Acme stores in Marlboro, Freehold Twp. to close Nov. 2
BY TALI ISRAELI
Staff Writer

Shop now or forever hold your peace. Two Acme supermarkets in western Monmouth County are slated to be closed on Nov. 2.

The Acme supermarket at the intersection of Route 79 and Ryan Road, Marlboro, and the Acme supermarket in the Mount's Corner shopping center at Route 537 and Wemrock Road, Freehold Township, will both be closing their doors next month.

The Acme supermarket in the Adel-phia Plaza shopping center on Route 9 north at Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township, will remain open.

Speaking with the News Transcript on Oct. 6, Acme spokesman Walt Rubel said the sales necessary to maintain the supermarkets were not being met. He said that neither the Marlboro store nor the Mount's Corner store reached the level of sales that was needed in order to make a profit.

The Mount's Corner Acme opened in February 2005; the Marlboro Acme on Route 79 has been open for about five years.

According to Rubel, Acme has offered to sublease the property to other potential supermarket operations; however, he could not comment on what stage the discussions of the possible subleases are in.

When asked what factors may have contributed to the closing of the two Acme supermarkets, Rubel said there were too many possibilities that may have been the cause. He was also unable to comment on why another supermarket may be able to do well in either location if Acme was not able to do so.

Acme is a Northeast retailer operating combination stores and supermarkets for a total of 137 locations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Acme Markets is part of the Eastern Division of Albertsons Inc., which is headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Its banners include Albertsons, Acme, Shaw's, Jewel-Osco, Savon Drugs, Osco Drug, Star Markets, Super Saver and Bristol Farms.