A Return to the Former Milford Acme!

Photo above courtesy of Ben from Delaware

Location: 117 South East Front Street, Milford DE

Today we're taking a quick return to the former pitched-roof Acme in Milford, Delaware. The store has been covered on the blog previously thanks to Ben from Delaware. This time around we're getting a look at the back room area which is now being utilized as sales floor space. 

Interior photos courtesy of Will aka B-More Retial on flickr

The interior has remains mostly untouched from it's Acme days except for some fresh paint. This store is nearly identical to the abandoned Parkesburg store.


Classic Acme air vents along the former Produce wall. Notice the clock just about that shopper's left shoulder! We've seen it at several locations including the abandoned flat-rrofed store in Woodstown, New Jersey. Click here for a closer look.


Update: Will just sent in an extreme close-up of the clock!


In this shot, Will was standing just behind the Deli facing what would have been the Meat room. The spot lights that illuminated the meat cases can still be seen running along the drop ceiling along the left side of the photo. Notice the stairs in the distance that lead up to the second floor, which may have been replaced since the Acme left.


Looking toward the corner Deli and back room space.


Not sure what were looking at here. The brick walled room in the back there may have been the trash room.


Stairs to the second floor! I believe Acme's stairs were located along the rear wall so these may have been added after Acme left. The break room, bathrooms and compressor room were located up there.

Thanks to Will for the pictures of the former Milford Acme!

Quakertown Acme...

DEMOLTION! 

Location: 195 N West End Blvd, Quakertown, PA

Opened in 1998 

Closed August 23, 2007 

72,500-square-foot

Last week, Jason, aka Kapi, left a link to photos he had taken of the Quakertown store getting demolished. At this point, it looks like a majority of the front of the store is being removed with the remainder of the building being left intact. TJMaxx and HomeGoods will be moving in to the former Acme. Jason said he will be taking more pictures so we'll get to see how the conversion plays out. The photo above is how the store looked back in 2009. It remained in that condition until just recently. Below are photos Jason took over 3 different days in March...

MARCH 15

MARCH 18

MARCH 20

To view additional photos in Jason's collection, please click here.

The Acme in better days...

Sadly, this store only lasted 9 years despite Acme's presence in Quakertown for decades.

Quakertown's previous Acme locations...

200 N West End Blvd, Quakertown, PA

Opened: 1970's

This aerial image is from 1992 showing the 33M style Acme. The building was still standing as of 1999 but was torn down to make way for a Kohls department store. 

26 North Fourth Street, Quakertown, PA

Opened: December 16, 1953

Quakertown's very first Acme on Fourth Street. You can see the tower and it's shadow on the upper right corner of the building. The store has since been torn down.

For additional coverage of Quakertown, please click here.
Thanks to Jason for sharing his awesome photos!

Former Acme – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Photos courtesy of John from WISL1480.com

Location: 1207 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA
Opening date: unknown

Opening and closing dates for this store are unknown. Lancaster's other picthed-roof store over on Millersville Pike, which we'll have a look at down below, opened in August 1962. I've been told Acme left Lancaster and surrounding areas in the early 80's due to an impass with the district's unions. I've never been able to confirm that information 

The former Acme is now split between a CVS and a uniform store. A drop ceiling has been added and there are no Acme clues to be found inside. Plenty to be seen on the outside. 

The exterior of this strip has barely been altered since it was built. 

The former Produce delivery doors.

The compressor beam has been removed here. Acme's second floor rear windows still intact. 

AERIAL VIEWS

Acme faced competition from a Weis across Lititz Ave and a Pantry Pride just North on Litiz Avenue, which was located in the shopping center at the top of this image. Weis relocated to a replacement store North of here back in the 90s. The Pantry Pride became Giant which you can see at the left-end of the shopping center. This store was completely torn down and replaced in 2008. I've been dying to see pictures of the new store for years now. You can catch views of the new building in some of the aerial images when exploring the area. Just today, I stumbled across pictures of the store taken by our friend catnapped1972. Finally got a look at the new Giant! You can have a full tour by clicking on the photo below...

HISTORIC AERIALS

1992

1969

1951

AN OVERVIEW OF LANCASTER'S 
OTHER ACME LOCATIONS

PITCHED-ROOF ON MILLERSVILLE PIKE...

Location: 1294 Millersville Pike

Opening date: August 15, 1962

Lancaster's other former pitched-roof Acme in the Manor Shopping Center. Back in the 90's this was an Ace Hardware store and at that time still looked very much like an Acme both inside and out. Since then, the shopping center added the blue awning across the store and sealed over the high windows. Interestingly, Acme had expanded into a small section on the right side. I believe the addition was torn down in order for Ruby Tuesdays to build their restaurant.


These photos are actually from Google Street View and we can even move around to the back of the store...

TOWER STORE ON SOUTH QUEEN...

222 South Queen Street

Opening date: March 16, 1952

You can see where the tower was once located above the entrance. This location has been a Save A Lot for as long as I can remember.

50's FLAT-ROOF ON COLUMBIA AVE...

Location: 1775 Columbia Avenue

Opening date: September 5, 1956

This used to be Rebman Brother's store. I see now that Rebman's is located in at the back of the building.  When they occupied the whole store, the interior was mostly intact from the Acme days. The former meat room and back rooms were used for a huge display of artificial Chirstmas trees and decorations.


Rebman's used to be famous for it's party supplies and holiday decorations. Now it looks like they just sell flags and bingo supplies.

POSSIBLE 30's STORE ON NORTH QUEEN...

532 North Queen Street

Opening date: November 10, 1938

A little confused by this one. The address I have for this Acme is 532 North Queen Street. As you can see, the address on this building is 530. Perhaps it was once divided into two sections with the half of the right being 532. The historic aerials don't offer any additional clues. This building and the houses next door date back to the first available image on historic aerials in 1951.

AND THE STORE THAT STILL HAS
ACME DÉCOR!

Location: 1649 Lincoln Highway East

Opening date: 1965

Acme's decorative Meat Department panels have survived to this very day! They've been painted over numerous times but have never been removed. This location was covered on the blog in May 2015. You can visit the full post by clicking here.