A Giant, Some Stores, and Some Abandoned Stuff

 Williams Deluxe Cabins, Exton, PA
Reconstruction was just beginning to get underway here. The newer motel buildings in back were the first ones to be torn down and rebuilt. The smaller building in the left of this photo followed not long after. They kept the design similar to the original, but actually made it look fancier. I'm assuming they're planning on reopening it as a motel, but the township could have just forced the owners to do something with the rotting old buildings. They're listed on the historic register, so they had to be rebuilt.
 The former motel gate house, which actually began life as a Pure Oil gas station. It didn't appear to be in too bad a shape, but it was torn down in late 2018. The foundation's been rebuilt, so I'm assuming it'll look relatively the same.
 Sherwin-Williams, Exton, PA
This one's been around for a while. They closed the Exton MAB in favor of this in 2011. In 2017, they began redoing the façade, making it look a little less 80's.
 Circuit City, Exton, PA
This opened in 2001, closed with the chain in 2009, and sat totally vacant until late last year. Work recently began turning about 1/3 of the building into a new PLCB store, which will replace one elsewhere in the center. It looks like the remainder of the building will continue to sit vacant for now.
 CC signs were left behind on the walls. I'm assuming these are still up, as this vestibule isn't in the area PLCB's taking. Construction plans for the Movie Tavern across the parking lot were left behind here as well. I'm guessing this was used as a temporary construction office.
 Another CC sign still sitting after a decade.
 Penn Liberty/WSFS, Downingtown, PA
This was built in 2012 as a Penn Liberty bank, which was sold to WSFS in 2016.
 Giant, Thorndale, PA
Giant opened this store in the early 2000's, relocating from an 80's store elsewhere in the center. I believe the old store was Giant's first in Chester County. That building's since been divided into several smaller storefronts. It was built with the original Fun House décor, and remodeled to the Ahold look around 2012. The lighting was replaced with LED fixtures in late 2014.
 Looking along the back of the store. This lighting is much brighter than the ones they used in Phoenixville and West grove, which I believe were the first two to get LED's in 2014.
 Seafood and Meat departments were combined here, but I think they were the only departments shifted around in the remodel. The store otherwise retains its 2000's layout.
 I have a feeling this sign's been removed by now. Giant went through and took out a lot of their hanging signs in favor of gooseneck ones in late 2017. I'm also surprised they left the parapet (if that's what you call it?) above the aisle on the left. They've been removed from stores as they remodel or have their lighting replaced.
 The deli in the back corner of Produce. This store's produce section's on the left side of the store.
 Produce itself. I'm surprised they didn't paint the trim above the cases when they put in the new signs. Those were added when the department was reconfigured in 2015-16.
 Floral is surprisingly still in its original location. It's been relocated in the majority of other stores. Normally, they would stick a beer department here. This store's beer department was installed in 2018 where Organic used to be.
 Woolco?, Westtown, PA
I think I remember reading somewhere that this was built as a Woolco in 1979, although it looks awfully small for one, particularly of this vintage. It's been divided up between a few smaller stores since then. The façade was replaced in 2017 when the Giant was rebuilt.
 Former Abandoned Lake House, Chester Springs, PA
I initially covered this abandoned house a couple years back. In early 2017, it was mostly demolished in early 2017. The foundation was preserved, and a new house was rebuilt on the site.
The old fireplace bowl/urn/whatever was set aside from the rest of the rubble, making me think they reused it.
 Old foundation walls still in place. This house was built in 1960, before stone facing was around, so this is the real stuff. That's probably why they decided to save this.
 Old appliance wasn't too lucky.
 A temporary shelter was put up over the electric panels to keep them out of the elements while the new house was being built.
 Piles of old building pieces.
 The basement only went under part of the house. The rest was set up on these stone piers. Back when the house was still here, I'd sometimes see deer sleeping under this.
 Basement toilet was still left in place. I'd hazard a guess that this was removed or at very least replaced before the new house was built.
 Old pool's bee drained. It was kept here and refurbished. A large shed with really shiny aluminum siding was built up just past the diving board.
 Old Lysol can was still hanging around. I'd guess this was almost as old as the house.
 I think the basement would have looked really cool pre-abandonment. Those stone walls probably would have been a very nice touch.
 Diet Coke can, which I'd assume was from the early 90's. It was probably among the oldest cans to feature the "Diet" in cursive.
Old wine cellar was left in place during construction to act as a tool shed, but was removed after work was finished.

Comments

  1. Retail RetellFebruary 19, 2019 at 2:32 AM

    Would definitely be cool to nab those Circuit City signs! And cool finds with the old Lysol and Diet Coke cans, too :)

    Also... as much as I really liked "I Write Stuff Here," I've gotta say, I'm digging the blog's new name. Plus I'm just impressed in general at how strong your brand is... you can honestly name the blog whatever you want, you've got your username as the URL! (Jealous I never thought of that :P )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PlazaACMEFebruary 20, 2019 at 2:46 PM

      I agree, I'd love to get my hands on those signs!

      Thank you! I came up with the old name before I had to relocate my photos here, this was originally supposed to be a little more writing-focused. Now that it's replacing Flickr for me, I thought I needed a more appropriate name. I chose my username for the URL because I wanted something short and easy to remember (mainly because I'm too lazy to type out a longer name when I'm posting links).
      Glad you like it! :)

      Delete

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