Search found 533 matches

by Ephrata1966
10 Oct 2017 00:13
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: Kroger Family Centers
Replies: 126
Views: 87765

Re: Kroger Family Centers

Hey... it just occurred to me that both Kroger and TG&Y experimented with stores called "family center" during the same period and in the same regions. Which chain did it first? I'm surprised the two companies didn't fight with one another over exclusive rights to this phrase. There us...
by Ephrata1966
29 Jun 2017 00:27
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: Kmart 2000 closures
Replies: 22
Views: 23795

Re: Kmart 2000 closures

I can name one of the stores closed in 2000... it was on Torresdale Avenue in North Philadelphia, PA. I'm not sure if it really was any better when the Kmart (and neighboring Acme) opened in 1976, but by the time they both closed in 2000, the surrounding neighborhood had become really bad. In fact t...
by Ephrata1966
13 Jun 2017 19:32
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: 2 Supermarkets In One Shopping Center
Replies: 68
Views: 97047

Re: 2 Supermarkets In One Shopping Center

I believe the fully built-out version of City Line Center in Philadelphia (now called City Avenue) had both an Acme and a Penn Fruit. The center opened with and Acme where the Dollar Tree is now located. I have a feeling it eventually relocated to the current Sears Hardware space, but I'm not sure....
by Ephrata1966
25 May 2017 21:57
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Which Chicagoland supermarket suffered the most under new ownership?
Replies: 14
Views: 9802

Re: Which Chicagoland supermarket suffered the most under new ownership?

Question for rvwalton: would you agree with me that the Jewel at Dixie Square Mall would have likely closed anyway even if the mall had stayed open? Even if the mall had been doing perfectly fine, I still think Jewel would have closed circa 1979. I couldn't see it lasting much longer than that, perh...
by Ephrata1966
24 May 2017 18:09
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Which Chicagoland supermarket suffered the most under new ownership?
Replies: 14
Views: 9802

Re: Which Chicagoland supermarket suffered the most under new ownership?

I was assuming Dominick's was a semi-upscale chain because Safeway has a history of buying upscale-leaning chains such as Genuardi's, Randalls, Tom Thumb, and Pavilions. And since 2000, Safeway itself has seemingly tried to move upscale, especially since the Lifestyle format made its debut circa 200...
by Ephrata1966
24 May 2017 15:12
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: Reset conversions vs. Rebrand conversions
Replies: 5
Views: 7783

Re: Reset conversions vs. Rebrand conversions

One odd exception to the Albertsons "resets" would be the former A&P in Boonton, NJ that is now an Acme. Unlike the rest of the A&P brands/Acme stores, this store was originally going to close, and was just a day or two from finishing it's going out of business sales when Acme dec...
by Ephrata1966
05 May 2017 14:56
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: 2 Supermarkets In One Shopping Center
Replies: 68
Views: 97047

Re: 2 Supermarkets In One Shopping Center

West Shore Plaza in Lemoyne, PA (very close to Harrisburg) opened in 1955 with both Acme and Food Fair. The former Acme eventually became a CVS (I think IGA might have been here for awhile after Acme closed, but I'm not sure) and the Food Fair (which I assume survived the change to Pantry Pride, but...
by Ephrata1966
05 May 2017 14:34
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Which Chicagoland supermarket suffered the most under new ownership?
Replies: 14
Views: 9802

Re: Which Chicagoland supermarket suffered the most under new ownership?

Here's kind of a strange sight in the second photo on the page: http://gassigns.org/jewel.htm That vacant supermarket (with the Hollywood Video next to it, which of course has also since closed) was apparently a former Dominick's. This photo was taken in 2004. Was it particularly rare for Dominick's...
by Ephrata1966
03 May 2017 12:06
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: 2 Supermarkets In One Shopping Center
Replies: 68
Views: 97047

Re: 2 Supermarkets In One Shopping Center

I believe the fully built-out version of City Line Center in Philadelphia (now called City Avenue) had both an Acme and a Penn Fruit. The center opened with and Acme where the Dollar Tree is now located. I have a feeling it eventually relocated to the current Sears Hardware space, but I'm not sure....
by Ephrata1966
03 May 2017 11:53
Forum: History: USA Midwest/Plains
Topic: Which Chicagoland supermarket suffered the most under new ownership?
Replies: 14
Views: 9802

Re: Which Chicagoland supermarket suffered the most under new ownership?

Dominick's mostly altered the product mix and pricing, but what about Albertsons? You might want to edit the above sentence to replace Dominick's with Safeway. I only point this out to prevent confusion. I'm not from Chicago so I really can't answer your question. But being very familiar with Phila...
by Ephrata1966
05 Mar 2017 16:54
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: Albertsons Lawn and Garden Centers
Replies: 17
Views: 15583

Re: Albertsons Lawn and Garden Centers

Not trying to throw this thread off-topic, but this thread reminds me of a few questions I had for anyone who might know: first of all, when did Target phase out garden centers from their stores? Actually they weren't exactly garden "centers" Target used to have... Target stores had 2-3 ai...
by Ephrata1966
23 Feb 2017 18:56
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: Kmart interior in Spanaway, WA
Replies: 3
Views: 8419

Re: Kmart interior in Spanaway, WA

Mystery solved... this Kmart opened on November 8, 1984. I found out thanks to the "wildfire improved Kmart store list" in Google Fusion Tables.
by Ephrata1966
30 Jan 2017 22:18
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: Iconic Store Designs
Replies: 19
Views: 15688

Re: Iconic Store Designs

Here are unique designs by chain: Grand Union "60's shingle facade" stores... there also was a notable Grand Union facade design that I think was used in the late 70's and early 80's, but unfortunately I don't know its official name or timeline This one was built in 1977 - not sure if tha...
by Ephrata1966
28 Jan 2017 18:14
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: Iconic Store Designs
Replies: 19
Views: 15688

Re: Iconic Store Designs

Here are unique designs by chain: A&P "barrel roof" stores, A&P Centennial stores, A&P "80's Centennial" stores, A&P Futurestores Safeway Marina stores, Safeway "Spanish tile" stores Kroger superstores, small greenhouse stores, big greenhouse stores Acme...
by Ephrata1966
06 Jan 2017 16:49
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: 2 Supermarkets In One Shopping Center
Replies: 68
Views: 97047

Re: 2 Supermarkets In One Shopping Center

It's finally happening (sometime this year): the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is opening one new store to replace those two Wine & Spirits stores. The new store will be in a new Whole Foods-anchored center across the street. It will be hard finding new tenants for both old stores. And unfor...