The expansion to operate a dairy store and luncheonette at 1534 Dwight Street and 130 Sargeant Street, and a store in Westfield, was the beginning of what was to transpire over the next 16 years.
In 1956, the company purchased a 4-apartment building on Emerson Street in Willimansett, along with an office building and a used car lot. The purchase price was $32,500. The property was located at 1098 Chicopee Street, just over the Willimansett Bridge connecting Holyoke with Chicopee. It was estimated that 15,000 cars passed the location daily. The plan was to construct a drive-in retail outlet in the office and used car area and leave the tenement house intact.
A succession of Kane's Dairy stores followed in Holyoke, unless otherwise noted.
1957- 224 Lyman Street between Elm and Walnut streets
1958- 572 South Summer Street at Sargeant St.
1958- 35 Montgomery Street, Chicopee
1959- 527 South Street at Russell Terrace
1960- 62 Lyman Street at Center St.
1961- 96 Maple Street at Lyman St.
Kane's Dairy had opened 10 retail outlets in addition to its production dairy at 67 Shawmut Avenue. The stores were situated to capture business in South Holyoke, Flats, Elmwood, Highlands, and Ward 4 areas of the city.
On November 13, 1959, John J. Kane Sr. retired after devoting 37 years to building the Kane's Dairy business. His successors were his son, John J. Kane Jr., as President; another son, Howard Kane; his daughter, Rosemary Kane; and his sister, Marie Kane. Delivery of milk products to households continued during the transition. John J. Kane Sr. remained as the corporation's Treasurer.
In 1965, Kane's ended its door-to-door delivery service. It was one of the last dairies in Holyoke to do so, aside from Bissell's Dairy. Also, in the mid-1960s, Kane's moved from 130 Sargeant Street to 141 Sargeant Street.
In March 1967, Kane's Dairy Inc., with 8 stores remaining at the time, sold to Dairy Mart Inc. of Springfield. The president of Dairy Mart was Charles Niremberg. The dairy plant at 67 Shawmut Avenue, which was not part of the sale, would be closed. At the time, it was uncertain as to what would become of the plant. The addition of the 8 Kane's Dairy stores would increase Dairy Mart's presence to 35 stores.
Later in November 1967, John J. Kane Sr. sought a variance to operate a car wash at the plant site. The dairy plant had operated under nonconforming use because the property was zoned Residence B. There was strong local opposition to this request, based on water issues, increased traffic, and safety concerns. The long process resulted in the denial of the request and appeal. The property was subsequently sold to the principals of Magna Buick on Northampton Street.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
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