Drive-By Photos 6
I've still got over 5,000 photos to move over (5,163 to be exact). This is going to be fun. Yippee.
7-Eleven, Phoenixville, PA
Amoco/Gulf, Phoenixville, PA
Produce Junction, Phoenixville, PAI don't think these people ever build their stores from the ground up, and it looks like it was something else originally, but I have no idea what.
Speedi-King Laundromat, Frazer, PA
Probably built in the 50's, hasn't changed much since then.
Update: Is slated to be demolished for a Lidl sometime in 2019.
Pioneer/Texaco/Pioneer/Gulf/Pioneer, Frazer, PA
Yeah franchising doesn't seem to work out that well for the people at Pioneer. This will be demolished within the coming years as the road across from it will be extended through the intersection.
Uhaul, Frazer, PA
Opened in the 70's, exterior repainted shortly before this picture was taken. The orange boxes on the wall were originally sign brackets, one has been removed.
United Artists/Sloane Toyota, Frazer, PA
Built in the 90's, closed at some point in the last 10 years, its hard to tell, since the sign was left up until early 2013. Has since been heavily remodeled into a Toyota dealer, which kept the skylight on the roof, though It appears they have blocked it off.
Concord Pet Supplies, Frazer, PA
Looks like it was built in the 70's, I heavily doubt that it ha always been a pet store. It has a grocery store-like layout to it. Any ideas what?
SS. Phillip & James, Frazer, PA
This church/school was built in the 60's, replacing a much smaller one across the street. That building serves as a chapel now. The façade of this school was rebuilt in late 2016.
Arco, Frazer, PA
A later version of Arco's look, probably form the 70's, closed in the 90's, became a Hertz or Penske or something like that. Has been abandoned since 2004 at least.
Williams Deluxe Cabins, Frazer, PA
The other half of the former Pure Oil in front of the motel complex.
Bottom Dollar, Downingtown, PA
Formerly some kind of toy/greeting card store, which closed around 2005, in 2012,became a Bottom Dollar, Which closed with the chain in January. This store probably will not be converted to an Aldi, as there is a fairly new one of those down the road in Exton.
Mobil/Lukoil, Lionville, PA
I originally thought this was built in the 80's, but from what I understand now, it is probably older. This has the circular canopies which had been connected into one rectangular one. I always assumed this was just architectural detailing. It was bought out by Lukoil when Exxon Merged with Mobil, which closed in early 2013. This was demolished in 2014, and is currently an empty lot. CORRECTION: Built in the late 60's
Lionville Sign
Put up around 2009, listing most of the major businesses in the area. Originally, Genuardi's had a slot up top, but it is empty now. Some more of the small slots have been filled since this picture was taken, but they have left out the Target, Chick-fil-a, and Rite Aid.
Happy Harry's/Premier Urgent Care, Lionville, PA
Was originally Happy Harry's convenience store/pharmacy, closed shortly before Walgreen's bought out the chain. Almost immediately afterwards, became Premier.
Lionville Business Center, Lionville, PA
A 1970's office/retail complex. It was supposed to be torn down and rebuilt in the 2000's for a new center, but the recession put a stop to that.
CVS, Lionville, PA
Built around 2004, has recently been remodeled. It is a pretty nice store.
Waffle House, Lancaster, PA
One of my favorite breakfast restaurants. Unfortunately, this is the closest one to me and is about a 45 minute drive away.
Hess/US Gas/Sunoco, North Coventry, PA
I think it was a Hess from the 80's, closed around 2005, sat empty for a while, with the Hess signage still up. Became US Gas for a short time around 2013, closed about a year later. Again, they left the signage up. Within the last month, the pumps and slab were removed, and new concrete was poured, making me think that it will be another gas station again some day.
Became Sunoco in late 2016.
Limerick Generating Station
As seen from the Costco parking lot. This was built in 1982, and produces most of the energy in southeastern Pennsylvania. When I was in 5th grade, they sent people to speak at my school about why we shouldn't be afraid of living so close to a nuclear power plant. In the event anything goes wrong, I am safe as I am just outside the "danger zone", and my neighbors have a fallout shelter.
Citizens Bank Park Sign, Philadelphia
Built around 1970 with Veterans Stadium, which housed both the Eagles and the Phillies. It was demolished around 2004 and replaced with 2 separate stadiums. It was supposed to be one of the greatest stadium demolitions ever. Anyway, they kept the sign up and gave it a new LED display.
Phillips 66/Citgo, North Coventry, PA
Another picture I had encompassing more of the station. It was taken a couple months after the last one, and has fallen apart a little more. UPDATE: Has been demolished
Motel Sign, Morgantown, PA
Not sure if hat motel even exists now. That sign is in pretty tough shape.
Abandoned Camp? Lebanon, PA
I'm not exactly sure what this was. There were a bunch of buildings built in the same style, and it looks like some kind of old summer camp complex. Well, it also looks like the setting for a horror movie, but that is beside the point. One of the places in better condition was Mollie's Root Beer Since 1925. It was still falling apart, but not so much. There is just something about this place that gives me the willies.
UPDATE: Mollies closed in the early 90's, and has been empty ever since.
There were also a cluster of abandoned trailers off to the side, I am not sure if they are related to the camp, but it has to be more than a coincidence they are all sitting abandoned here.
McDonald's, Malvern, PA
Older location, still has the old style roof and 80's decor, despite being a very high-volume location. It is right on Rt. 30.
Burger King, Paoli, PA
I think it is an 80's location, but a drop ceiling had been added at some point. Was one of many BK's to lose their franchise early this year, and is currently in the process of becoming a Starbucks. Also, notice how they turned one of the old signs into a message board.
KFC/Taco Bell, Phoenixville, PA
I have a better picture of the entire exterior coming up in a future set of pictures. This was a Pizza Hut from the 60's or 70's originally, and around 2004, it was torn down and replaced with this. The sign itself was reused. Aren't KFC and Pizza Hut the same company?
Chevrolet, Phoenixville, PA
An older dealership, probably from the 80's, around 2012 the façade was redone.
This was converted to a Gulf at some point, before closing in the early 2000's. It has been a SAAB repair shop for a while now, but still looks abandoned. Come on, couldn't they have at least painted it?
UPDATE 9/11/2017: The canopy was removed sometime this summer.
QVC Outlet, Frazer, PA
This shopping center is fairly close to the QVC studios, so I suppose whatever doesn't sell over the tube goes here. Its cool having it so close to me, but I can't say I have ever made a trip out this way just to shop here. Mainly, I drop by if we stop at the Giant next door.
Probably built in the 50's, hasn't changed much since then.
Update: Is slated to be demolished for a Lidl sometime in 2019.
Yeah franchising doesn't seem to work out that well for the people at Pioneer. This will be demolished within the coming years as the road across from it will be extended through the intersection.
Opened in the 70's, exterior repainted shortly before this picture was taken. The orange boxes on the wall were originally sign brackets, one has been removed.
Built in the 90's, closed at some point in the last 10 years, its hard to tell, since the sign was left up until early 2013. Has since been heavily remodeled into a Toyota dealer, which kept the skylight on the roof, though It appears they have blocked it off.
Looks like it was built in the 70's, I heavily doubt that it ha always been a pet store. It has a grocery store-like layout to it. Any ideas what?
This church/school was built in the 60's, replacing a much smaller one across the street. That building serves as a chapel now. The façade of this school was rebuilt in late 2016.
A later version of Arco's look, probably form the 70's, closed in the 90's, became a Hertz or Penske or something like that. Has been abandoned since 2004 at least.
The other half of the former Pure Oil in front of the motel complex.
Formerly some kind of toy/greeting card store, which closed around 2005, in 2012,became a Bottom Dollar, Which closed with the chain in January. This store probably will not be converted to an Aldi, as there is a fairly new one of those down the road in Exton.
I originally thought this was built in the 80's, but from what I understand now, it is probably older. This has the circular canopies which had been connected into one rectangular one. I always assumed this was just architectural detailing. It was bought out by Lukoil when Exxon Merged with Mobil, which closed in early 2013. This was demolished in 2014, and is currently an empty lot. CORRECTION: Built in the late 60's
TJMaxx, Exton, PA
Opened in 2011, completely redoing the façade, but it was still redone again 2 years later. You can see some leftover brackets from where TJM had an awning put up, and the new molding had been removed. The vertical row of bricks was where the windows went up to before 2011. TJM lowered the window level when they moved in. This was formerly an Office Depot, despite the fact that there is a Staples 2 stores away.
Put up around 2009, listing most of the major businesses in the area. Originally, Genuardi's had a slot up top, but it is empty now. Some more of the small slots have been filled since this picture was taken, but they have left out the Target, Chick-fil-a, and Rite Aid.
Was originally Happy Harry's convenience store/pharmacy, closed shortly before Walgreen's bought out the chain. Almost immediately afterwards, became Premier.
Montgomery Ward Mailbox
Made in 1934.
A 1970's office/retail complex. It was supposed to be torn down and rebuilt in the 2000's for a new center, but the recession put a stop to that.
Built around 2004, has recently been remodeled. It is a pretty nice store.
One of my favorite breakfast restaurants. Unfortunately, this is the closest one to me and is about a 45 minute drive away.
Howard Johnson's, Lancaster, PA
The hotel is currently in operation as a Budget Host Inn, a change that happened no earlier than the 90's. For a Budget Host, it's pretty nice. It has an indoor water park! The restaurant space is currently vacant and for lease.
Turkey Hill, Parkesburg, PA
I would assume it was built in the 70's, relocated to the other side of town in the early 2000's, shortly after a Wawa was constructed next door. Sat abandoned for about 10 years, then Verizon moved in. Update: Jan. 2016- Verizon relocated to Gap; June 2016- demolished for a CVS.
I think it was a Hess from the 80's, closed around 2005, sat empty for a while, with the Hess signage still up. Became US Gas for a short time around 2013, closed about a year later. Again, they left the signage up. Within the last month, the pumps and slab were removed, and new concrete was poured, making me think that it will be another gas station again some day.
Became Sunoco in late 2016.
As seen from the Costco parking lot. This was built in 1982, and produces most of the energy in southeastern Pennsylvania. When I was in 5th grade, they sent people to speak at my school about why we shouldn't be afraid of living so close to a nuclear power plant. In the event anything goes wrong, I am safe as I am just outside the "danger zone", and my neighbors have a fallout shelter.
Firestone, Pottstown, PA
Looks like a 50's location, still in great shape. Firestone always had some kind of interesting architecture, at least at their older locations.
Built around 1970 with Veterans Stadium, which housed both the Eagles and the Phillies. It was demolished around 2004 and replaced with 2 separate stadiums. It was supposed to be one of the greatest stadium demolitions ever. Anyway, they kept the sign up and gave it a new LED display.
Another picture I had encompassing more of the station. It was taken a couple months after the last one, and has fallen apart a little more. UPDATE: Has been demolished
Country Cupboard/Aplus, Chester Springs, PA
It was originally a Sunoco with a country cupboard store, but those were torn down and rebuilt in the late 80's and the store was made an APlus. It has since been completely redone, inside and out.
Not sure if hat motel even exists now. That sign is in pretty tough shape.
I'm not exactly sure what this was. There were a bunch of buildings built in the same style, and it looks like some kind of old summer camp complex. Well, it also looks like the setting for a horror movie, but that is beside the point. One of the places in better condition was Mollie's Root Beer Since 1925. It was still falling apart, but not so much. There is just something about this place that gives me the willies.
UPDATE: Mollies closed in the early 90's, and has been empty ever since.
There were also a cluster of abandoned trailers off to the side, I am not sure if they are related to the camp, but it has to be more than a coincidence they are all sitting abandoned here.
Hess, Lebanon, PA
Picture taken in 2013, so it would be safe to assume that this has been converted to a Speedway station now.
Hilton Garden Inn, Chester Springs, PA
Construction was completed by the end of 2013, and was ready to open in early 2014. When they built this, a hill was cut down to about half its height to make the parking lot level. There used to be this cracked-up driveway going up the hill, but that was all I could see, as the area was overgrown with trees. Its killing me that I don't know what it was.
Waterloo Gardens Closing Sale
Opened 1971, closed 2013 with demolition following shortly thereafter. A development is set to be built on the site. This is where the trees and stuff were sold. At this point, furniture, lights, doors, bricks were being sold off.
The wooden building on the front of the property sat empty for the last 42 years, serving as a lightpost for the planting lot behind it. It was demolished sometime last year.
The main buildings were all clustered together, which I sadly didn't get pictures of. Thankfully, I was able to use my short-term memory to build a model in Minecraft. The front of the building was a dark green until recently. Kind of off topic, at our school's art show last year, there was a sculpture someone made out of one of the WG shopping carts.
Abandoned House, West Chester, PA
I always thought this was a cool house. The property's owner apparently didn't agree with me. It was demolished in 2014. As of 2018, the property it used to sit on is being subdivided.
West Goshen Center Sign, West Chester, PA
Formerly the ACME's sign, was repurposed to advertise the center in the 90's.
LA Fitness, West Chester, PA
A large section of the shopping center (most likely the former Woolworth space) was demolished to make room for this, which actually fits in nicely now.
ACME Trailer
This was their 80's logo, which has gone extinct completely from the stores, but remains on most of their trucks.
Sunoco/Gogo, West Chester, PA
I always thought this was a cool house. The property's owner apparently didn't agree with me. It was demolished in 2014. As of 2018, the property it used to sit on is being subdivided.
Formerly the ACME's sign, was repurposed to advertise the center in the 90's.
A large section of the shopping center (most likely the former Woolworth space) was demolished to make room for this, which actually fits in nicely now.
This was their 80's logo, which has gone extinct completely from the stores, but remains on most of their trucks.
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