114 Central St, Ipswich, MA

Original Grocery Tenant: A&P
Address: 114 Central St, Ipswich, MA

Opened: 1960s

Closed: between 1975 and 1994

Later Tenants: Brooks Pharmacy (open by 1994) > Rite Aid > CVS

Photographed: January 8, 2025

Nestled in the quaint little coastal town of Ipswich is this former A&P, now a CVS (surprise surprise). A&P built this store, but I don't know when; it was definitely up and running by around 1965. It closed at some point between 1975 and 1994, and I don't know if there was another supermarket in the space after A&P. But by 1994, the space became a Brooks Pharmacy, which became Rite Aid in 2007, then a CVS between 2011 and 2018. At just 12,000 square feet, it's on the smaller size for a centennial, and I'd assume that's because it's in a pretty cramped New England small town. Ipswich doesn't have a supermarket right in town anymore, but just outside the downtown area is a small Shaw's. And Ipswich is important to the food business because it's home to the Ipswich Shellfish Company, whose trucks can be seen driving around New England and delivering to stores and restaurants. They also own their own retail store in town. From here, we're headed north to Newbury for Monday's post!