Acme to be repaced by residences in Society Hill, Philadelphia

The Acme store in Philadelphia's Society Hill will close once its lease expires in two years and be replaced by a residential building, according to a report in today's Philadelphia Inquirer. The report says that Alterra Property Group received a conditional zoning permit last week that allows for the demolition of the current building as well as the construction of a five-story structure with 43 underground parking spaces.

Neighborhood residents and the Society Hill Civic Association oppose the project, which needs to be reviewed by the Philadelphia Historical Commission since it's located within a historical district.

Acme acquired the store after A&P's bankruptcy in 2015. It had been operating for several years as a Super Fresh.

Ahold's bfresh signs lease in Philadelphia neighborhood

Ahold confirmed last month that it signed a lease for its bfresh concept to occupy space on the ground floor of the Abbotts Square condos at 2nd and South Streets in Philadelphia's Society Hill neighborhood. Fresh Formats, the concept that evolved into Ahold's bfresh banner, has operated in Philadelphia since 2014, when it opened a 3,700 square foot store.

More recently, bfresh opened a 10,000 square foot store in Boston, MA and an 8,600 square foot store in Fairfield, CT.