Classic Acme! Asbury Park, New Jersey

Classic photo courtesy of Patrick Richardson

Location: 1293 Main Street, Asbury Park, New Jersey

So this one comes as a surprise...  a second Acme in Asbury Park! The first being located on the opposite end of town at 22 Main Street. It no longer exists today. That location was covered briefly on the blog back in 2011, which you can jump to by clicking here. 

There aren't any dates or locations listed for either Asbury Park store on the old directories that I have. The address given above is approximate but will get you there if you follow it. 

How the building looks today.


A former A&P just two doors down.

Beach Haven Before and After?

#TransformationTuesday - Our Long Beach Township Store is getting ready to open soon! Top: Before Bottom: Current After with more to come #TT #changes #ACMELBT

A photo posted by Acme Markets (@acmemarkets) on May 12, 2015 at 9:21am PDT

Acme posted these photos of the Beach Haven stores on Instagram about a month ago. Problem is, the two photos don't quite qualify for a before and after. The vintage shot is not a picture of a store that ever existed at 9600 Long Beach Boulevard. That location was on South Bay Avenue, about 3 miles south of the current Acme, and currently serves as a portion of Murphy's Marketplace. Google Street view image is below. According to Bill Haines, this location opened in 1946 and remained open through the summer of 1958 which is the year the current Beach Haven location opened.

Location: 9 South Bay Ave, Beach Haven, NJ

This is the first time the former South Bay Avenue Acme is appearing on the blog. Definitely an oversight on my part. While it has been pointed out to me a few times over the years, coverage of the location has fallen through the cracks. Honestly, buildings that no longer retain any clues of their Acme origins usually don't stick in my brain. Not a great excuse but that is what happens. You can see below how the building evolved from its Acme days to it's current form. 

2007

1956

Fomer Acme – Palmerton, Pennsylvania

Classic photos courtesy of Albertsons Florida Blog

Opened in July 1963, most likely on the 7th which was the day after the nearby 40's Acme closed. We'll have a look at the location down below. As noted below the photo, this former Acme is now Country Harvest.


These photos are from a book of the history of Palmerton Albertsons Florida Blog found at a thrift store. So nice of them to take a picture of the Acme! The black trim really gives this place a different sort of look than what we're used to seeing. From what I can see in the aerial views, this was and remains the only major supermarket in town.

Photo courtesy of joshaustin610's flickr collection 

Josh reports the Acme closed in 1999. A very good run for small-town pitched-roof store. Country Harvest took over shortly after and has apparently had it a successful run of its own. The store underwent a very nice exterior renovation in 2010...


The front of the store was extended out to the sidewalk. You'll be able to see this more clearly in the historic aerial images. The new addition completely disguises the pitched-roof.


With the interior lights down as low as they are, they probably added a drop ceiling during the renovation. Hard to know for sure from this view. It would be fascinating to see the changes they made inside. They certainly didn't short change the exterior so I imagine the interior was nicely renovated as well.

AERIAL VIEWS 

You can see here that the front of the former Acme doesn't quite reach the sidewalk.


The current satellite view of the rear of the store shows the addition to the front complete.

HISTORIC AERIALS

2010

The addition under construction in 2010.

2008

2005

1999

Might still be the Acme at this point.

1992

Definetly the Acme here.

1970

1952

The original store just a block west on Delaware Avenue.


This location opened November 12, 1947 and closed July 6, 1963


Windows running along both sides...



Google street views of the building as it is today...


Currently the Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ.






The greatest supermarket sign in the history of the world!

Former Acme – Lakewood, New Jersey

Location: 2nd and Monmouth Streets, Lakewood, NJ 

The former Lakewood Acme still shows the blue script logo on Bing Maps! This despite the fact that Acme has been gone from this location for many years. I discovered this last September when doubgbalt, a frequent contributor here at Acme Style, had found an ad listing the address of the store. I immediately went to Bing Maps to survey the situation and was stunned to see the Acme logo still on the building. I then jumped over to Google to get a street level view only to find a more recent view of the building with the logo gone. So back to Bing Maps I went for some screen grabs in case they updated their aerials any time in the near future. Last week I received an email from someone else pointing out the logo on Bing Maps so I decided it was time to get this building up on the blog!

Acme opened here on March 17, 1954. Originally the building had the tower sign right above the entrance. A portion of the base of the tower appears to remain on the awning. The tower is clearly visible in some of the historic aerials. It is so clearly seen in the 1986 image that you see "ACME" is no longer on the tower. Judging from earlier historic images, the store may have closed in the 70's.

A photo on flickr of the building with the Acme logo. I had seen this photo on flickr when Acme Style was in its infancy but wasn't sure of its exact location. 

HISTORIC AERIALS

2007

2002

1986

The tower still standing in 1986 without the ACME letters. Wonder why no one painted over the front of the store.

1979

Hard to know if it was still an Acme at this point.

1970

1963

Judging from the parking lot, the place was getting a nice crowd back in 1963! The rear parking lot was also reconfigured by this point as you can see down below in the next available view.

1956

1953

Looks as though a train station stood here originally.

Below are some screen grabs from Google Maps...


Logo gone :(

Mystery Acme!

Classic Acme photo courtesy of smiley1999

Location: Unknown

Smiley1999 came across this photo while shopping at an estate sale in Springfield. The photographer was from Nutley and took pictures mostly of products for manufacturers. Fortunately for us, he snapped some photos of several Acmes including the Wayne and Secaucus stores. The location of this store is unknown but it most certainly located in Northeast New Jersey. Smiley1999 thinks it might have been located in Bergen County. Please let us know if you have any idea of where it was!

An unusual feature here on the left side. A small store or bank is located in the corner of the building. I thought this might be the former Hackensack Acme which is covered on the blog but the right side is definitely not a match and the parking lot here is too small.


Produce delivery doors are located along the side instead of their more common spot in front. You can clearly see the brick columns that run along the side walls... one of the biggest clues you can find when researching a suspected former Acme.


Green Stamps still given out at this Acme! Too bad we can't read any of the signs in the window but that script logo is looking pretty awesome.

Thanks to Smiley1999 for the classic photo!

MYSTERY SOLVED?

Location: 20 Kinderkamack Road, Montvale, New Jersey

Thanks to Gerry for pinning down a possible location of this store in the comments section! It's hard to confirm without a doubt that the classic photo is of the Montvale store but there are striking similarities, most especially with the parking lot. The smaller section on the left side doesn't appear to exist in the classic photo but it's difficult to know for sure. That section may have been added on after the Acme was built. It is seen in the 1965 view of the store but that is the earliest view that is available which is seven years after the Acme opened.

Regardless, we're now getting a look at the former Acme in Montvale. The store opened on October 29, 1958 and no longer looks anything like a 50's Acme. Gerry reported... "It was a victim of the famous Saturday night massacre, that most of the Bergen county Acmes were closed. It became a Foodtown for many years." The Hackensack Acme was among those closed that dreadful night. You can visit that former Acme by clicking here and be sure to check out he comments section for some interesting information.


The Montvale Acme was located very close to an A&P which has since become a flagship location for the chain.

2008

2002

1987

1979

1974

1970

1965

1953

If I had to put money on it, I would bet on the classic photo is the Montvale Acme. Just wish it could be confirmed 100%! We'll have to see if anyone else has any other suggestions.