly like stepping through many different eras of Acme. It's a must-see for the serious Acme fan. Considering it's age and lack of upgrades, the store appears to be very well managed and staffed with friendly employees.

Currently has 12 ailes. Probably had 13 back in the day before aisle 1 was killed to expand Produce. 

Not much of a Bakery. The department is now filled mostly with sale items and displays. I would guess that the Bakery was added in during the 80's and was not part of the original store.

Back outside for exterior views...

Bad sun glare here. This store is very similar to the Jersey City location. I love the huge front windows that let you see the entire interior from outside. 

Some remaining Acme trucks are still kicking around. The logos are being removed as the warehouse house has changed from Acme to SuperValu. Trucks will no longer be branded with store logos. 

Still a far superior logo to the block letter logo of today...

Aerial shots show the Acme with the old sign on front. 

Still a "Big Kmart" from this angle as well.

Switch the view and the stores instantly update! New signage on both Acme and Kmart...

I took a couple of interior shots of this remodeled Kmart. Looks pretty good on the inside. This is not the deluxe remodel that other stores have received but it does have new bolder colors instead of just sticking with the orange and brown remodel theme.

As much as these remodels help spruce up these old stores, Kmart still seems stuck in the past. 

Outside of the Kmart looking down towards the Acme.

Not much of an evolution to be seen from 1995 to 2000 historical views.

The view below shows this shopping center arrived after 1970.

And now for the bonus content of this post...

Location: 631 Bridgeton Pike, Woodbury NJ

(Approximately 3 miles / 9 minutes from the Mantua Acme)

The Woodbury Acme, just a stone's throw from the Mantua store. There's not a whole lot to see here at this location. A standard 90's replacement store. Replacement for what? Well... turns out there was a very old Acme in this very spot. I had no idea until I just happened to drive by and see the huge Acme sign that still remains out at the road. We'll take a look at that down below. 

Woodbury recently received the scaled back "Premium Fresh and Healthy" look. Floor tile evidence throughout the store showa that the store had the deluxe Industrial Circus Decor prior to the recent remodel. You can read the press release for the remodel by clicking here.

Windows remain in Produce. They're often sealed over and covered with mirrors.

Not the most exciting department signage. The original PF&H decor had the signage backlit for a pretty cool effect. You can see an example here.

The Albertsons leaf. To me it's nothing more than a reminder that Acme is no longer American Stores. The good news... the leaf is gone from the latest round of remodels!

I can't help but wonder if this area used to look liked more like this before the remodel. I know, I know... gotta tone down the decor to direct all focus to the merchandise. It's all just looking a little too generic... and brown... for my taste. 

Still seeing read here while alot of the front signage of Premium Fresh and Healthy remodels have gone white. The windows of the foyers have been covered with pictures of apples.

Would you look at that parking lot! In all my years of researching Acme aerial shots, I can honestly say I've never seen an Acme parking lot this jam packed. And Acme is the only store here. No one is shopping at Mandee or picking up their dry cleaning. All Acme. Pretty impressive.

And now to the signage still left over from the old 50's store but now with the updated logo...

First time I have ever seen this giant old sign still standing in front of a modern day Acme. Are there more of these out there still servicing Acme stores?

Check out the aerial shot of the sign. It used to be a 3D treatment with Acme and Savon next to each other at the top. Red lettering on a white background.

Brand-new as of 1995.

The Acme is to the northern side. The other building arrived years after the Acme did.

The Acme all alone in 1967. I'm endlessly fascinated with how far from the road they used to build these stores and how huge the parking lots were. 

Crystal clear view from 1963. By the way, the road out the back is called Acme Way.

The Mantua Acme at the bottom, Woodbuy at the top with a relatively small ShopRite in between.