Thanks! I'd love to see that photo. The large rectangular facade on the EC store
was replaced around 1993 or so with a beige type stucco that is still on the building
today, an odd move considering their impending departure shortly which,
(and correction), may have been in 1995 or 6.
Pictures when it was used as Winn-Dixie, who kept the exterior completely intact
over the years, as well as the interior architecture, structural of course, not the
wallpapering and logos...
*Outside facade (post ~1993 to present)
With a little imagination, supplant the Winn-Dixie sign for a much-smaller Farm Fresh 'rainbow'.
*Outside facade for scale
(Sorry, nighttime blurriness)
You'll notice that the building consists of five sections on each side of the entrance.
One of the sections on the left side in integrated into the main facade, but not part
of the interior.
The store seems larger than your usual supermarket, esp. for an '80s era Farm Fresh
(at 65,000 sq ft.) And you'll see why...
*Better picture for scale/ right side of building only
You might can tell that the building was NOT built originally as a supermarket.
Records in the local city directories had placed it from circa 1973 as a Mammoth Mart,
then in 1979 or '80 as a King's Department Store.
It was listed as 'Farm Fresh' in 1983,
but it is not clear if it was a full Farm Fresh, or one of the Giant or Rich's subsidaries
to begin with. Still, they erected that giant facade with the chasing lights, probably
still covered by all that stucco...
As said, Winn-Dixie did not change the architecture of the facade in any way, aside
from the color paint on the rooflines.
*Interior departments
The interior structural architecture was not modified either, only the cosmetic changes of
wallpapering, paint and logo additions.
The position of ceiling elevations, position of lighting fixtures and type of ceiling tiles are all
original (and surprisingly well-maintained for a Winn-Dixie!)
Store departments are still located in their original alcove locations along the store's periphery.
The deli/bakery was of above normal size, at least I thought for even a Farm Fresh in the '90s.
Included was a giant salad/soup bar, melon and juice bar and a large donut/pastry case. The
different colored tile in the foreground was where the salad bar used to sit. Alas by the time
I took the picture, most of the equipment had been carted off. Also located adjacent to it
was a full-size cafe, which Winn-Dixie continued to operate for a few years before shutting it
down for add'l merchandising space.
The seafood department still occupied its rear central location between the meats and the produce department...
The frozen foods still retained the original mix of chest and upright-doored freezers, becoming somewhat anachronistic in the late 90s and 2000s.
Along the front wall turning left upon entering the store
were the dry cleaners (not shown), tobacco counter (not shown),
photo lab, pharmacy and florist, all of which were hold-overs
from Farm Fresh and still operated by Winn-Dixie incl. a small
video rental until the latter's pullout in 2004.