Pics of the new Acme Market's progress

[JerseyDigger29]

Hey, guys - I saw that a few people had asked about progress on the new Acme market so I took a couple of pictures this afternoon. The blueprints I photographed in the Mayor's office. Mayor Troiano is a big fan of Doo Wop. He's a little like me: once you get him talking on a subject he's passionate about, you can't get him to shut up.

To those who mentioned the old Acme's around town, I was born and raised at the corner of Magnolia and Park Boulevard so we did all of our shopping in the Acme at Maple and Pacific (Atilis Gym). I can still smell the vegatables as you walked through the front foor.

There were also some A&P's on the island. My favorite was the one on west Wildwood Avenue between NJ and Pacific. In the sixties it became a teen niteclub (The Scene)?? The Mayor said Little Richard played there. My favorite band there was called "The Proverbial NeeHi's (Sp?).

Anyway, here are the pictures of the new Acme I mentioned. Mayor Troaino says the sign is the Acme's original design (1954?).

Thom

TheWildwoodsReporter.com

[FlyinGN]

looks GREAT!!!!!!! That IS the old Acme sign fro the 50's !!

[wildre]

Thanks Thom, looks like it has a ways to go.
Do they still plan to open around Memorial Day?
A great retro look!

re

[shoregirl]

He can't be that big of a "FAN" if they are destroying most of the Doo Wop

[wildwood4life]

I'll go a little further with this. I emailed Mayor Troiano about issues concerning preservation and such. I emailed him several times and realize that he is a busy, busy man. He has a job that no one wants. But at the same time and as a publc servant, he needs to pay attention to the people. I didn't get even a response from his office...nothing! I also emailed Mayor Palumbo. I did not recieve a personal response from him, but Lou Ferrara(seems like a great guy!) emailed me and we spoke via email many times, and he also invited me to call his office and he will speak to me anytime if I want to further any conversations. I don't think that Mr. Troiano gives a rats a** about doo wop culture. A simple response from his office would have been great just to let me know that my thoughts were at least recieved by someone.

Again, this is just my personal opinion and meant to offend no one.

Rick

[ContessaAnisha]

Just a fyi...the mayor of N. Wildwood is William Henfey.

I will be glad when they open cause I live right on Bennet, and am getting tired of having to go to N. Wildwood to the Super Fresh.

Shoregirl...exactly what is Mayor Troiano to do? Ban the sale of motels? Make the condos Doo Wappy? He does seem to be a fan of the Doo Wop stuff...but he is not King, and cannot force the builders to make everything Doo Wop.

[homer]

wildwood4life said:

I'll go a little further with this. I emailed Mayor Troiano about issues concerning preservation and such. I emailed him several times and realize that he is a busy, busy man. He has a job that no one wants. But at the same time and as a publc servant, he needs to pay attention to the people. I didn't get even a response from his office...nothing! I also emailed Mayor Palumbo. I did not recieve a personal response from him, but Lou Ferrara(seems like a great guy!) emailed me and we spoke via email many times, and he also invited me to call his office and he will speak to me anytime if I want to further any conversations. I don't think that Mr. Troiano gives a rats a** about doo wop culture. A simple response from his office would have been great just to let me know that my thoughts were at least recieved by someone.

Again, this is just my personal opinion and meant to offend no one.

Rick

Mayor Troiano is a concrete guy. And I don't want to stereotype concrete guys, but I bet he wouldn't know what to do with a computer if he had written instructions. (His administrative assistant has said as much.)
I do know that (supposedly) he gives out his cell phone number if you can get a phone call in to his office.
I also agree he doesn't give a fiddler's fart about DooWop...but to be fair, he never really said he did.
As for Mayor Palombo, he is making plans to move to Florida. He has been replaced by Mayor Bill Henfey...who likewise doesn't have a particular interest in DooWop, but seems to be a fair and impartial guy. (See: wildwoodleader.blogspot.com/2006/01/10-questions-with-bill-henfey.html)

Thanks for the pics of the Acme plans, Thom. You got me off the hook, I guess. (I promised photos this week.) The proposed sign and facade look great.

[wildwood4life]

I have never tried to contact Mr. Henfy. Mr. Palumbo was still in office at the time of my emails I believe. I hope to contact Mayor Henfy if necessay. Thanks for the update.

[wildre]

shoregirl said "He can't be that big of a "FAN" if they are destroying most of the Doo Wop "


Geez, he's not destroying DooWop! He has NO control over real estate sales. Yes he's the mayor, he has one(1) vote!

re

[wildwood4life]

You're right he only has one vote, but I'm sure his opinion and influence mean a whole lot more than his vote.

[Crippled_Visions]

Thanks for posting the pics jerseydigger. Nice work.

[MMM]

Thanks Thom! Great to see something positive happening.

[JerseyDigger29]

Here's one more pic I took today at the George Boyer Museum of the original Acme at Maple and Pacific (Atilis Gym).

To those who criticize Mayor Troiano: I grew up with the guy and have known him since pre-first grade and even I don't agree on every single issue with him. But I can tell you this: he loves the Wildwoods with a passion as we all do, but just because he is the Mayor of the city, I can tell you 100 percent, he has had NOTHING to do with all the demolitions going on and couldn't stop them if he wanted to.

This problem started with the construction of the new Convention Center (Which I personally had a hand in). At the time, I was the Wildwoods Reporter for the Leader. In the first nine months to a year, the creation of GWTIDA and the Convention Hall had to go through an islandwide referendum. All three main Wildwoods had to vote for it. During that time, I provided every single word of reporting and analysis on the issues. Dozens and dozens of meetings on dozens of different issues. I followed all the experts around like a lost little puppy, listened to what they said, and wrote it down in such a way as to convey the fact that that one building was the most important thing to happen to this island in the last 100 years.

The Press and the Herald never wrote one single word on the subject during that initial period. Only later, did they take an interest. So, in my humble opinion, I feel like I personally helped convince this island to vote for GWTIDA and the hall, etc.

Anyway, before the new hall, the Wildwoods were just about dead. Everybody was comparing us with Asbury Park. That one building provided the economic spark to start bringing in a huge amount of investment money. unfortuneatly, it happened during the "condo-age." Before long, so much money was being thrown around that it was hard to resist. Hence, we started losing all the old buildings. It was an economic force of nature, a snowball rolling downhill, that no one could predict or stop, especially one man like the Mayor. The trick IMO is not to spend time complaining about something we can't stop, but to try to contain it as much as possible.

An example of a similar situation is the Holly Beach Station Mall. It died because all the big malls were being built offshore. No one wanted to shop on the islands anymore. They wanted to shop at lots of different stores in one building with food courts, etc. It was another economic situation that couldn't be stopped.

Progress happens! It cannot be stopped! You just have to flow with it and try to guide it in the right direction.

I believe Mayor Troiano is a leading force in the new skyrises, though I can't prove it other than by listening to his passion on the subject. (We need them because there simply is NO other way to replace all those lost motel rooms. Without rooms, no one will be able to stay here).

He is also, I believe, one of the leading forces in placing the Surfside Restaurant at Fox Park as a Doo Wop museum and bandshell for concerts in the park. My point is, judge a man on what he does, not what he can't control.

Well, forgive the soapbox.

Anyway the first pic is of the old Acme at Maple. (Check out the signs in the window for S&H Green Stamps, remember them)? I've also included a picture I took today of the Park Lane Motel in the Crest which is being renovated. Contrary to popular belief, we aren't losing all our motels. Many good people islandwide are trying to upgrade and modernize, without tearing down. Just a thought.

Thanks for listening - Thom

TheWildwoodsReporter.com

[wildre]

shoregirl says-
"He can't be that big of a "FAN" if they are destroying most of the Doo Wop"
wildwood4life says-
"You're right he only has one vote, but I'm sure his opinion and influence mean a whole lot more than his vote".


I'm confused.
The Wildwood Mayor accepted the Surfside, the DooWop Museum after it was saved by the Crest. Who's old administration decided they didn't want to spend the $$$$ to rebuild it, they no longer wanted the hassle!
He's found a way to preserve it, and support DooWop. He found a home for the Surfside as the DooWop Museum in Wildwood. So how can you say he doesn't support DooWop?

Can you explain why you feel that way?


A very confused,
re

[MMM]

Mayor Ernie Troiano even came to our DWPL Member gathering at the Pink Cadillac last June, which he didn't have to do. He's seemed supportive of the Doo Wop movement from what I can tell, and genuine in his love of Doo Wop - for instance (considering the thread topic), I understand he really pushed for the new Acme to be made in the Doo Wop style. He seems like a good guy to me...