Today at A&P Preservation we're looking at one of the most "well-maintained" stores A&P ever owned. If you believed that, obviously you haven't seen, heard, or looked at the Yonkers location on McLean Ave. before. It's an absolute mess. However, it was one of A&P's most profitable stores.
As one Google Maps reviewer once said about this location, "They just slapped the letters up and left it", which is an accurate statement, to some level. Acme was rather waiting for their plans to be approved for a new storefront and extensive remodel, which occurred almost a year ago now.
Walking in (there's no vestibule) we see a refreshing, yet very dated, 90's Foodmarket decor. Odd checkerboard floor... possibly from when this store used to be a Waldbaum's (which I am not 100% sure of at the moment). Acme added some prepared foods cases, as seen here.
That 'blockade' of soda is unusually tall. I can only imagine it falling down! Notice the overhead work light above produce... obviously a make-shift for normal produce lights.
This store was purchased by Acme with their liquor license. Too bad licenses aren't transferable in New Jersey-- Acme could've made a killing off of them. Once again we see the ridiculous overhead lights.
I'm assuming this is the grand aisle at this store. It's a very odd layout, considering that the produce department isn't on the side of the store.... I would call it almost in the aisles. It's good that Acme solved this problem with their renovations.
An aisle over, and you have the liquor department again. This is definitely a scaled-down version of the 90's Foodmarket decor, and was actually similar to what we saw at the Frenchtown, NJ A&P.
One thing that I always pride A&P and Acme in is their Floral department; they're always well-stocked, and have nice flowers. I often get some for special occasions. Unfortunately, it's been scaled down to an endcap here.
Okay, so dairy lines the left side of the store, which is extremely odd. Notice how we're still in the produce cutoff here. A&P added new shelving here for non-alcoholic beverages along the left side of the photo here.
As small as this store is (it tops out at around 30,000 square feet), it has around 15 checkouts, which was standard in 90's Centennials at the time. I love the mirror here, but it's looking a bit dated. Also another feature that was in Frenchtown.
Thanks to Mr. Dan Asnis for the awesome photos of the A&P on McLean Ave!
A&P of McLean Ave.660 McLean Ave.Yonkers, New York Waldbaum's (?) > A&P > Acme |
Cool Acme store! There is another store with the mirrors around the checkouts, the Stop & Shop in Shirley. It is also a former Waldbaums. One question, are there more of these mirrors near the checkouts in former A&P stores which have been kept?
ReplyDeleteThanks! The McLean Ave. store is definitely unique.
DeleteMostly 60's Centennial stores got these mirrors. They were originally installed in the mid-90's with the Foodmarket decor. Other specific stores (at least that I know of) include the Frenchtown, NJ A&P (Now IGA; still has the mirrors), and the Newark, DE Superfresh (Now becoming a Food Lion)