Lesser's Bakery and successor business Berman's Bakery

Morris and Etta (Berger) Lesser emigrated to this country from Poland in 1907. They settled in Fall River, Massachusetts before moving to Holyoke in 1925. In 1927, Lesser's Bakery was established at 297 Park Street adjacent to their 299 Park Street residence. 

Holyoke had nearly thirty bakeries in the 1920s. From its inception, Lesser's Bakery touted its rye bread and rolls, which remained a mainstay of its business throughout the years. In the mid-1950s, the bakery produced breads for the Popular Super Market, which was then located at 205 High Street. Two route salesmen also made deliveries.

After World War II, the city's population was shifting away from the industrial areas of Holyoke. The bakery needed more space and updated equipment to meet the demand for its products. In late December 1957, Lesser's signed a lease for space at 408 High Street. In the morning and mid-afternoon, the aroma of freshly baked rye bread and rolls filled the air along High Street, an invitation to shop the bakery. 

Lesser's Bakery now had twice the space and purchased new equipment including a brick-lined oven capable of producing 600 loaves of bread per hour. Its major accounts included the Log Cabin restaurant and Mt. Holyoke College.

This was a family business with Morris and Etta Lesser, and their two sons, Stanley and Chester, all worked at the bakery. Morris Lesser, the founding father, died on October 16, 1966. The business continued in the family until March, 1979, when it was sold to brothers David, Kenneth, and Russell Berman of Holyoke.

At the time, 70% of the business was wholesale to restaurants and institutions, 30% retail. By 2000, this had reversed.

In the early 1980s, the business's name was altered to The Berman Brothers Lesser's Bakery. The company expanded and opened a Kosher delicatessen in late 1983, purchasing the neighboring building at 410 High Street. Over $200,000 was spent on this deli addition.

In 1985, the business name was changed to Berman's Deli—Lesser's Bakery. In 1987, a second bakery opened in Springfield at Baystate West, now Tower Square. A third location opened in 1988 on Union Street in Easthampton. In August 1988, it was announced that Lesser's name would be retired and the business would be known as Berman's Bakery. 

The Springfield, Easthampton and West Springfield outlets closed in the mid to late 1990s.

Berman's Bakery 408 High Street real estate and business was sold in 2000 to the founders of Old San Juan Bakery & Deli. This business remains in 2025.

Final note:

Since 1908, a bakery has operated at the 408 High Street location in every decade: Inglis & Oliver (1907-1916), Oliver's (1916-1940), Scotty's Bakery (1941), Lesser's Bakery(1957-1979), Berman's (1979-2000), and Old San Juan Bakery (2000 to the present). 

Source of news articles: Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript-Telegram and the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates are shown.  

Transcript-Telegram Thu, Oct 24, 1985 page 21