Born in Greenfield and raised in Springfield, Louis Ryback graduated from Boston University in 1936. Then, he started working with his father in the family's Springfield grocery store, which opened in 1918, at 744 Main Street.
Mary (Dillon) Ryback was born and raised in Springfield and was an alumna of Elms College.
After serving during World War II and after his father's death, Louis and his wife, Mary, continued to operate the Springfield Main Street store.
A business opportunity became available in Holyoke. In 1959, they purchased the long-time Mohican Market grocery store at 563-573 Dwight Street for $75,000, of which $45,000 was for the real estate, the remainder for the store contents. The deed indicated that Louis and Mary Ryback were undivided half-owners along with Henry and Molly Pawlowicz.
From the late 1950s to the early 1980s, Ryback's Market was one of Holyoke's leading grocery and bakery institutions.
Ryback's shopping concept was similar to the Mohican Market. At affordable prices, it offered friendly in-city shopping for various groceries, meats, dairy, and bakery items. Parking was limited to on-street. Before the market opened, it was modernized to meet the day's standards.
The store's well-attended grand opening occurred on November 5, 1959. One of its first ads showed a dozen jelly donuts for 49¢, a precursor to the bakery's popularity throughout its 24 years. Past customers fondly reminisce about enjoying the cakes, breads, donuts, and other sweets produced by its basement baking facility.
Louis Ryback actively participated in the Chamber of Commerce and was a promoter of downtown Holyoke shopping events.
In 1961, a pension plan was established for the bakery employees, supported by Local 96, the Bakery and Confectioners Union.
Louis Ryback believed in the long-term outlook of retail in Holyoke. In early 1967, he made two major downtown real estate acquisitions.
His realty company acquired the Wakelin Building at 233-243 High Street and 558-560 Dwight Street. This was at the southwest corner of High and Dwight Streets. The lower floor and basement were leased to Newberry's, and the upper floors were office space.
At the same time, the company acquired property from Maple Street Realty Trust, which consisted of 570 Dwight Street and 230-234 Maple Street. This was at the southeast corner of Maple and Dwight Streets. The McAuslan & Wakelin department store leased this space.
The two buildings were connected by a sky bridge over the alleyway.
At the time, McAuslan & Wakelin was a subsidiary of Consolidated Dry Goods, which also operated the Forbes & Wallace department store in Springfield.
In 1969, both Newberry's and McAuslan & Wakelin had closed. A William Epstein of Epstein Furniture, then located on Main Street, purchased both buildings in early 1970.
Mr. Ryback's contributions to the Holyoke earned him various accolades. In 1975, he received the Outstanding Citizenship Award from the St. Patrick's Parade Committee, and in the following year, the Tamburi Award, given to a worthy benefactor and friend of the Holyoke Day Nursery.
At the end of 1974, Ryback's Pastry Shoppe, which operated for 14 years at 140 Main Street in Northampton, closed its doors after its lease was not renewed. The building's owner wished to lease the space to Beardsley's, a local restaurant located at 11 Button Street.
In early 1977, the Rybacks sold their Springfield store, which became George Vaughn's Better Foods of Springfield.
In late 1983, Ryback's was sold to its 25-year manager, Patrick O'Connor. Mr. O'Connor had previously managed the meat and bakery departments. He planned to resume home deliveries, feeling this was beneficial, especially to the city's senior population. Louis Ryback retired after working as a grocer for 47 years.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton (Massachusetts); publication dates and pages are shown.
Photo Credit: Facebook, Growing Up in Holyoke, Massachusetts
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