Memorabilia | Focal VHS Tape

 

For our next piece of memorabilia, we're going to be looking at something that, at first glance, has nothing to do with retail. But any Kmart fan would know that Focal was their brand of photography-related items. Mostly, that included cameras, but their VHS tapes also fell under that banner.

Here's a look at the back. There's no year listed, but I would guess this is from the mid-'90s just based on the look of it. Based on the Kmart Corporation text at the bottom, this is from before 2005, but I'm almost certain it's from quite a while before that point. I like the design of this a lot! The Focal wordmark is especially cool.

Thanks for reading! I'll see you next week with more memorabilia! Have a happy thanksgiving!

Memorabilia | Pathmark Decaffeinated Coffee Can

For our first piece of retail memorabilia this month, we're taking a look at this can of Pathmark-brand decaffeinated coffee. I got this can at a church yard sale this past spring, and it was full of nails, but obviously I bought it for the can. The can is in pretty good condition all these years later.

Here's the other side of the can. Based on the date at the bottom, this is from 1986 or later, but probably could've been from any point up to the early '90s. I also remember the yard sale having a jar of Pathmark applesauce (also filled with nails), which looked to be slightly older than this, but probably still from the '80s.

That's all for this memorabilia post! See you next week for another one!

 

Big Lots | Millville, NJ

 

101 Bluebird Lane

Welcome to the Millville Big Lots!

It's been a while since we went to a non-grocery store! And this one is for a special, but sad, reason. The Big Lots in Millville is one of the hundreds of locations nationwide that is closing its doors. I happened to catch the store soon after its closing sale had begun. This store opened on October 24, 2014, in half of a short-lived former Acme location that operated from 2005 to 2011. Planet Fitness takes up the other half. As we will see inside, the store still has somewhat of an Acme feel, but Big Lots definitely made it their own in the pretty much exactly 10 years that they were here. So, let's check it out!

A look at all of the store closing signs in front. "This location only" is like a 1/3-truth, because, while not all locations are shutting down, more than 500 are.

More signs. While the store was "up to" 25% off, most of it was only at 10%. I'm sure those discounts are much higher now if the store is still open.

Furniture is on the right side of the store. Some locations have Big Lots Furniture stores-within-stores, but this one just has it out in the open. In the Acme days, this would have been where the frozen foods were, and probably the pharmacy too. Think of Avalon.

Discounts were abound. At prices like these, products were flying off the shelves.

The home section -- or maybe it's just the pillows section -- is in the back right corner of the store.

Notice the skylights which are left over from Acme.

The grocery section is in the middle of the store. I was surprised by the selection. You can't do all of your weekly shopping here, but I was surprised by how much they had.

Lots of miscellaneous merchandise and store closing signs on the left side of the store.

Not the best view of the checkouts, but they aren't that interesting anyway, other than Big Lots-themed lane markers.

Other Images of Interest

Street View Images

2015

Here's a look at both the Big Lots and the Planet Fitness about a year after they opened.

Thank you for joining me on this tour! I don't go to Big Lots often, but it's always sad to see a closing stores. I hope Big Lots can recover, because they're quite an interesting store, but it would be nice if they went back to their original model of selling closeouts. This is my last store post for the month! But, don't worry, we'll continue every Friday with other retail content, and I'll have new tours next month. Thanks for reading! Serve The. Save Retail Connection.

Redner's | Elkton, MD

311 Augustine Herman Highway

Welcome to the Elkton Redner's!

It's our final store in Maryland for now! This is our very first time in a Redner's. It's funny that my first Redner's is in Maryland, because they're based in and mostly have stores in my home state of Pennsylvania. The chain was founded in 1970 in Reading, Pennsylvania, and today they have over 40 store locations. Most of their stores, including this one, operate as Redner's Warehouse Market, with a barebones atmosphere and a focus on value. In recent years, though, they've also begun opening Redner's Fresh Market locations, which have more fresh selections and higher-end decor. This store is about as traditional as a Redner's can get, though. It opened on December 14, 2005, as the anchor to a small shopping center in a more rural part of Elkton. The store's owners were actually inside when I went, so this will be a great tour!

The produce department is to your right when you enter the store. I was looking for vegetables to make crudités, but I guess the best ones are at Wegner's.

The great wall of values (...save) is on the right wall of the store. As you can see, the decor isn't ugly, but it's also not what draws you into the store. The SUPER LOW PRICES are.

A look at aisle 4A. We'll see 4B later. I was surprised at how much selection this store had. I was expecting more discount store-type items.

Cakes is the first service department we see as we progress to the back of the store. I don't know why they chose to call it Cakes instead of Bakery, but it does seem like they have a lot of cakes.

Deli meats & cheeses and the fresh seafood counter are in the back.

Quality meats are on the rest of the back wall. It seems like Redner's has a pretty good meat department.

Dairy is on the right side of the store.

Aisle 4B is home to books and magazines. The book cases are definitely 2005 - they look even older, but I doubt they're recycled from any other store. Also notice the Redner's-brand chips on an Essential Everyday (UNFI) display. I'm pretty sure the store carries both brands.

The front of the store has a small display of Puppie Love shirts, as well as some Old Bay merchandise (because Maryland).

Thank You...         for Shopping Redner's Markets

Other Images of Interest

Street View Images

2023

None of the street view images of this store are that good, but the store's looked the same since 2005 anyway.

Nearby competition

1.1 miles away: Acme of Elkton

Last week, we saw the Acme of Elkton. This store first opened in the '70s and was expanded and remodeled about 20 years later. It's one of the few remaining PF&H Acme stores.

2.2 miles away: Food Lion of Elkton

The Elkton Food Lion is a pretty average store as Food Lions go. It opened in 1999 and has the Easy Fresh & Affordable 3.0 decor on the inside.

Thanks for joining me on this tour! I was very pleasantly surprised by this store. It isn't fancy, but it had a better atmosphere than I had expected, and the prices and selection were both good. I would shop at Redner's regularly if I lived closer to one. I'll see you next week! The Retail Connection: Love on Local.