What did these Food Fairs look like? Help please!

Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

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Ephrata1966
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What did these Food Fairs look like? Help please!

Post by Ephrata1966 »

I would think the Food Fairs next to J.M. Fields stores looked something like this: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ei2Ik5quiI0/R ... +1960a.JPG

That design is from I believe 1957, but may have been used into the 1960s.

Unless it was this (actually a later design, I think): http://www.flickr.com/photos/62355920@N00/3492419263/

But I know Food Fair did not acquire J.M. Fields until 1961. That was the same year Stop & Shop acquired Bradlees. But I still am not sure when most Food Fair/J.M. Fields stores were built. I read a recent news article about the former J.M. Fields in Ventnor, NJ. It said the shopping center was built in the 1950s, but perhaps they meant 1961. But this says circa 1977 (late!), and these two stores had the same design: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62355920@N00/3560992639/

Perhaps the Food Fair was built first, and J.M. Fields was added later?
dooneyt63
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Re: What did these Food Fairs look like? Help please!

Post by dooneyt63 »

Actually, the third view, the Devon, PA, store was the most frequently seen J.M. Fields build. That or variations were built with a Food Fair or later Pantry Pride to the left or right. The supermarket had a much lower roof line and usually had the same facing of either brick or stone as featured on the facade of the J.M. Fields store. The J.M. Fields fronts were two stories to accommodate offices and restrooms on the second level and the customer service and lunch counter on the first. This design was actually most prevalent in the early 1970's until the end of the J.M. Fields/Pantry Pride combo era toward the end of the decade. Earlier stores were less consistent in design and often reflected the fact that the stores were once two separate companies. The majority of combos looked much like the Devon, PA, example. A number are still in use today as Kmarts; not so many of the supermarkets remain.
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