Location: 8600 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia PA
Fresh exterior but the 50/60's layout is still intact inside. One of the few remaining stores to still have the classic layout. The store opened in February 1962 and is pretty large compared to other stores of that era. 11 aisles here while most stores of those days were setting up shop with 8 to 9. Some pitched-roof stores of the 60's had only 7. The interior here has not been expanded but the rear of the store has seen several back room additions.
The new facade here looks to have been added on back in the early 2000's along with an interior remodel. Pretty sure it's the only yellow Acme in the whole chain. Have to say too... it's one of the best looking exteriors even though it could use a fresh coat of paint. Surprising to see such a small old store get such a deluxe upgrade.
Classic layout here... turn to the right once through the doors and follow along the back of the registers to the Produce Department in the far right corner...
I'm betting the drop ceiling with its curved corners would have been added during a remodel in 70's. These ceiling areas were common in the 33M stores of the 70's and 80's. Located over the Produce aisle and Bakery.
You'll see below that the store has the basic "Industrial Circus" decor package. Perimeter tiles were replaced during the remodel but the aisles still have their 80's checkerboard flooring. Looks like a case or shelving left a scar in the lower portion of the picture. Produce appears to have been shifted to the front corner while aisle one is mostly groceries. Too many employees in the aisle to snap a picture. The drop ceiling extends all the way back to the Deli with black track lighting above. The lights were all off.
Aisle 2 with a look at the 80's flooring. Produce there in the front. This store has the 33M feel but still has the entrance at the opposite corner as Produce.
Grab your "ACME Coat & Bake" before it's gone! The ACME brand is the latest casualty of SuperValu. (Sure SuperValu is going to save tons of money having one store brand for all it's banners but it will do Acme no favors whatsoever. Just ask the folks over at Genuardi's about that). Produce sign mounted to the drop ceiling section. It was tough getting pictures in this store with the extremely high shelving.
This store was one of my stops on the day the 120 Years Anniversary was being celebrated. Completely coincidental. This store has a huge spread of free cake and soda at the front of the store.
Notice in the basic version of the Industrial Circus package, the department signs are not angled off of the wall, the corrugated steel is fake and there are no lights hanging down to light up the sign. Click
here for an example of the deluxe version.
This decor package gets a lot of grief. I think it's cool despite looking a little dated.
A look at the curved drop ceiling over the Bakery Department. Nice Bakery here for being a smaller store. Customer Service bumped to the left to make room for this department during a remodel. Most likely the 80's remodel.
Gotta say... this was one impressively clean and well stocked store. Shows little sign of aging since it's last remodel. Despite it's small size, the store was surprisingly clear of usual Acme clutter. The 80's floor still looking great in the aisles.
The Andorra Shopping Center. You'll see the evolution of this complex in the historical images down below. Interesting to see an Acme right in the middle of things.
Only option for expansion was out the back...
Looks like 2 separate additions were done over the years.
And now through the years...
2002
1971
Tough to see things in the 1971 shot. Gets better for '67...
1967
1967
Same shot as the previous image with a closer look at the Acme.
1958
Odd start to the shopping center. Perhaps it started out as an office complex.
1950
Always great to see a classic Acme still going strong. The closest competitor is a Superfresh about a mile south in the Ivyridge Shopping Center. Hopefully this immaculate little Acme will be around for years to come!
