Search found 29 matches

by neil mcauliffe
09 Oct 2011 17:55
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: An Old Philadelphia Acme
Replies: 2
Views: 4013

An Old Philadelphia Acme

There was an A-frame style Acme at the corner of the Roosevelt Boulevard and Borbeck St. that was built in the 60s. It probably closed in 1980 after Acme purchased and relocated to the larger former Food Fair property at Pennypack Circle. The old store became Dugan's Restaurant and catering hall. Du...
by neil mcauliffe
11 Apr 2011 19:14
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Genuardi's in Philadelphia County and NJ/DE/MD
Replies: 9
Views: 5617

Re: Genuardi's in Philadelphia County and NJ/DE/MD

I was in Philadelphia this weekend and to my surprise Giant is building a store in the city. It is located on Grant Avenue just east of the Boulevard practically next to the old Penn Fruit warehouse. It looks like it should be open in a few months. I think Josh has it right, Genuardi's stayed out of...
by neil mcauliffe
06 Apr 2011 18:25
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Possible ex-Delaware Food Fair (Kiddie City)
Replies: 8
Views: 11396

Re: Possible ex-Delaware Food Fair

The Toys R Us in the former Food Fair/Pantry Pride at Cottman and Castor was never a Kiddie City. There was a Kiddie City store over near where the Orleans Theater was located. (At one time there was a Pathmark next to the Orleans but that is another story). Kiddie City was owned by the Lionel Corpo...
by neil mcauliffe
19 Mar 2011 17:37
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Was the Sharon Hill, PA Acme slated to close years ago?
Replies: 5
Views: 4124

Re: Was the Sharon Hill, PA Acme slated to close years ago?

Basically that would be true in the Philly region. The sign on the HQ at 30th Street always said Food Fair. I'm not sure it is true for other areas such as Florida. Steve Landry who often posts on this site is an expert on FF who could answer that question. They also experimented with the name Food ...
by neil mcauliffe
19 Mar 2011 17:25
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Food Fait/Pantry Pride locations in Downtown Philadelphia?
Replies: 7
Views: 4923

Re: Food Fait/Pantry Pride locations in Downtown Philadelphia?

Pantry Pride was the private label for Best Markets.

The first Pantry Pride conversions were in 1964 or 65 and they were in response to the arrival of Shop Rite/Pathmark. The first two stores were 8445 Frankford Avenue (#392) and Grant and Academy (#35).
by neil mcauliffe
19 Mar 2011 17:16
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Food Fait/Pantry Pride locations in Downtown Philadelphia?
Replies: 7
Views: 4923

Re: Food Fait/Pantry Pride locations in Downtown Philadelphia?

The sale of the Best Markets chain was a little messy. Here is a brief chronology. July 22, 1958 Penn Fruit announced that it had signed an agreement to purchase the Best Markets for $3.5 million. They paid a deposit of $175,000. This was for 22 stores plus a couple of stores under construction. A f...
by neil mcauliffe
15 Mar 2011 15:42
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Food Fait/Pantry Pride locations in Downtown Philadelphia?
Replies: 7
Views: 4923

Re: Food Fait/Pantry Pride locations in Downtown Philadelphia?

At 23rd and South Streets there was a Best Market. Food Fair acquired the chain in 1957 or 58. It was one of the stores they changed over to Food Fair and later to Pantry Pride. The last I heard it was still a supermarket.
by neil mcauliffe
15 Mar 2011 15:32
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Was the Sharon Hill, PA Acme slated to close years ago?
Replies: 5
Views: 4124

Re: Was the Sharon Hill, PA Acme slated to close years ago?

I think by 1970 all of the stores in the Philadelphia region were converted to Pantry Pride. The ones that they did not convert were the older stores that had no future and were closed when the leases expired. Some of those I remember were Adams and the Roosevelt Blvd., Tulip and Allegheny and I bel...
by neil mcauliffe
12 Mar 2011 18:04
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Was the Sharon Hill, PA Acme slated to close years ago?
Replies: 5
Views: 4124

Re: Was the Sharon Hill, PA Acme slated to close years ago?

Yes there was a Food Fair at 1442 Chester Pike in Sharon Hill store #167. It probably would have converted to PP in the late 60s. I assume it lasted until the end but I can't say for sure because I was not familar with their stores in Delaware county.
by neil mcauliffe
08 Nov 2010 18:21
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: A&P in South Philadelphia
Replies: 15
Views: 7623

Re: A&P in South Philadelphia

In the 60s I know of 2 A&Ps in South Philly. 2120 South 23rd Street and 1500 Packer Avenue. There were Food Fairs at 25th and Snyder and 31st and Reed that were later converted to Pantry Pride. There was an older Food Fair at Broad and Oregon that was never converted which I think closed in the ...
by neil mcauliffe
22 Aug 2010 17:41
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Did Cheltenham Square ever have an A&P, Acme, Food Fair?
Replies: 13
Views: 6917

Re: Did Cheltenham Square ever have an A&P, Acme, Food Fair?

There was no Food Fair. They had a Pantry Pride nearby at the Cedarbrook Mall. At one time it was the busiest store in the company's Philadelphia region. It was originally an E J Korvette supermarket. They had a store at 19th and Cheltenham Avenue that was a FF later converted to PP and a Best Marke...
by neil mcauliffe
13 Aug 2010 19:15
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Acme and Philadelphia area shopping centers
Replies: 39
Views: 16356

Re: Acme and Philadelphia area shopping centers

The FF/PP in the Cherry Hill Mall was located near Strawbridge and Clothier. I think after it closed it was a sporting goods store for awhile. With all of the reconfigurations that mall has gone through over the years it is hard for me to say where exactly it was today. An interesting story about th...
by neil mcauliffe
13 Aug 2010 18:43
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Acme and Philadelphia area shopping centers
Replies: 39
Views: 16356

Re: Acme and Philadelphia area shopping centers

The Food Fair/Pantry Pride in the Plymouth Meeting Mall was store #470. It's official address was 2300 Plymouth Meeting Mall. It opened with the mall. One of the people I worked with was the original grocery manager. You could enter the store directly from the outside or from inside the mall just li...
by neil mcauliffe
08 Aug 2010 17:56
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Acme and Philadelphia area shopping centers
Replies: 39
Views: 16356

Re: Acme and Philadelphia area shopping centers

The original Food Fair at 6601 Roosevelt Boulevard was located close to the road. It was probably built around 1950 with the classic brick Food Fair tower. It closed around 1970 and sat vacant for awhile. When FF announced plans for the new store the neighbors were initially not happy because they t...
by neil mcauliffe
08 Aug 2010 17:42
Forum: History: USA Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Acme and Philadelphia area shopping centers
Replies: 39
Views: 16356

Re: Acme and Philadelphia area shopping centers

The supermarket that was located within the Plymouth Meeting Mall was a Food Fair later converted to Pantry Pride. I think but I'm not positive they closed it in the 70s before the chain went bankrupt. I worked for the company in the late 60s and by then they had soured on the idea of stores within ...