Orsini's Luncheonette (Restaurant Week)

As I write this entry, it's Sunday. I plan to write about 1 luncheonette or fine-dining spot daily throughout the week. I am starting with Orsini's, as this was a popular breakfast and lunchtime eatery into the late 1970s. It was also close to Chester's Drug Store, where I was employed for about 5 years during my later years in high school and through college, so its history now intrigues me some 50 years later. 

Andrew Nicholas Orsini was born on Christmas Day in 1890 and arrived in Holyoke from Lucca, Italy, at age 24 in 1914. He chose Holyoke, as he had a sister who lived in the city. On October 18, 1916, he married Clara Equi at Holy Rosary Church. The Equi family was one of the prominent Italian families operating several lucheonettes, fruit, and confectionery stores throughout the city.

In 1917, he worked for his father-in-law, Christopher Equi, at a confectionery store located at 363 Dwight Street. Mr. Equi had another shop at 271 Maple Street at the time. Andrew N. Orsini lived close by at 283 Maple Street.

By 1920, the Orsini family had moved to 1699 Northampton Street, an address also shared by Christopher Equi. From 1930 through 1942, Andrew Orsini worked at several confectionery stores in Holyoke. A list of some locations appears in the Holyoke City Directory entries below Mr. Orsini's photo.

The breakthrough to long-term ownership occurred in 1943, when he was employed by the Park Sandwich Shop at 583 Dwight Street, at the corner of Maple Street. It was a year later that he purchased the business, which he operated until 1952. 

In 1952, he became owner-operator of Orsini's Luncheonette at 311 Appleton Street. Along the way, he was very involved with the Italian Progressive Society and was elected its President in 1955. He was also President of the Italian Service Society. His spouse, Clara Orsini, was named President of the Italian Women's Society in 1957.

Andrew N. Orsini remained at the restaurant until his retirement in 1959, at age 69. The business passed to his son, Christopher Orsini, who had worked in the confectionery business and also at the Park Sandwich Shop. Christopher Orsini operated the restaurant until selling it to Norman and Agatha (Rudzik) Schmitter in 1964.

In January 1969, a fire broke out in the restaurant's smokestack, causing extensive damage to part of the tenement building. The fire was contained, and the restaurant reopened two months later, in time to advertise its corned beef and cabbage St. Patrick's Day special.

Although the restaurant was listed for sale in 1971, it remained at 311 Appleton Street until the Schmitters retired in 1979.

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