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As an old supermarket chain, Weis features a diverse collection of stores spanning various periods of history. The ten different categories of store formats on this page are one way, although not certainly the company-sanctioned way, of categorizing these historical styles. Stores indicated as part of each particular style matched that style when visited most recently by the Weis Project. Please note that these stores might no longer matches these styles. |
Architectural Styles
Community grocery stores
Community grocery stores cannotbe classified into any other particular group. I have chosen the name “community grocery stores” because many of these stores are small and left over from an early era. Generally, these stores were constructed after Weis’s push to consolidate its corner grocery “Weis Pure Foods” types of stores, but they were left behind after later eras that brought larger stores. Few stores of this type are left; either they have been replaced or abandoned. Stores of this type include: 60s Brown/yellow/red—original Stores of this type were built in the middle and late 1960s. On the exterior, they are low and long, with little ornamentation. They are often constructed of red brick and feature brown metallic siding on their front porches. Though I have not seen many of these stores, the ones that I have seen feature a brown/yellow/red color scheme on their interiors. Stores of this type include: 60s—refurb These stores were once of the previous category but have since been refurbished. Stores of this type include: 70s Naturalized—original Once one of the most widespread and familiar of the Weis store types, the 70s naturalized format has been left to history.The 70s Naturalized style was largely yellow and brown. The outsides of these stores featured brown, boxy siding overhanging the front porch and running the length of the store. Building materials varied, including concrete block, red brick, and white brick. Interiors varied, but often followed a brown/yellow theme. 70s Naturalized—80s/90s refurb If they have not been replaced outright, most 70s naturalized stores have at least been remodeled. Naturalized stores refurbished in the 1980s and 1990s comprise this group. Although this is considered one group, refurbishments during this era often resulted in drastically different interior formats. Some stores in this category were refurbished following the 80s/90s pastel format (see description below.) However, others—particularly those refurbished in the early 1990s—were decorated with light blue, turquoise, and purple color schemes. Some stores of this format retain the old brown exterior; others have seen the brown exterior repainted; while many others have had the old brown exterior entirely replaced. Stores of this type include: 70s Naturalized—Mid-90s red/green refurb This format was originally part of the regular 70s Naturalized format, but these stores were refurbished from the mid-1990s to present under the company’s mid-90s red/green format (see description below.) Stores of this type include: 80s/90s Pastel Stores newly constructed in the late 1980s and early 1990s were remarkably uniform in appearance. Exteriors vary, often depending on their shopping center; however, many of these stores feature gray, split-face block, which was a common Weis building material of the era. Interior walls were painted pastel blue and salmon. Ceilings around the periphery often were lower than the rest of the store; this overhang extended from the peripheral walls by about four or five feet. Peripheral walls were then given a three-tiered, terraced treatment. The lower walls, behind the overhang, often featured highlights consisting of long, rectangular brass plates. Sections and departments were usually identified with white, cooper-faced letters backed by blue paneling. Ceilings dropped lower over the front checkout areas of these stores. On the front walls, “weis markets” appeared in yellow neon. Stores of this type include: 80s/90s Pastel—Mid-90s red/green refurb These stores once followed the pastel format but have since been upgraded to follow the company’s mid-90s red/green format (see description below.) In some stores, the modern refurbishment has been completed to such an extent that it is nearly impossible to tell that the interior was once of a different format. However, in this type of store, remaining tiered walls are often a dead giveaway of its former pastel format. Stores of this type include: Mid-1990s red/green format In the mid-1990s, Weis unveiled a revolutionary redesign of its store format, going beyond a new physical look and including enlarged facilities and expanded service offerings. These stores usually feature a large, open vestibule at the front topped by a glass tower. On the inside, the stores stress perishables, with a center island deli, bakery, and large produce department occupying one entire side of the store. Some stores feature a deli set against the peripheral wall, and many stores feature expanded food court options, such as Chinese food and a barbecue smokehouse. Most of the stores feature exposed, painted ceiling beams and rafters. White walls add to the openness. Wall treatments are simple, consisting of a red stripe extending around the perimeter of the stores. Sections and departments are identified with red, minstrel-faced lettering backed with a green grid latticework. Many stores feature either arched or stair-stepped neon over sectional and departmental lettering. Aisle signs are boards mounted over either green corrugated plastic or red translucent plastic. In some stores, the aisle signs say “weis” in pink letters. Most of these stores are 50,000 square feet or more and are known as “superstores.” Stores of this type include: Inherited formats Throughout its years, Weis has purchased either single stores or groups of stores and added them to its collection. Usually, whenever Weis takes over another operating store, it simply places its name and its products in the store while keeping the rest of it the same. These stores are readily identifiable due to their nonconformity with the rest of the chain. Stores of this type include: Warehouse stores The warehouse store is known as Scot's Lo-Cost. This type differs drastically from the current red-green prototype. It features green and yellow signange and lettering and corrugated and mesh, metallic decorative elements. These stores stress "value," with products displayed on warehouse-shelving and in their own boxes, thus deemphasizing (but continuing to carry) perishables. Stores of this type include: 2004 Model This design, which debuted in 2004, was an evolutionary step away from the mid-90s red/green format. While the "superstore" features unveiled in the mid-1990s remain, this design tones down some of the more outlandish features of the red/green format in favor of a classier, almost retro-feeling maroon, dark blue, and beige scheme. Sections are noted with the word "fresh" in front of the section's name. The minstrel typeface, featured prominently in the red/green format stores, is nowhere to be found in the 2004 model stores. The prominent features of the red/green format, including a large front vestibule topped by a glass tower,and expanded food court options. An emphasis on perishables remains in the 2004 model through the store's "fresh market." Stores of this type include: Standard disclaimer: The Weis Project and its accompanying website are in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Weis Markets, Inc. It is a personal project being undertaken by R. Adam Gilson, who is not affiliated with or employed by Weis Markets, Inc. All content and images copyright 2002-2007 R. Adam Gilson, unless otherwise noted. |