Whole Foods / A&P, Morristown, NJ
The Whole Foods Market of Morristown, NJ opened on April 22, 2015 in a classic A&P which retained much of its vintage A&P Centennial model look.
The A&P Supermarket opened in 1969 in an old Cheverolet dealership. At a mere 19,000 sq. ft., the store was still profitable for the company in 2013 but could not handle a significant rent increase imposed by the landlord when Whole Foods showed an interest in the property. The store is nestled in a residential area in Morristown and is the kind of store that many residents walk to for daily essentials.
I was surprised to learn that A&P did not build this store from the ground-up, but instead added a Centennial facade and extension onto a decommissioned barrel-roofed car dealership. Inside, Whole Foods has removed the drop-ceiling and stripped the structure back to its bones, exposing handsome old brick, wooden beams and the barrel-roof. Windows have been added to the top front of the roof arch, so that natural light now streams into the store high above the grocery aisles.
Large garage doors have also been added to the front of the store, where produce is located. In nice weather, these are opened, giving the produce department the feel of a farmer's roadside stand (well, that is the intention, anyway). Outdoor seating was also added out front with a large patio.
Whole Foods / A&P, Morristown, NJ
The Whole Foods Market of Morristown, NJ opened on April 22, 2015 in a classic A&P which retained much of its vintage A&P Centennial model look.
The A&P Supermarket opened in 1969 in an old Cheverolet dealership. At a mere 19,000 sq. ft., the store was still profitable for the company in 2013 but could not handle a significant rent increase imposed by the landlord when Whole Foods showed an interest in the property. The store is nestled in a residential area in Morristown and is the kind of store that many residents walk to for daily essentials.
I was surprised to learn that A&P did not build this store from the ground-up, but instead added a Centennial facade and extension onto a decommissioned barrel-roofed car dealership. Inside, Whole Foods has removed the drop-ceiling and stripped the structure back to its bones, exposing handsome old brick, wooden beams and the barrel-roof. Windows have been added to the top front of the roof arch, so that natural light now streams into the store high above the grocery aisles.
Large garage doors have also been added to the front of the store, where produce is located. In nice weather, these are opened, giving the produce department the feel of a farmer's roadside stand (well, that is the intention, anyway). Outdoor seating was also added out front with a large patio.