Over the course of the 20th century, Holyoke was a city rich with luncheonettes and restaurants. Several were operated by families, including children pitching in to deliver fine food at a reasonable price. One such operation was Emily & Jenny's Luncheonette at the corner of Beech and Sargeant Street, the topic of today's post.
Born in Menchi di Sotto, Italy, in 1910, Roberto Berrena served for 20 years as the Assistant Treasurer of Sanremo City, Italy. He had served in the Italian Army during World War II. He arrived in the United States in 1948 and settled in Holyoke.
His wife Emily Angelina (Biasin) Berrena was born in South Deerfield, where her parents owned the South Deerfield Fruit Company. Her parents, Umberto and Gina (Arrighi) Biasin, had moved to the United States from Italy after World War I. In 1933, the Biasin family relocated back to Fornaci di Barga, Italy. After graduating from the Instituto Magistrale in Barga, Emily entered the teaching field.
During World War II, she assisted in rescuing a Royal Air Force pilot who was in hiding and safely returned him to Allied lines. She was also an American Red Cross interpreter in 1945.
In 1946, Roberto and Emily married and returned to the United States. They resided with her aunt and uncle, Tony and Ersilia Lucchesi. She embarked on a new area of work, being employed by various luncheonettes, including the PO Spa, Mazzolini's, and the Phoenix.
In 1951, Ann's Dairy Bar, operated by Anthony and Ann Maloni, at 172 Sargeant was up for sale. Together with her sister, Jenny (Biasin) McCarthy, Emily Berrena opened and co-owned Emily and Jenny's Luncheonette until 1960. Emily's husband, Roberto Berrena, was working at the Skinner Mill, then left to work in the family lucheonette.
The luncheonette was small; however, it suited the family's business needs at the time. There was a lunch counter with about 12 stools and several tables along the perimeter facing Sargeant Street. It was situated in the small space on the west side of the building, furthest away from Beech Street.
The restaurant became a popular meeting spot for Holyoke High School students and, later, Holyoke Community College students.
In May 1961, Roberto Berrena purchased the former Hood dairy building, which included a garage structure behind. A month later, the entire property was transferred to Mr. Berrena and William G. Rogers of Rogers Van and Storage in Holyoke.
On December 21, 1961, the back building, now numbered 174 Sargeant Street, was sold to Richard C. Scribner. In 1964, William G. Rogers transferred his half interest in the 172 Sargeant Street building to Robert Berrena, who became the sole owner once again.
Holyoke High School moved to its new location at 500 Beech Street in September 1964. The city of Holyoke relinquished ownership of the school to Holyoke Community College on July 1, 1964. There was a period of renovation of what was to be a temporary location for the consolidated community college.
With the class schedules varying for students attending college, the lucheonette saw a surge in business. The Berrenas took the opportunity to move to the expansive Beech Street side of the building in 1966.
Fire struck the former high school building and current community college in January 1968. This was a setback for the restaurant, which relied on its student customer base.
In 1974, the lucheonette became Emily & Jenny's Restaurant, marketed as a family restaurant with many Italian soups and specialties. The restaurant obtained a beer-and-wine license. Jenny McCarthy returned to work along with her daughter, Gina McCarthy. The five Berena sons, Robert, John, Paul, Louis, and Richard, also worked in the restaurant, as they had for many years. Emily and Jenny's mother, Gina Biasin, an active 78-year-old, contributed to the effort.
Later in the 1970s, the restaurant was named simply Berrena's Restaurant, with a chef's cap substituting for the apostrophe in their surname in newspaper ads.
On April 15, 1983, the Berrenas passed the torch to Phillip and Paul Stefanelli, Mary Ann Flanagan, and her mother, Mother Baker. Both the building and business were sold to the new owners.
Robert and Emily Berrena were freed from the 12 to 16-hour workdays and could move on to retirement pursuits after 32 years of serving the public.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Springfield, Massachusetts
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
