Drive-By Photos 9

A&P/SuperFresh, Devon, PA

A centennial store, probably from the 60's, was rebranded to the SuperFresh name in the early 80's. It relocated to the new store in the 90's. UPDATE: Shopping center currently undergoing a remodel. The facade will likely be lost.

America's Choice Lightbulbs

We bought these when we were at Kennett Square, which was well after all of our local hardware stores had run out. (Thankfully, it seems that the lightbulbs in our house stopped burning out right after the ban) Not only is this old merchandise, but it has the old America's choice logo, and something about the packaging seems ancient,

Kmart/SuperFresh/Pathmark, Walnutport, PA

I would say it was built in the 70's as a Kmart, which closed, SuperFresh opened in the later 90's, when the store design got boxier. This one is also set to close, which isn't surprising considering how far northwest it is compared to the rest of their stores. Update: Becoming Giant in early 2019.

A&P Mixed Nuts

Probably from the 60's or early 70's, purchased at the Springfield A&P, which closed in 1974. It's now split between a Chinese restaurant and a dollar store.

Eckerd/Rite Aid, Frazer, PA

Opened sometime after the 80's, became Rite Aid in 2007. You wouldn't even know it was there if it wasn't for the sign. No major part of the façade, no windows, one metal door is all there is. Update: Closed 2017, now a dental clinic.

Hibachi, Downingtown, PA

This was originally built in the 50's as part of some massive marketplace sponsored by Mickey Rooney. The owners redeveloped around 1999, and this was one of a handful of original buildings kept. It is a pretty good restaurant, and the chefs put on a pretty entertaining show. It is open, even though it always looks closed.

Chi-Chi's/Cheeseburger in Paradise/Pour House, Exton, PA

I'm pretty sure the Cheeseburger in Paradise chain was owned by Jimmy Buffett. They had a place here for about 20 years, then it closed and work immediately started on this place, which opened in 2013. The Hess back there is now a Speedway.

Giant, Boyertown, PA

Built in 2010, possibly the last pre-ahold style store built. The new standard design rolled out in 2011, and by 2014, it had evolved to the point where there was no Giant influence left.

Sunoco, Boyertown, PA

Part of a service station. At the time, it was the only Sunoco I knew of that had the new LED parking lot & canopy lights. Now Lionville is the only one in my area that doesn't.

Pizza Hut, Macungie, PA

Looks like an older Pizza hut, which closed, then something else moved in and put on a new roof, now that's closed.

Econolodge, Allentown, PA

The biggest Econo Lodge you will ever see. It is about 5 buildings, so it was probably a resort at some point. There must have been some sort of conference that day, the parking lot looks like a used car dealer!

Exxon, Schnecksville, PA

An unusual looking Exxon, I would assume based on the building that it wasn't always a gas station.

Weis, Schnecksville, PA

The building was built originally in the 90's as a shopping center, around 2007 Weis kicked out everyone else, tore down their stores, and expanded.

Wells Fargo, Slatington, PA

This was probably a Wachovia that they bought out, which probably bought something else before it. It was likely built in the 60's or 70's.

Eckerd/Rite Aid, Walnutport, PA

Late 90's store design, became Rite Aid in 2007. You can really tell what time of year this was taken here.

Valley Restaurant, Walnutport, PA

Looks like it could have been a fast food place at one point.

Update: Taco Bell opened on the site in 2017.

Sunoco, Allentown, PA

I'm not sure if this was an Arco or not, as I have recently learned that Arcos and Sunocos had very similar stores in the 60's, and everything that could differentiate has been removed here. Looks like it had an A-plus store here at one point.

 Genuardi's/Ace Hardware, Kimberton, PA

Genuardi's opened in 1992 and closed in late 2011. This sat vacant for a couple years. The new stores opened in 2014, shortly after this was taken. See the store before while vacant here (That picture is better than mine), and during remodel here. Looking into the vestibule, they kept the original doors. The beige spots up on the walls are where the lights used to be. I'm not sure about the beadboard along the bottom of the walls.

TJMaxx/Gabe's, Exton, PA

Probably opened with the center in the 80's, was one of several stores in this center that relocated to Fairfield Plaza or the Exton Mall between 2012-2014. It is still vacant. I figure this center will be redeveloped when they find a tenant for the former ACME. Whole Foods has expressed interest in the property. Update: Now Gabe's as of summer 2018.

Chili's, King of Prussia, PA

This originally opened in the 80's or 90's, in a former Howard Johnson's that seems to have had the same footprint as this one. That was demolished and rebuilt in late 2013. I don't know if it just hadn't opened yet, or if it was closed because of the snowstorm. (Power was out for over a week, and school was canceled for 4 days!)

Update: Here's the old location

Exxon/Texaco/Hertz, KOP

This was in what is probably the glitziest part of town, and probably the only building that hadn't been completely redone or rebuilt within the last 5 years. The mall is directly across the street. It was demolished earlier this year, I can't tell what they're building besides the fact that its huge. In this area, size tends to be deceiving, as there is a tiny Rite Aid, and this one gargantuan store that sells Tupperware exclusively. According to pauled8no1's Flickr comment, the canopy would have been added by Exxon around 1986 or so.

Raymour and Flanagan, KOPI accidentally deleted the photo from Flickr before I copied the info over. Oops. I think I said something about R&F remodeling the left side of the building when they moved in. It would have originally all been like the vacant part on the right.

WT Grant's/Michael's, KOPOpened in 1956, and was probably closed by the late 70's. It must have been something n between Grant's and Michaels, but I don't know what. The façade was redone in late 2013 when target rebuilt the right side of the center, (this part is the middle, they are currently redoing the left side). See this for a view before the remodel.

First Pennsylvania/Wachovia/Wells Fargo, KOP
This was almost definitely built in the 70's. This is one of 2 former Wachovia's along this highway in King of Prussia that Wells Fargo bought in 2008. They probably repainted it.

Wawa, KOP
Built in the 60's, until recently, I was expecting them to relocate soon given the area. Instead they gave it a massive remodel bringing it up to post-2011 standards.

Hilton Garden Inn, Chester Springs, PAConstruction is nearing completion, it opened for business around May, 2014.

Rite Aid, Kimberton, PAOpened in 1992, closed in 2008 when the store in Phoenixville was built.

Pinnacle Integrated Systems, Frazer, PAThis is what it originally looked like. It was a barn which became a plumbing fittings store in the 80's. It was abandoned by 2000. more recently, it was converted to this.

The Container Store and Strawbridge's, KOPArea on the left used to be Strawbridge & Clothier, opened in the 80's, and is now divided between various other stores. The store on the right was built recently. They sell mainly Tupperware, which they display in the windows. After looking at their website, it appears they also sell some shelves too.

Bloomingdale's, KOP

Despite the very 90's looking façade, this store actually opened in 1982. It was very ahead of its time in terms of design.

Wells Fargo, KOP

Most likely from the late 60's. It became a Wells Fargo around 2010. Most likely opened as a First Pennsylvania.

Lord & Taylor, KOP

Two Department Stores in America's largest retail space. L&T was built in the 90's, and Nordstrom between 99-00.

M&T/First Resource Bank, Lionville, PA

Opened in the 80's as an M&T, which closed in 2012. 1st Resource completely redid the place, and opened in 2014 as a relocation from here.

Colonial Theater, Phoenixville, PA

Opened in the 30's, probably received a new façade in the 50's. Its claim to fame was its appearance in The Blob.

Rite Aid, Phoenixville, PA

Opened around 2008 as a relocation of both the former Eckerd (demolished) across the street and one by the Kimberton Genuardi's (still vacant).