Former Stop and Shop — Clifton, NJ

Welcome to Acme Style's first "Bonus Store of the Month"! As much as I love Acme, I will, on occasion, feature stores from other chains with compelling architecture or history. Probably won't be posting one every month, but couldn't resist the title!

So let's start off with this Stop and Shop location just off of Rt. 3 in Clifton NJ. It is located about a mile up the road from a brand new Acme that will be making an appearance in an upcoming post. It is also located about 2 miles away from another very large Stop and Shop which has just been remodeled with S&S's new look... a look that I find absurdly generic and downright appalling. I think S&S is missing the mark with their new look but that's a whole other post. In the meantime... this store is being torn down so a new Super Stop and Shop can be built. Not good news for the Acme down the street.

This store was a Grand Union for many many years. Not sure what it was originally. Stop and Shop acquired most of the Grand Unions when the chain went bankrupt in the early 2000's. The Stop and Shop about 2 miles down the road was an Edwards. Both chains were owned by Ahold but the Edwards banner was retired with hopes that the Stop and Shop banner would more effectively draw business away from ShopRite and Pathmark. I don't thing Ahold had the level of success they were hoping for with the switch.

The interior ceiling was not arched like the exterior. A drop ceiling had been added at some point. The windows along the front are very distinctive to Grand Unions. This section was added on during the chain-wide 80's remodel. Many locations received additions very similar to this. This store was remodeled again in the very late 90's. Grand Union was having tough times throughout the 90's but did manage to get a cash infusion from partnering up with another company. This money was quickly spent remodeling stores in hopes of saving the chain. This particular location received the deluxe remodel package and was among the nicest Grand Unions I had ever been in. The wall graphics, faux hardwood floors, color scheme, old fashioned/retro decor... all among the best of it's time. Unfortunately for Grand Union,these remodels didn't bring in enough extra cash to keep the company afloat. The company went under in 2001. Stop and Shop took over this location did little to the interior when it took over, rightfully so. Most Grand Unions were closed for just a few days as they were transformed to Stop and Shops. The big difference at this location was the front end where S&S put it's own, hideous green and red checkout stands where GU's stylish front end used to be.

There is a trailer just to the right that is serving as the temporary Stop and Shop pharmacy. I don't remember this store having a pharmacy but I can't imagine new customers wanting to get their prescriptions from a trailer in the midst of the construction mess. So it must be for use of existing customers.

The Stop and Shop sign is all you can really see of the store from Rt. 3 as you are whizzing by.

Former Acme — Parsippany, NJ

Location: 1159 Route 46, Parsippany NJ

This Michaels Art and Crafts store located in the Morris Hills Shopping Center in Parsippany NJ is a former Acme location. It closed in either the late 80's or very early 90's. The interior had the 70's colonial decor witht the fish-eye logo until the end. The facade of the shopping center was upgraded shortly before Acme closed. It was a small store with only 8 or 9 aisles. I believe it did have an in-store bakery which would be unsual for Acme's of this small size. This store had fierce competition from a much larger Pathmark and ShopRite down the highway.


In this shot you can see the cut out section around the Michaels logo where the Acme sign used to be.


The doors to the Acme most likely were where the darkened windows are now. The framed window was used for posting Acme specials for the week. There is an identical one at the other end of the store. I have seen these windows on this style of Acmes at several locations but not with the type of frame which matched with the colonial decor of the interior of the store.

Abandoned Acme! Belmar, New Jersey

This former Acme is located on Main Street between 8th and 10th Avenues in the shore town of Belmar NJ. Just seven blocks in from the Atlantic Ocean. I am not sure when this store closed. Mostly likely in the early 2000's when Acme shut down many stores of this size all over NJ and PA. I have been going to the beaches of Belmar every summer since 2000 and was probably there when this Acme was still open. Thing is... I didn't know this Acme existed. Although it is on Main St it is set back about a 1/2 block and is not easily seen from the road unless you know it's there. Store fronts line Main Street blocking an easy view of the store except for a walkway right in front of the store.

Location: 825 8th Avenue, Belmar NJ

West Marine boating store has moved into the right side of the store.


A shot from Main Street. It's looks quite open in this shot but as you drive along Main St you don't notice Acme unless you turn and look.


There is a strip of stores to the right of the photo.


The former Produce supply doors dressed up at this Acme since they are easily seen from the other stores. This Acme and many of it's characteristics are exactly the same to other stores built in this era which I am guessing to be the early 70's.


The customer service office is directly across the foyer. Shoppers turned right as soon as they passed through these doors. The office had windows to look out into the foyer... you can see them through the doors.


The red oval logo... painted over! You can see it's still there if you look closely. This store was not remodeled in the 80's when Acmes switched from the fish-eye logo to the red oval. It's odd that this logo was changed since the facade of the store is original.

Check out the inside...

This store had the blue and beige convenience store wall graphics done in the late 90's. The orange and brown panels in the back are left over from the 70's colonial look. The odd thing at this location is that the floors appear to have never been upgraded. All beige. In the 70's, Acme's had white floors with a faux red and blue slate Produce floor, orange and brown along the Meat Department and gold and brown in the Bakery aisle. The wall to the right is where the boating store begins.


Check out stand foot prints.


The infamous railing. Every Acme had one in those days. The customer service office was off to the left. This looks to have been a very small store. Probably 8 or 9 rather short aisles.


Below is a screen shot from Live Maps. Shows how this Acme was buried out of view from just about every angle. Very limited parking in the shopping center. Must have been a nightmare when the Acme was just a little busy.

Acme — Newton, New Jersey

Location: 11 West Nelson Street, Newton NJ

This store is scheduled to close for good on February 25, 2009. One of four Acme stores that will be closing.

This store received the chain-wide remodel of the mid 80's. The Newton store was one of the last Acmes to be remodeled in North Jersey. Some stores, such as Sparta and Clifton, were passed over completely and kept their 70's colonial decor well into the 90's. The red oval logo was added in the 80's although all of the green sections were dark brown. They were painted green sometime in the late 90's or early 2000's. Strange that the sign was not updated to Acme's current logo. Many stores received this green treatment with the new logo regardless of any improvements made to the interior. This store did receive the "convience store" treatment which basically entailed removing any of the departments that were added during the 80's remodel such as the Seafood Department (if it was even still open for full-serice), salad bar, cheese from around the world and Floral Department. The 80's wall decor was also replaced with the blue and beige wall graphics that can be seen below.

Outstanding location for the security lights! The Produce alcove was added during the mid 80's remodel. You can see where the wall used to be on the left-hand side of the photo (the corner right next to the plants). Most stores of this size had the Produce alcove added during the 70's remodel. That was not the case in this store.

Get your smoked meats! The Floral Department of the 80's remodel was located on the right where the mac and cheese shelving is now. The full-service Seafood Department added in the 80's was located at the end of the aisle where the self-serve cases are now.

Now serving #69. Really? Notice the blue stripe to the right of "Deli" has fallen off.

The air vents have caused "Meats" to be encrusted in black fuzz. Yum.

Aisle 8: Dairy. The last aisle in the store. The "Dairy" wall graphics don't quite make it to the end of the Dairy Department.

Very small in-store Bakery. The lattice is a relatively new touch. Notice the red block to the left of "Bakery" has fallen off.

Prior to the mid-80's remodel, this are was where the customer service desk and store office was. The office is now much small and is located behind the bakery. The customer service department was replaced with the "CSR" stand that was located at the opposite end of the registers near the Produce dept. The CSR stand has long been removed and the express register now also serves as customer service.

The CSR stand was an integral part of the mid-80's remodel but did not make any sense whatsoever. I believe they also referred to this as the "California front-end". Guess it was popular in Skaggs or something. The odd thing was that store safe was next to the CSR stand right out in the open. No walls or even a railing guarding it from anyone. Not that the safes were unlocked but it just didn't seem like a wise idea to expose the safes to everyone entering the store. Fortunately in the 90's Acme reestablished the customer service counter and office in remodels and new stores.

UPDATE 2.10.10: Here's a snow-free look at the Newton store circa 1999...

Images above courtesy of Rob Ascough

Acme Super Saver!

Here's a rare find... a picture of an Acme Super Saver. This image comes to us courtesy of Wyomming Valley Photo Blog... an extensive site of pictures and history of stores in the Wyomming area of Pennsylvania. Please check the Acme Style directory for a link to the site.

Location: 401 Kennedy Blvd, Pittston PA

This store was located in Pittston Pennsylvania. It started out as a pitched-roof Acme and was converted to a Super Saver in the 70's. The awning was added at this time and disguises the pitched roof. I was able to get an image of the rear of the store on google map's street view. (See below) This store remained a Super Saver well into the 80's. You can see proof of this on the "Low Prices" banner which has the updated Acme logos of the mid '80s.

The back of the store.

Here it is after an update which probably occurred in the mid to late 90's.

Most likely closing in the late 90's to early 2000's.

Insalaco's taking over.

January 2006

Bruno's with a fresh coat of paint.

Bruno's closes in 2008

Quinn's opens in late 2008. Here's the amazing part of the story... according to Wyomming Valley Photos, the interior pitched-roof is still intact to this day! A drop ceiling has not been added after all of this time. I wonder how many other Acmes have gone through so many transformations and still have the pitched-roof intact.

Thanks again to Wyomming Valley Photos for the images and for this history of this store!

Check it out... Acme Style!

This is a one in a million find on youtube. It's actually only part of a longer video for a TV station in Philadelphia. I managed to extract just the Acme commercial.

This ad campaign from the early 90's is the inspiration for this blog. I personally believe it was the best campaign Acme has ever had. You couldn't help but to get the energetic jingle stuck in your head. Unfortunately this commercial does not have the full lyrics. When the campaign first started, the slick commercials portrayed in-store experiences of Acme shoppers while the the theme song played throughout. Here is a sampling of the lyrics as I remember...

Check it out!

You're gonna love our prices...

Check it out!

You're gonna love our smiles...

Check it out!

You're gonna love all the money you save when you...

Check it out Acme Style!

Other memorable tag lines...

Tell a friend

Your store for low prices

Take a New Look (launched after the massive chain-wide remodel of the mid 80's)

Please share any other you may remember!

Another Acme Coming Soon!

Location: 300 West Oregon Ave, Philadelphia PA

A pitched-roof Acme ready for it's Grand Opening! This store is most likely not an Acme anymore... if the building is even standing.

The Ideal Acme of the 60's

This rendering appeared on the back of Acme's courtesy card application well into the 90's. This style of Acme is referred to as the "pitched-roof" style. Stores like this were built throughout the 60's and very early 70's mostly in Pennsylvania. Many of these buildings still stand today but have been converted from Acmes to other retailers. This style of Acme is a favorite here at the Acme Style Blog and will be the focus of many posts to come.

Store Closings

After suffering losses of nearly 3 billion dollars, SuperValu announced the closing of 50 stores across the country. 4 of the stores to be closed are Acme Markets. They include the following locations:

Ambler, PA

West Chester, PA

Collegeville, PA

Newton, NJ 

The Ambler store appears to be a classic 50's styled Acme with no major renovations over the years. It's surprising that this location has not closed sooner. The West Chester store on Rt. 322  is a different story. It opened in 2004 but had the unfortunate luck of being located close to a Giant Food Store. Giant is known for it's aggressive pricing and huge selection. The chain continues to spread eastward into Acme's territory. The Collegeville store first opened in 1967 and relocated to a larger space in the mid 70's. The store was expanded and remodeled in the mid 90's. This location also has competition from two nearby Giants.

The Newton store opened in the late 50's. A classic stand alone Acme in a residential neighborhood. The store received the extensive mid 80's remodel that swept most of the chain. The interior was expanded slightly but the store remained small with only 8 aisles. In the late 90's the department signage was upgraded to the blue and beige "convenience store" look with no other upgrades. The red oval logo remains on the outside of the store. I will be posting pictures of this store soon.

Ambler will close later this month. West Chester, Collegeville and Newton are scheduled to close on February 25.

A classic 50's Acme

(Image courtesy of John Flack)

Location: 1102 North White House Pike, Stratford NJ

This is how the store in the rendering below would have looked when it was built. A classic 50's-early 60's Acme. As these stores continued to be built, the script logo was made smaller and smaller. I remember the Acme in my town had this logo and several of the letters had fallen backwards.