In December 1955, Frank Del Monte sold his restaurant at 596 Dwight Street to Holyoke resident Julia Adelson. The buyer had 30 years of experience in the restaurant business, including 18 years as owner of the Star Restaurant at 438 High Street. Mr. Del Monte had other business interests, including ownership of the Bridge Cafe and Bridge Caterers, both located at 1054 Chicopee Street in Willimansett.
The restaurant had its share of name changes over the years. These included the Phoenix Dairy Lunch, Phoenix Lunch, Phoenix Lunch and Bakery, Phoenix Restaurant, Park Cafeteria, Can-Del Restaurant, and Del Monte Restaurant. It would now be called the Mid-Town Restaurant at 596 Dwight Street. After remodeling was completed in December 1955, the restaurant held its Grand Opening on January 4, 1956.
The restaurant operated 7 days a week and touted its safe food-handling practices and select local purveyors, such as Holyoke’s Bissell’s Dairy and Glessmann’s Ice Cream. Equipment was furnished by the Holyoke Auction House on High Street. Breakfast, lunches, and dinners were served during its 5 AM to 8 PM business hours.
The restaurant changed ownership in 1959, when Armand M. Chartier was listed as the owner, and again in 1960, when Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Donoghue became proprietors.
On June 27, 1961, an auction of the equipment and furnishings was conducted by the long-time, noteworthy Holyoke auctioneer and Deputy Sheriff, Edward Sacks. For 596 Dwight Street, this was the end of its 49-year restaurant history. A.J. Charbonneau Insurance Company filled the vacated resaturant space.
In 1963, a second Mid-Town Restaurant opened at 283 1/2 Maple, the former location of The Maples and Orlandi’s Lucheonette. This was owned by George Blankenburg, who purchased the restaurant from Emilio Orlandi. In turn, Mr. Blankenburg transferred the business to Mary Dec. The restaurant continued into September 1964, and no further information was found thereafter.
For those who recall the Phoenix Lunceonette and Fruit Store during the 1960s through the 1980s, this was another business that had long filled the space at 602 Dwight Street, a few storefronts west of 596 Dwight, since the early 1900s. This will be researched and shared with all in a later episode.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
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