Retail Forever

Weis #133, located at 2600 N. Willow Street Pike in Willow Street Pike opened in 1991 with the rest of the Kendig Square shopping center, which it anchors (along with the Kmart that closed in April 2021). A Beer Cafe was added to the store in Summer 2016, and in 2020 a Weis Gas 'N Go fuel station was added.  Quick Information: Opened: 1991 Address: 2600 N. Willow Street Pike Photographed: February 2021

For the history of this store, please go to  https://retailforever.blogspot.com/2021/03/glimpse-rite-aid-11034-willow-street-pa.html . The Willow Street Rite Aid's exterior remodel was completed back in April, and now I'll show you what the finished product looks like. Nothing has changed, nor will it probably ever change, on the back of the store; it still sports the signage added when this store opened. The interior still bears the 1996 Eckerd package's wall signage (from when Eckerd replaced Thrift Drug), and Rite Aid's Customer World aisle markers, added when Rite Aid opened in 2007.

Giant #6548, located at 106 Willow Valley Square in Willow Street, Pennsylvania opened in 2018 in a space formerly occupied by Darrenkamp's, which opened in 1998.  Unless you're from or have visited Lancaster County, PA you're likely not familiar with Darrenkamp's, so here's a quick history. In 1932, George Darrenkamp opened a small store at 719 Union Street in downtown Lancaster. The store was named "The General Store". In 1948, needing more floor space, George and his children (Dick & Jerry) relocated their store to 713 Union Street, and reopened under the name, "G. Darrenkamp & Sons". The business continued to grow, and in 1985; they purchased Dagen's Market in Willow Street, PA. In 1997, the first traditional Darrenkamp's opened in Mount Joy, PA. In 1998, a second location joined it in Willow Street, PA (the location this blog post is about) In 1999, the Union Street store was closed in favor of the new, larger, and more tradi...

CVS #1669, located at 2410 Willow Street Pike in Willow Street, Pennsylvania opened in 2018 as the relocation of the original store, which was located at 103 Willow Valley Square and was formerly a Rea & Derick. It became CVS in 1991, and as stated above, relocated across the street in 2018 as CVS attempted to exit shopping centers. The new location is the newest CVS in Lancaster County and features the newest company prototype.  The Google Streetview car actually drove by as this was being built, so here's a screenshot from Google Maps showing this. The original location, which is tiny. It makes sense why they wanted to move (Google Maps) And here's some aerial shots from Google Earth I probably should've stated this above, but this space was formerly a part of the Willow Valley retirement home After the housing/condos were demolished The new store.  Quick Information: Opened: 1991 / 2018 Address: 103 Willow Valley Square / 2410 Willow Street Pike Photographed: Marc...

Rite Aid #11034, located at 2600 N. Willow Street Pike in Willow Street, Pennsylvania originally opened in 1991 with the center as a Thrift Drug #6679. Sold and rebranded to Eckerd in 1997. Rebranded again to Rite Aid in 2007, and is currently receiving another exterior remodel, likely due to purchasing the closing Willow Street Kmart's prescription records.  There is a temporary banner with the new Rite Aid logo on the side of the building, where up until very recently, Thrift Drug's "Perscriptions" sign remained.  Rite Aid's older signage was present from 2007 until now. I wasn't able to dig up anything from the Eckerd or Thrift Drug days. (Google Earth Streetview) The sign on the back of the store has not been updated. They have an all-new banner design due to the remodel! It's a huge upgrade from the boring, red, and generic-looking banners seen in Columbia and Walnutport . A sign at the Kmart, which is also a huge upgrade from the one seen in  Walnut...

Pet Valu #5157, located at 2600 N. Willow Street Pike in Willow Street, Pennsylvania opened in January 2013 in a space formerly occupied by some sort of gallery (2009 Google Maps streetview is to blurry to make out the full name) and was one of three Pet Valu locations in Lancaster County (the other two were located in Lititz and Ephrata and appear to have opened around the same time). It closed in January 2021 and is now Pet Supplies Plus #4394.  Since I'm an idiot, I don't have any photos of these store while it was still open so this Google Maps screenshot will have to do. Google Maps imagery Whatever that gallery place was. It has a "no late fees" sign making me think it was something like Blockbuster Google Maps imagery Pet Supplies Plus, now open. Note how there's no official sign, just a banner. The Pet Valu logo is still under there A very similar banner that was used while Pet Supplies Plus was being stocked. Photo from LNP | LancasterOnline Quick Informa...