In 1962, the company began its expansion program with the opening of an exciting, contemporary “Boscov’s West” in November, located at 3564 Penn Avenue in Sinking Spring/West Lawn.
Boscov’s West caught on fire on November 20th, 1967 only 5 years after it had opened, and ironically the same exact day Boscov’s East, the newest venture was opened. It was determined to be started by an ember from the incinerator.
Friendship firemen, called in from Reading for special assistance, peer into a smoke-filled opening on the east side of the store.
Water is poured continuously on the east section of the department store by the Schuykill company after the side of the building is reduced to almost a skeleton.
A huge blaze breaks out in the incinerator area toward the rear of the store and smoke bellows forth. In the foreground are semi-trailer trucks parked at the store.
The West Reading Fire Co. ladder truck has moved in closer to enable its man to spray better with the ladder hose. The action here was crucial in order to save the adjoining supermarket. the water poured constantly from the “pipe” prevented the blaze from reaching the supermarket.
A Christmas star is still visible on the top of the front entrance. This section of the wall withstood the flames
The Boscov’s West fire gutted the store. The decision to rebuild Boscov’s West was made after thousands of phone calls swamped the switchboard and letters weighed down mailmen, all pleading “please give us back our store.” A rebuilt West opened in November 1968.
Where is the West store now
Hi Kim, Boscov’s West moved to the Berkshire Mall in 2002, and the old building in this Sinking Spring location was torn down in 2010.
[…] 1 was the demolition and revitalization of the Boscov’s West / Kidsports Shopping Center area, which was completed in 2010. It briefly housed a Food Lion that […]
[…] own heart, as I grew up going to KidSports. It was located along Penn Avenue, connected to the old Boscov’s West Department Store building. Before Kid Sports, it was an Acme and/or IGA Grocery store for many […]
Yes it was an old IGA was orn and raised in sinking spring my dad was one of the people who came out of the burning building he worked I. Sporting goods and he HAD To go get his jacket from the office on the 2 d floor so him and some guy from garden. Center found flashlites and used them ro get out of the store and be said right before they went out he threw the flashlite over customer service desk he said by rhat time lites where out he walked home..mom asked why he was home he told her and that was the o ly time I saw .y dad cry when they build the NEW one I worked there from 1974 to 1978 I was a cashier and my dad worked in sporting goods in the evening and I used to work full time days I loved .y job I worked though high school.wh3n I came back to sinking spring 2 weeks ago after being gone for 20yrs boy I was shocked how things have changed if anyone wants to talk a out the good old days please text me at 504/380/1223 my name was DONNA REISENWEAVER
Yes it was an Acme in the early 70s
I was 14 years old and attending confirmation class at St Johns church on Penn Avenue in Sinking Spring. Fire sirens were wailing during the entire class. When I got home, my mom was already home from her part time job evening job at Boscovs West. My sister and I walked the 4 blocks to see this event. It was the most intense thing I have ever witnessed, even to this day. I remember Al Boscov standing on Penn Avenue with the fire fighters. I felt so bad for him. Boscovs East ironically just opened that very same day. The incinerator was located inside the store behind the toy department, right before you got to the stock room. It was an extremely fast moving fire. I remember hearing the ammunition going off when the fire reached the sporting goods department. They managed to save “Rays IGA”, the grocery store attached to Boscovs.
Sounds like .my dad or I must of know you his name was BILL REISENWEAVER worked in sporting goods from 6pm to 930pm
I was 16 and working there that night as a stock boy. The fire started when flames from an incinerator used to burn boxes spread to a pile of boxes awaiting burning. Some of my fellow stock boys — Dean Sensenig and Barry Bertolet maybe — were treated for smoke inhalation. The fire was quickly burning above the suspended ceiling and by the time we left there was plenty of smoke to go around.
Does anyone know where they dumped all or the rubble after the fire ?
It was dumped off Fritztown Road at what is now storage world. It was a mushroom farm owned by Weitzel and had a large pond. If you would dig on the property you will find a lot of white bricks and rubble from the fire.