Restaurants, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and many police and fire stations share a common need for commercial equipment in food preparation and refrigeration. A Holyoke business filled that need for over half a century. Here's the story of Holyoke Equipment Company.
In March 1960, Holyoke Auction Company, Incorporated, changed its name to the Holyoke Equipment Company. This more aptly described the changed nature of its business. Conducting auctions was a thing of the past; selling institutional restaurant equipment and office furnishings was now its specialty.
The company continued to be awarded contracts for restaurant and cafeteria equipment in the early 1960s. Some of the more significant were:
1961- Sullivan School- cafeteria and office furnishings
1962- South Hadley High School- ditto
1962- Sardi's Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, Holyoke- Snack bar
1962- Schermerhorn's Fish Market- refrigeration
1963- Gleason's Townhouse- upgrades for reopening
1963- Morgan School- kitchen equipment
1964- John J. Lynch Junior High School- new lockers
1964- Viamari's Restaurant- West Springfield/Holyoke line
1964- Chapel Hill Nursing Home- kitchen equipment
1964- new Holyoke High School- cafeteria and office furnishings
1964- Northampton Police Station- furniture
1966- Halfway House, South Hadley- interior furnishings
1966- Park Scandwich Shop, Holyoke- restaurant equipment
In March 1967, the company announced that it would close on the purchase of the building occupied by the Electric Game Company at 109 Lyman Street in Holyoke on April 1, 1967. The building was 100 years old and had once been the location of D. Mackintosh & Sons Co.
The new location provided 50,000 square feet of space, allowing the company to consolidate its five Holyoke locations and garages into a single space. This was a three-story building with an elevator and loading docks. The company would also build a modern showroom for both office furnishings and restaurant equipment.
At this time, the company was shipping its products as far away as Labrador, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The company opened at its new Lyman Street location in June 1967.
The company continued to be the successful bidder for supplying furnishings and equipment.
Some of the notable contracts included:
1967- Holyoke City Auditor's Office- a safe
1969- Parsons Street School- Easthampton- cafeteria equipment
1969- Ridgewood Banquet House, Holyoke- interior furnishings
1972- Donahue School, Holyoke- office equipment
1979- War Memorial Building, Holyoke, kitchen equipment
1979- Various Chicopee schools, refrigeration, and freezers
The company was named as the exclusive area dealer for various product lines, including Taylor Freezers.
David Slotnick died in 1987. His son, Hal Slotnick, followed in his footsteps as company president. William Curtis became president in 1989.
The company had a second office and showroom in Winooski, and later moved to Williston, Vermont, from the early 1990s to 2003. Both towns were adjacent to Burlington, Vermont.
On December 14, 2004, a public auction was held selling all the equipment, inventory, and assets of the business. The sale was held on the premises at 109 Dwight Street. The sale was conducted on behalf of the owners, who had decided to close the business. What began as a company specializing in conducting auctions came to an end with the sound of the auctioneer's gavel.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Burlington (Vermont) Free Press; publication dates and pages are shown.
James Eisenstock, President, Holyoke Equipment Co.
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