In the mid-20th century, Holyoke had many great restaurants. The Yankee Pedlar, The Log Cabin, The Hofbrau, Kelley's Lobster House, and Delaney's Restaurant were some of the more prominent evening dining spots. One addition to this list is Gleason's Rathskeller, the subject of this blog.
William "Bill" P. Gleason, a native of Cavendish, Vermont, arrived in Holyoke as a child in 1888. He was a B & M Railroad brakeman in his early adulthood. He subsequently became associated with Holyoke's liquor industry. He once operated a liquor establishment on High Street and a restaurant in the Knights of Columbus Building on Suffolk Street.
After Prohibition, he opened Gleason's Rathskeller, located at the corner of Suffolk St. and Newton Place, across from the Suffolk Theater and close by Holyoke City Hall. The building, constructed around 1915, was home to Schermerhorn Fish Co., a bar on the first floor, Woodbury Billiards on the second floor, and several short-lived businesses.
Gleason's Rathskeller celebrated its grand opening on April 27, 1933. The establishment offered lunch, dinner, entertainment, dancing, and alcoholic beverages. Chinese food was added to the menu. In 1934, the restaurant was remodeled.
William P. Gleason died on August 26, 1942. His widow, Margaret F. Gleason, sold the business to George J. Sweeney, proprietor of Sweeney's Cafe, on October 20, 1942. In 1945, Sweeney purchased the real estate from Suffolk Realty Associates, which had owned it since 1914. Sweeney then transferred the real estate to Gleason's Inc. in 1947.
At its height, the restaurant's first-floor dining room could seat 150 people, and the second-floor Emerald Room could seat 300. Over the years, food choices have included Chinese, German, and American fare. The Emerald Room hosted many engagement and bridal parties, political rallies, public receptions of notables such as Eunice Shriver Kennedy and Morris Udall, service and social club dinners, the St. Patrick Parade functions, and other large banquets.
The business was sold in 1959 to Louis A. Tonelli and John P. Kennedy, who had extensive restaurant and catering experience. They had operated Tonelli's at the corner of Sargeant and Maple and subsequently on Northampton St and Ridgewood St. Subsequently, the restaurant was sold several times, and its name was changed to Gleason's Townhouse and later The Townhouse.
The restaurant abruptly closed on April 21, 1980. Attempts to sell the building or lease the premises as a restaurant failed. In late 1981, the real estate was sold to the principals of an insurance agency, law firm, and radio station WREB. The address was listed as One Court Plaza. Holyoke Community Media, Inc. currently owns the building.
Source of news articles: Newspapers.com (paid Subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript-Telegram; Publication dates are shown.
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