Schrafft's facts for kids
| Founded | 1861 |
|---|---|
| Founder | William F. Schrafft |
| Defunct | 1984 |
| Parent | Frank G. Shattuck Company (1929–1967) Helme Products (1967–1974) Gulf and Western Industries (1974–1981) American Safety Razor Company (1981–1984) |
The Schrafft Candy Company was a famous company that made candy, chocolate, and cakes. It was based in Charlestown, Massachusetts, near Boston. In 1861, Schrafft's introduced jelly beans to the United States. They even encouraged people to send these new candies to soldiers fighting in the American Civil War.
Today, the well-known Schrafft's neon sign is a landmark in Boston. The building it sits on was once the company's factory, built in 1928. This old factory has since been updated and is now used for different businesses. Over time, Schrafft's also grew to include a chain of restaurants in New York. In the 1950s and 1960s, they even had motor inns and restaurants along the East Coast, from New England all the way to Florida.
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The Sweet Start of Schrafft's
Schrafft's began as a candy company in Boston in 1861. It was founded by William F. Schrafft. The company quickly became popular for its delicious sweets.
Growing into Restaurants
After making a name for itself in candy, Schrafft's decided to open restaurants. By 1915, they had nine restaurants in Manhattan, New York City. They also had one in Brooklyn and another in Syracuse, New York. Of course, they still had their main candy factory in Boston.
In 1929, a company called Frank G. Shattuck Company bought Schrafft's. Under new ownership, the number of Schrafft's restaurants kept growing. By 1923, there were 22 stores. This number increased to 42 by 1934 and reached 55 stores by 1968.
Schrafft's and Pop Culture
Schrafft's was involved in some exciting events in pop culture. In 1959, the company helped pay for the CBS television broadcast of The Wizard of Oz. This was the first time the movie was shown on TV every year, making it a beloved tradition.
Later, in 1968, Schrafft's wanted to reach even more customers. They hired the famous pop artist Andy Warhol to create a 60-second television commercial for them. This was a big deal, as Andy Warhol was known for his unique and modern art.
The End of an Era
In 1967, the Frank G. Shattuck Company, which owned Schrafft's, merged with another company called PET milk. This led to the candy, ice cream, and restaurant parts of Schrafft's becoming separate businesses. Later, in 1974, Gulf and Western Industries took over the candy operations.
By 1981, Gulf and Western announced that they would close down the Schrafft Candy part of their business. The candy company was not making enough money. After this, Schrafft's was sold to the American Safety Razor Company.
In 1984, it was announced that the very last Schrafft's candy factory would close its doors. The American Safety Razor Company had planned to sell the factory to a group of investors, but the deal didn't work out. After the factory closed, it was sold to The Flatley Company.
The Schrafft Center Today
The old Schrafft's candy factory was completely renovated. It is now a modern office building called The Schrafft Center. It is located at 529 Main Street in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Many different businesses have offices there today. Some of the tenants include Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Telemundo Boston, Crestron Electronics, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
