Abandoned Stop & Shop – Butler, New Jersey

Bonus Store:

Location: 1506 State Route 23, Butler, NJ

The Butler Stop & Shop has sat abandoned since the store relocated to the former Kinnelon Pathmark in October 2015. The replacement store is just across Route 23. I hoped to visit this place when it was still open but never made it. Wound up passing it on my way to the Jefferson Acme and had to stop for a closer look. I do love an abandoned supermarket! 

Grand Union opened here back in 1971 with Stop & Shop taking over the space in 2001 when GU went out of business. I'll never forget the day I watched the GU employees walking out of the corporate offices for the last time. It was all over the news. One of the saddest days in the history of supermarkets. I actually thought Stop & Shop would keep some of Grand Union's products and services but no, they got rid of absolutely everything that made Grand Union great. 

Stop & Shop dressed up the facade with some dormers and a gate along the top after Grand Union shut down. A similar treatment was done to the the Stop & Shop in Sayville, You can have a look by clicking here. 

As small as this store was, it apparently drew some big crowds. We'll see some evidence of that in the satellite views. 

LOOK INSIDE >>>

The place is cleared out with not much of anything left on the walls. The only design element left behind is the floor which I believe is from Grand Union's early 90's remodels. Back then, they kept a very similar look to their 80's remodeled stores but swapped out the red and white color scheme for green and yellow. 

Stop & Shop added these offices along with their clock. 

The Stop & Shop logo can still be seen but it did not show up in this photo with the sun glare. I resorted to doing some tricks in Photoshop to get make it visible... 

Still a great looking store! 

Stop & Shop road kill at the entrance. 

AERIAL VIEWS

Birds eye views on Bing maps are apparently being done away with. They rarely exist these days for any store I research. This is a 3D view from Google Earth. Kinda lame. 

HISTORIC IMAGES


2012

Notice the packed parking lot at the Stop & Shop!

2006

2002


1995


1987


1979


1971

Grand Union under construction in 1971.

1970

You can view some photos of the new Stop & Shop at the Kinnelon Mall by clicking here. 

Acme store closings:

New Britain/Chalfont, PA
Warminster, PA

Aerial images of both stores are included below. Neither store currently appears on the blog. I was quite sure I had Warminster photographed but unfortunately I'm not finding any pictures. I have been to the store several times, and will return prior to it closing. I have never been to New Britain, which is often referred to as Chalfont. Both stores are set to close in November. Some comments have come in the last day about the news but have not been posted. Acme confirmed the news on their Facebook page just hours ago so it's safe for Acme Style to now pass on the unfortunate news. 

Location: 505 W Butler Ave, Chalfont, PA

A classic 90's superstore location. I'm not terribly familiar with the competition in the area. A former Genuardi's very close by is now a Giant. I've never gotten word that this store was in danger so this one came as a surprise. Did the relatively new Giant run Acme into the ground? All indications are the new owners are have significant success in turning around Acme's fortunes but apparently there are locations that are just too far gone. 

Location: 808 E Street Rd Warminster, PA

Not sure if this store was ever successful. Opened sometime in the early 2000's. I have been told repeated for years that this store would be closing. Well, the day has finally arrived. Particularly sad to see such a new Acme dying off although Alberstons didn't have the best track record for picking new store locations during their first round of running the company. 

Quality Built Remodel In Paoli!

Ofcs. Butler & Acker, @PaoliFire Chief Testa, and members of our @TredyffrinTwp community at Paoli @acmemarkets Grand Re-opening this AM! pic.twitter.com/Swg9GvkTQa

— Tredyffrin Police (@The_TTPD) February 24, 2017

Location: 39 Leopard Road, Paoli, PA

The Paoli Acme held its Grand Reopening on Friday, February 24! The store now includes a Starbucks and Frosted Mug. Paoli is one of Acme's top performing stores and one of their most deluxe locations, even prior to the recent remodel.


Most photos you will be seeing are from and anonymous source. A few others were sent in by @ in early December. Those photos show the Quality Built décor swap complete so I'm not exactly sure why the Grand Reopening was delayed until February. Could have possibly been due to the completion of the Frosted Mug and/or Starbucks.






Had a Starbucks been here previously? The store opened in 1999 with the Chalkboard Market décor. It's interesting that the remodels of smaller stores of that era had Starbucks added in but the newly built stores did not, as far as I know.




New lighting has been installed in many areas of the store.

BEFORE >>>

Premium Fresh and Healthy version 1 was here previous to the Quality Built remodel.

Photo above courtesy of @

Like in other remodels we've seen lately, the Salad Bar has been relocated from the side wall to a free-standing case. Not sure what is now in the spot of the original Salad Bar.

BEFORE >>>

Looks like some new cases were installed in the service area of the Meat Department.


Former Bistro seating is now the Frosted Mug's beer-on-tap bar.

BEFORE >>>

All drum-pendant lighting in the store has been removed.


The former home of Wild Harvest department is now beer and wine.


New flooring in this section.

Photo above courtesy of @

BEFORE >>>

Health Food has been bumped to aisle 2.

BEFORE >>>

Bright lights in Frozen!

BEFORE >>>

Not sure if new cases were installed or not. I believe these photos are from two different aisles.

Photo above courtesy of @

And not sure of the fate of the front corner here. When I visited the store, the front wall was pretty much dead space filled with chip displays. I'm sure the space has been better utilized now that the Frosted Mug ate up a full aisle of grocery.

Photo above courtesy of @

Holiday signage seen in the photos @ sent in.

BEFORE >>>

All new lighting across the front-end.




Thanks to our contributors for the photos of the remodeled Paoli Acme!
For additional coverage of the current and former Paoli Acmes, please click here.