Former Acme – Haddon Heights, NJ

Location: 400 Kings Highway, Haddon Heights, NJ

Classic photo courtesy of Michael Lisicky

Today we're having a look at the former Haddon Heights Acme. The classic picture above has been previously featured on the blog but at the time I hadn't yet made a visit to the location. Certainly not a big surprise that CVS now occupies the building but it is somewhat of a surprise how intact they left the original structure.

The Acme opened on June 2, 1966 replacing an older store built in 1947 which was located on White Horse Pike (exact address unknown). The original store may have been located on this property to the right of the pitched-rood model. We'll see some evidence of this in the historic images. The building's store front could have been on White Horse Pike which intersects Kings Highway at the corner of this property. Ultimately, it's impossible to tell from the historic images if the original Acme was located here as well. I'm just going on a hunch. Hopefully someone will be able to confirm the address for us for the 40's store.


CVS added an awning and reconfigured the entrances. They also a put in a drop ceiling inside but left the front window exposed all the way up to the pitch. We'll take a look at that down below. CVS did a similar treatment to the former pitched-roof store in Yardville, NJ.






While the overall structure is very much intact, CVS has done a lot of work to the building. The front and right side has all new brick.




Looking up at the windows from the inside...


This also happens to be a very upscale CVS. Easily the nicest CVS I've even been in. The store is quite large too as it doesn't share any of the space with another retailer. Unfortunately, I didn't take any additional photos of the interior.




The original red brick is seen along the left side and back and about 2/3 of the right side.




Trees obscure our view of the back of the store. We'll go in closer for a look at some scars...


Second floor window here.


Compressor room door there.


Since the back of the store backs up to a parking lot, Acme's delivery doors when on the side of the building.

Aerial Images

Historic Images

2007

2002

1995

1970

1965

The pitch-roof store had yet to arrive in 1965 but we do see the other building on the left that may have been the first Haddon Heights Acme. Some additions had been done as you can see when you compare the building to the photo below.

Update 9.24.14: Bill Haines confirmed it in the comments... my hunch was correct! The building seen above is the original Acme from 1947.

1951

Could this have been the Acme built in 1947?

Photo courtesy of subliculous on flickr

The Acme fish-eye sign tragically painted over in black shortly after the store closed. 

An interesting comment left under the previous Haddon Heights post...

This was a very busy active Acme even though there were other grocery chains in the area. Community was very established and Acme abandon it. I don't think former customers were rushing over to the one in Audubon. They had competition from Pathmark in Lawnside which closed and was taken over by ShopRite recently.

Former Acme – Haddon Heights, New Jersey

Image courtesy of Michael Lisicky

Another incredible picture sent in to Acme Style by Michael Lisicky. This classic pitched-roof Acme, with it's very deluxe and perfectly preserved fish-eye logo sign, was located on King's Highway in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. Interesting to see the entrance and exit is located on the right side of the store. Pitched-roof Acme's, as well as 50's-70's styled Acmes nearly always had the entrance on the left side of the building. The front windows here are blue and green in color which I have seen on other pitched-roof stores. The coloring was probably added to cut down on sun glare in the store. Michael took this picture back in 1998.

Here's an aerial shot of the former Acme. CVS took over the location about 5 years ago. Parking seems to be very limited which was the case for alot of pitched-roof stores back in the day.