Price Chopper
Opened: 1995
Previous Tenants: Wonder Markets > Big D Supermarket
Location: 29 Sunderland Rd, Grafton Hill, Worcester, MA
Photographed: November 4, 2018
Even though Worcester doesn't have the chains it once did, like Big D or Iandoli's, there is actually a lot of mainstream supermarket choice in and immediately around the city. Big Y,
Price Chopper/Market 32,
Shaw's, Stop & Shop,
Market Basket, and Hannaford all have a meaningful presence in and near the city. Plus, there are a few independents like
Park 'n Shop.
There are also a few supermarkets in and around Worcester that are a bit of a time capsule. The 32,000 square foot Price Chopper at Pozzessere Square (does anyone call it that?) where Sunderland and Massasoit Roads intersect is one of those time capsules. It was built between 1957 and 1962 as a Wonder Market ("Sunderland Wonder Market" in 1969 and 1973). It appears that Wonder Market was affiliated with Big D, so my assumption is that either Wonder Market made it to 1995 or at some point became a Big D before Price Chopper acquired the whole chain in 1995. Unfortunately, the city directories I consulted show nothing listed for this location from 1979 to 1991.
There's definitely some form of labelscar behind the Price Chopper sign, but I've never been able to quite make it out. It's interesting to me, though, that the decorative lines are curved on the right side but straight on the left side. I assume that was designed around the Wonder Market logo or perhaps an earlier version of the Price Chopper logo.
You enter the store behind the white van in the exterior pictures, then turn right to walk across the storefront in that foyer (which I believe was an expansion) to the right side of the store. Deli is in the front right corner, then produce takes up the left side of the grand aisle with meats on the right-side wall. Seafood is at the back of the grand aisle, with dairy on the rest of the back wall. Frozen foods are on the far left side, with beverages and bakery in the last aisle on the far left side. A small liquor store is in the front left corner. It's a very atypical Price Chopper layout (especially meats in the first aisle) but also unlike the
converted Big D locations we've seen, so maybe it's original to Wonder Market.
We can tell the store is on the older side because of the lower ceiling and the general feeling of old-ness across the store, but the thing is that this is a very well-maintained Price Chopper. Even though it's older and smaller, I really liked this Price Chopper location the times I was here and it seems well-run and well taken care of.
It could use some updated brighter lighting, though.
But compared to
Main and Cambridge or Quinsigamond Village, this one is in much better shape.
It even has a tiny service seafood counter at the back of the grand aisle.
Paper goods, HABA, and nonfoods in the first few aisles -- that much is definitely a standard Price Chopper layout.
Dairy lines the rest of the back wall of the store.
And the grocery aisles are clean and well-stocked, even though it's a smaller store.
But again, we can tell the fixtures are on the older side.
A small bakery (but they do bake in-store) is in the back left corner.
The rest of the last aisle is beverages and snacks. I wonder if this was previously another service department or something -- it's a slightly awkward corner.
Looking back up the last aisle...
Small liquor store in the front corner.
And a look across the front-end. I know it used to be common to have these low ceilings over the perimeters of the store, but I don't like it. I think it makes the stores feel cramped and dated.
But this is regardless a pleasant and small store! On Monday, we're off to another chain supermarket in this far southeastern corner of Worcester, with a twist!
Totally not connected, out in the town of Oneida NY (not far from Turning Stone), there exists a smaller, older looking Price Chopper like this.
ReplyDeleteNot sure exactly how/where it came from originally, but just about across the street (NY Route 5), there is a plaza with a store called the Electic Chic (mostly vendors selling antiques but a few stands with new stuff as well).
However, look at the posting from 9/4 showing the building at their page (https://www.facebook.com/TheEclecticChicNY/) and I think you'll recognize the design...
Which leaves the question of how or why Price Chopper is in that older store across the street when this building exists!
The store they're currently in was a Tops. They sold a bunch of stores in 2005 to other supermarkets, that one being one of six Tops locations to become PC.
DeleteI believe that one was previously a Tops, considering that it appears to have old Ahold decor in it.
DeleteI guess that makes sense (that it was Tops), just not sure why they'd buy that and close their own store that looks to be newer and probably a bit larger.
DeleteAnd if that was in 2005, it isn't even from when Tops was taking over the remains of P&C (which would make sense to have a store to sell, given the P&C that is now a Grand Union just up the road two miles or so, even if technically in Sherrill).
As said, this was in fact one of six stores that Price Chopper acquired from Tops in 2005, with them moving to this store from a 1989 glass-and-pillar store in the Glenwood Shopping Center on October 30th. It does look like this store simply recolored the Ahold decor, most noticeably the Produce signage.
DeleteThis location is a relic; it's actually the last one still operated by Price Chopper that retains the Big D facade. The labelscar you are seeing is indeed the old Big D logo, with the curve on the right-side being where the orange "D" was. The only other building still standing that shares this design is the former West Boylston location on West Boylston St. (Rt. 12 Pickle just moved in this year, but kept the facade intact with a fresh coat of paint.)
ReplyDeleteThere were also 2 locations in Framingham that have since been demolished, but had similar designs. For example, this image of the Mt. Wayte location
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/tehchix0r/265692364 - has a more visible lablescar; play around with it in an image program and you can really make it out.
Thanks for confirming that! That's what I suspected but I didn't know for sure about the facade design. We'll see the West Boylston location shortly. And thanks for sharing the other Framingham locations!
Delete