Laneco

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Laneco was a former supermarket chain which had stores in Eastern, PA & western New Jersey. At one time it operated four different types of stores. The older stores were called Food Lane, which were former Food Fair stores with the least square footage and only carried food products. There were also Laneco's and Laneco SuperCenters these stores were much larger than Food Lanes and offered general merchandise. Sam Walton actually worked with Ray Bartolacci Sr. to develop the Wal-Mart Supercenter. Laneco also operated CR Pharmacies which were often located in Laneco Supercenters.

[edit] History

Laneco was founded by Ray Bartolacci Sr. in 1946. The first store opened as Paramount Foods in Easton, Pa., and completed its first day of business with a total of $18 in sales. The stores were Acquired by Supervalu in October 1992 & were closed by them in 2001. The stores were scaled down for the last several years until they were closed. The stores operated with a union and several thousand employees were laid off at the closure of the stores. Laneco had around 16 stores at the time of closure. Many stores were purchased by and converted to Giant, while Redner's picked up a few locations, and a few still remain vacant today. When Giant (Ahold) reopened the stores they did not hire any former Laneco employees because they were members of a union.

[edit] Locations

Laneco had many locations throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and Western New Jersey. Several of these locations are as follows:

Allentown, PA: Lehigh Street: Closed mid 1990's: Currently a Redner's Warehouse Market Union Boulevard and Club Avenue: Closed 2001: Currently demolished and a new Giant Market is in its place.

Bethlehem, PA: Stefko Boulevard: Closed 2001, vacant for several years and now is a Valley Farm Market.

Easton/Forks Township, PA: William Penn Highway: Closed 2001: Currently a Redner's Warehouse Market Hecktown Road: Closed 2001: Used shortly as a Giant, now sits vacant.

Coopersburg, PA: Route 309 and Fairmont: Closed 2001: Currently used as a Giant Market, only the food side is in use and the rest sits as storage space and unused, store is practically the same as it was during the Laneco days.

Coplay, PA: Chestnut Street: Closed 2001: Currently used as a Giant Market, same situation as Coopersburg.

Nazareth, PA: Closed 2001: Currently a Giant, was the same situation as Coplay and Coopersburg, but now is renovated.

Clinton, NJ: 2 buildings in shopping center Laneco Food: Closed 2001 currently ShopRite Supermarket Laneco Department Store: Closed around 1994 currently Wal*Mart

Phillipsburg, NJ: Closed 2001: Status Unknown

Lehighton, PA: Closed 2001: Status Unknown