"More For A Dollar Than A Dollar Can Buy Elsewhere, since 1896" was the advertising slogan used to introduce Mohican Market to Holyoke at its grand opening on Saturday, November 4, 1922. The Holyoke store was located in the Burns building at 215-217 High Street, adjacent to the Holyoke National Bank.
Mohican Market was founded by Frank Munsey in 1896 in New London, Connecticut. Mr. Munsey later entered the newspaper field and owned the New York Herald and the New York Sun. Mohican Markets were located in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and all the New England states, excluding Vermont. The Holyoke store was the 53rd Mohican Market in the chain.
The chain touted the freshest in meats, fruits, vegetables, fish, and Mohican coffee and teas at "economy" prices.
In February 1923, the Holyoke National Bank began negotiations to purchase the four-story building, which housed the Mohican Market at street level.
In early 1924, the market opened its bakery department, which sold a variety of breads to its customers at affordable prices. An additional floor was added to the roof at the back of the building to accommodate the bakery. The new baking equipment allowed the store to double its bread production at a lower cost.
In 1925, S. Marks of 95 Maple Street completed painting of the store's interior.
In September 1932, the company announced it would temporarily relocate to the former Holyoke Saving Bank space a few doors north on High Street. Its principal location was undergoing significant renovations, including installing larger display windows and modern fixtures. Howes & Howes were the architects, and Daniel O'Connell's Sons were the contractors. The work was completed and the store reopened on November 17, 1932.
On December 16, 1935, a fire started in the market's basement. The smoke damaged much of the store's inventory. The market was repaired and soon reopened on December 23, 1935.
In January 1946, the market initiated self-service for canned goods and grocery items. This inventory was moved to the back of the store, and the bakery was relocated to the side.
In mid-1946, Mohican Market purchased the two-story Feinstein building at 567-571 Dwight Street, between High and Maple Streets. Due to existing leases with the occupants, Singer Sewing and St. Germain Photography, plans to relocate the Mohican market were put on hold. Crean's Millinery at 569 Dwight Street moved to a new location on Maple Street.
Just after noon on January 24, 1947, a large portion of the building's cornice fell onto High Street, crashing to the sidewalk below. Miraculously, only four people were injured.
The directors of Holyoke National Bank agreed to remove the upper two stories of the building. Daniel O'Connell's Sons performed the work for $7,500.
Alderman & Alderman drew the plans for the new store on Dwight Street, and Casper Ranger Construction Company performed the work.
On February 15, 1951, the Mohican Market opened at the merged first-floor space at 567 Dwight Street.
The Mohican Market chain began closing stores in 1958. The remaining stores were sold to its subsidiary, U. S. Foods International, Inc. The Holyoke store was part of this transaction, and a press release indicated that it would remain open.
Louis Ryback, who operated a grocery store in Springfield for many years, purchased the building, machinery, and fixtures for $75,000 in October 1959. Mohican Market closed on October 10, 1959, after 37 years in Holyoke. Ryback's Market, a story for another time, opened on November 5, 1959.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Massachusetts Historical Commission, MACRIS: Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System.
Holyoke, Massachusetts Assessor's Office. Property Card
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