Drive-By Photos 8
Everybody Meets their Waterloo
Demolition work has begun on the former Exton Waterloo Gardens.
My last two pictures of this place were just of the main building, and I figured you need to see the cabins themselves too. :P
Here it was originally. Work had started on the conversion, which meant completely redoing the building.
The mansion here was built in the 20's. It has sat abandoned for years after developers bought the property. Unfortunately, the house will be demolished. Fortunately, a shopping center will replace it. Update: Plans changed, this building will be rehabilitated into apartments. The rest of the property was subdivided for townhomes.
The old Chinese restaurant on the corner here was demolished to make way for an expansion of the shopping center.
ACME/Paoli Pharmacy/Petco, Paoli, PA
Opened as an ACME in the 50's, which relocated in the 90's to a new store. It was going to become a Rite-Aid, but they pulled the plans last-minute. Since it was already built out as a pharmacy, the Paoli pharmacy moved in, relocated in 2012. It became Petco in 2013.
This opened in the 60's or early 70's as a colonial-style store. It closed in the late 90's when the new Paoli store was built.
McCausland Jeep-Eagle, Devon, PA
Built probably in the 50's, was a Jeep and Eagle dealer, which closed in 2008. It is going to become a Maserati dealer in 2017. The front hexagonal room will be removed and rebuilt. Update: As of 2018, nothing's happened with this yet. I'm assuming plans still stand, but I can't say for certain.
Opened in 1947 as Waterloo's first location, closed in 2012, in order to shift funding to their remaining location in Exton, which folded a year later. I believe the family still owns the property. Update: Demolished Summer 2017. Anthropologie moved their headquarters to the site from Wayne.
Belar Electronics, Devon, PA
It looks like its from the 40's. That off-white stuff used to cover the tower. The business in here relocated in 2014. Update: August 2015: Tower has been removed. From Alan's comment: "I'm not sure what it was initially, but from 1972 until 2014 it was Belar Electronics, makers of broadcast monitoring equipment, hence the tower. They have since moved to West Chester."
An older location, was remodeled to look more like a newer store, so it is hard to tell what era this came from originally. Update: Slated for remodeling August 2016.
Looks like an 80's location, possibly from another chain they bought out.
Update: Was actually built as an ACME in 1949, which relocated in the 70's. Rite Aid relocated to a new store from here in 2014. It then became Pet Supplies Plus, which closed in 2017.
Built in the 20's or 30's, it is the only theater in the area, so it does some business. The awning was replaced within the last 30 years. From mrambojr on Flickr: "Budco Theatres replaced the awning, and Clearview ran this theatre after it became a a 5-plex. Budco and AMC ran it as a twin."
Built in the late 1800s or early 1900's. Has since been turned into a Malvern Federal Savings Bank.
ACME/CVS, Rosemont, PA
Opened in the 30's or 40's, received a new façade in the 90's, and closed in 2003. I'm surprised it didn't close earlier, considering how close it was to the Bryn Mawr store.
A&P/Staples, Bryn Mawr, PA
A former 50's barrel roof store, that was given a makeshift colonial façade in the 60's or early 70's. Not sure if it ever made it to the SuperFresh days, has been a Staples for a while now.
Foodsource, Bryn Mawr, PA
Opened as one of three Clemens' upscale food stores, and was the only one to hold on after Giant bought them out. It finally closed in 2011 when Giant was about to buy Genuardi's. This store can be seen open here. Update: Now home to a CHOP clinic. Unsure whether or not the building was reused.
ACME, Bryn Mawr, PA
Built in the 50's originally, was demolished and rebuilt in late 2011-2012. The entrance faces away from the road. The original store can be seen here.
I think these are apartments. These were probably built in the 20's, and has some beautiful architecture. Being an extremely wealthy area (3rd richest in the USA), there are tons of buildings like this.
Rite Aid, Ardmore, PA
Rite Aid moved here from elsewhere in the center in the 90's. A RediClinic was added in 2015, and as of 2018 the store is finally undergoing its first remodel- it looks like it's going to be gutted out and essentially rebuilt. The façade is also being redone.
IHOP, Ardmore, PA
A 70's location, seems to have held up well over the years. It was remodeled in 2016, getting rid of the lattice in front.
Mobil/Lukoil, Malvern, PA
One of the later Mobils to be built, Probably in the 80's. Became a Lukoil after the merger with Exxon.
Manayunk is pretty much part of Philadelphia, but is run separately. There was this abandoned church that looked to be in pretty tough shape, which is going to be redeveloped into condos. Not sure how that's going to fit in there... They would have to be pretty small condos. Update: Looks like it was 10! This Old House actually did part of an episode at this church. You can watch it here (Start at Scene 4 or 9:30)
West River Banquet Hall, Philadelphia (Manayunk)
An abandoned banquet hall and club. Built most likely in the 70's, has been closed as long as I can remember.
Update: Demolished sometime in early 2017.
The Bourse, Philadelphia (Old City)
Abandoned Mobil, Ludwigs Corner, PA
A better view than my previous picture. This was demolished January, 2017.
Arco/Sunoco, Bucktown, PA
There is a good chance that this was an Amoco originally, but I'm not sure. Probably built in the late 80's, still has the old façade. Correction: originally an Arco.
Fleetwood Metal Body, Fleetwood, PA
This was originally a car body factory for several different manufacturers. It was bought by GM in 1925. The Cadillac Fleetwood was named after it. Currently it is a warehouse.
Abandoned House, Moselem Springs, PA
Looks to have been built in the late 1800's, and slightly expanded shortly after then. Has been vacant for at east 20 years. We drive up this way every time we get our Christmas tree, and it has recently had the windows boarded up. UPDATE: Has been demolished.
A 90's store. I don't believe this has been remodeled yet.
Opened 1992, closed 2011. Sat empty for a while, and in late 2013, it was divided up between ACE, right, and Planet Fitness, left. The left peak was originally a bay window looking into stairs to the break rooms. Planet Fitness added the other windows, and kept the original Genuardi's lighting.
Mobil/Lukoil, Kimberton, PA
I think this was built in the 80's, stayed open a little while after the merger, sat empty for a couple years, and then the canopy was taken down. Its now used occasionally for farmers markets. Update: As of 2018, is now home to a medical marijuana dispensary.
McDonald's, Phoenixville, PA
Built in the 60's or 70's, way before the rest of the shopping center (Early 2000's). Notice it doesn't actually say McDonald's anywhere on the building. Update: Remodeled late 2018.
Mobil/Getty, Phoenixville, PA
A better daytime view of the Getty station seen here.
Looking at those price signs, this has been closed a long while.
Demolished 2018 for a TruMark Bank.
Exxon, Valley Forge, PA
Probably built in the late 80's or 90's. All Exxons except for our local one seem to have gargantuan canopies.
Amoco/Citgo, Valley Forge, PA
Citgo didn't last very long here. The station is still open, but operating independently now as "Top Gas & Deli."
Valley Forge Casino Resort, King of Prussia, PA
This was originally the Valley Forge Convention Center, but recently gambling was legalized in Pennsylvania, so they filled the conference rooms with slot machines. Ta-da!
This room used to be the actual garden shop, for seeds and tools. The rest of the indoor area was fancy furniture and stuff like that, then there was the greenhouses which had all the plants in them. This is what remained of the former gardening school/administration building. I think I might have some more demolition pictures hidden somewhere, I'll have to find them.
Opened in the 1920's, relocated around 2011. This used to be the main entrance, however, the new tenant moved it to the side.
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