Update: ACME Markets - Morris Plains, NJ

ACME Markets
Opened: 1978 in existing building; 1953 in previous building on same site; closed 2021

Previous Tenants: none

Location: 329 Speedwell Ave, Morris Plains, NJ

Photographed: June 2020 and June 2021

ACME has certainly been closing stores at slower rates lately compared to the rapid downsizing of the 1990s and 2000s, but there are still some casualties. They lost the lease here at Morris Plains, once a top store for the chain, in the spring of 2021 as the property is expected to be redeveloped, likely with a drugstore in a new-build building. It does seem that the 31,000 square foot store wasn't attracting the same volume of shoppers at the end of its life as it had previously. And by the way, we've toured the store along with extensive history here. It's likely that the ShopRite just to the east in Cedar Knolls, constructed in 2013, didn't kill this store but hurt it; a LIDL announced for just across the street from the ShopRite didn't help either; and finally, Long Island-based Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace announced they would be moving into the former ShopRite in Morris Plains. Those all combined to make it infeasible to keep the ACME open, it seems.

For some reason, the flooring in the last two aisles was replaced at some point between June 2020 (when the above picture was taken) and June 2021 (when I returned for the following store closing pictures). As we'll see, the Industrial Circus flooring was replaced with solid white.

I visited on June 2, 2021 to check out the state of the store and maybe get some good clearance deals. I did both. The store was expected to close on June 26, 2021 but I believe it closed quite a bit earlier than that because the merchandise was all sold out.

The pharmacy closed on May 19th.

Produce was still surprisingly well-stocked at the time of my visit, although the other departments were seriously thinning out or already done.

But the bakery was also surprisingly still going strong.

Deli and seafood, however, were both cleaned out.

Note that the store got Quality Built aisle markers at some point. No other real upgrades, which I assume was because ACME knew their lease would be up soon and didn't want to unnecessarily invest money.

The grocery aisles varied, some were still pretty full and some were completely empty. Note that maintenance clearly wasn't a priority here -- it's quite clean, but so many lights were burnt out.

Some of the freezer cases had already been turned off, although mostly they were clinging on to the last little bits of stock they still had.

And except for milk and (weirdly) bagged cheese, the dairy department was almost completely empty too...

Also of note that the pharmacy closing signage lists it as a Sav-On pharmacy. This store remained a Sav-On Pharmacy until its closing day, even when nearly all of the other ACME pharmacies became just ACME pharmacies.

That's all for Morris Plains now, and although I doubt another grocery chain would move in here, you can be sure I'll be back if they do! Our other two posts of the day are the ShopRite east on Hanover Avenue in Cedar Knolls, and the former Foodtown just to the east of that. Tomorrow, we head east to Hanover Township for an independent store over on The Independent Edition!