Original Tenant: A&P
Address: 128 NJ-94, Blairstown, NJ
A&P came to the small town of Blairstown, in northwestern Warren County, in the 1960s with a 26,000 square foot store. In the late 1970s, that store was renovated and upgraded with a new facade (which we see here), and then in the 1990s this store was replaced by a new store double the size up NJ-94. A&P (and now ACME) aren't the only game in town, however, as there is a small grocery store in town which you can see here.
I don't believe the Tractor Supply Company store has any A&P remnants inside, although I'm not sure. What does appear to be an A&P remnant is the cart corral in the parking lot...
Address: 128 NJ-94, Blairstown, NJ
Opened: 1960s
Closed: 1990s
Later Tenants: Tractor Supply Co.
Photographed: January 2021
Don't forget to check out those stores linked above, and tomorrow, we move on to a little general store just to the east tomorrow on The Independent Edition!
That old A&P cart corral was a great find!
ReplyDeleteNewspaper advertisements from November 1971 mentioned this store's opening, thus making it among the last Centennials ever built. The supermarket was originally an A-Mart Discount Foods.
In the 1971 shot available on HistoricAerials.com, construction had yet to commence. The next available aerial shot wasn't taken until 1984, and a much clearer view from 1988 is also available. In that 1988 view, the awning appeared to be shingled; I'm guessing that it wasn't replaced by the ugly white metal until after A&P closed.
Unfortunately, I was unable to ascertain when A&P renovated (and possibly expanded) this supermarket. (To be honest, based on aerial views, it doesn't look like this A&P was expanded much, despite the fact that the 70s awning was placed over the Centennial front). I also was unable to find out when the A&P relocated to its newer store at 152 Route 94. However, by going to HistoricAerials.com, one can see that the newer A&P was in operation by 1997 but had yet to be built in 1995.
--A&P Fan
Thanks for the history!
DeleteI wouldn't be so sure about the white metal paneling -- I think it's hard to tell. It certainly looks a lot like this A&P (now Freshtown Marketplace) in Amenia, NY...https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeeptick/2893500194
Zachary, you make a very good point.
DeleteIt's unfortunate that the ugly metal paneling was placed over the beautiful Centennial front in Blairstown and in Amenia. In Arbutus, MD, and ugly green metal awning was placed over the Centennial front of an A&P-turned-Super Fresh. That store is currently a Save A Lot, which repainted the metal a white color.
--A&P Fan
Ah yes. I'm familiar with that store, as I have a good friend from Catonsville with whom I've, naturally, talked extensively about grocery stores.
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